I've Got the World On A String

I've heard it said many times that the devil comes for us in our times of weakness. Lately, I find myself trying to convince others that it is when we feel strong that we are at our weakest. Because of this theory, it would be easier to say the devil thrives on our strength.

The truth is that we pray less when we feel safe. We don't pray less because God made us feel that way. We pray less because we are human and we usually only ask for real help when we really need it. We're too stupid to know what we need so like a confident little sheep grazing in a field sometimes we are led like lambs to the slaughter.

The alcoholic is weakest when he thinks he is strong enough to only have one drink or to only drink at the "appropriate times" but he'll find himself drunk and alone again if he isn't careful. The evil is there. The manipulative woman is weakest when she thinks she is in control and tries sinfully to get what she wants but she'll find herself to be angry and alone again if she isn't careful. That's where the evil is. The infertile woman who begs for a child and finds herself pregnant might find pause in her prayer when the heartbeat is strong and the baby is thriving but she'll find herself abandoned and alone if she isn't careful. The evil is there.

The evil is there in our perception that we are on the right path. The evil is there in our confidence for our skills at work, our social situation or our family life. The evil thrives on our ability to think we can go the path alone. We are most likely to make this stupid mistake when we are feeling strong. The evil is in our pride not our struggle.

2 Chronicles 26:16 "But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense."