When life hits you with complications, when the struggles pile up high; remember that “the devil fights the hardest” just before the new day’s dawn.

“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow” Matthew 28: 1-3

During the days leading up to the crucifixion, “the devil fought his hardest” to destroy Jesus. He saw the difference that Jesus was making in the lives of those he came into contact with and the devil did everything in his power to stop Jesus. The devil knew that Jesus was God’s answer for a sin cursed world.  Little did the devil realize that each act of vengeance he set into motion was actually assisting in the fulfillment of a plan that had been set in motion even before the creation of man, a plan of sacrifice that would provide a way of salvation. Every evil act that the devil deployed against Jesus actually  became a stepping stone toward the realization of the ultimate plan of redemption.  As Jesus died upon the cross, when it seemed that the devil had the victory; Jesus arose with the dawning of the new day.

Today as we face life’s struggles that the devil uses to discourage us, we need to focus on the one who gives the victory. Sometimes it seems that the more we try to do for God the harder life becomes, it is in those moments that we need to be reminded that “the devil fights the hardest” just before the new day’s dawn.

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” 2 Peter 1:19

Each conflict that the devil brings our way actually works in us to perfect us. It develops within us the faith, the courage and the strength to make a difference in the world around us. When others see the struggles we face in contrast to the joy that God places in our hearts, they are able to see Jesus shining through our lives. We don’t need to allow the devil to use the attitudes or actions of others to take from us the joy that the Lord has placed within us.  When we are faced with difficulty we need to remember that “the devil fights the hardest” just before the dawn, and through tribulation God can continue His work in and through our lives.

“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1: 3-4