You must "Be clearheaded. Keep alert. Your accuser, the devil, is on the prowl like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith. Do so in the knowledge that your fellow believers are enduring the same suffering throughout the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, the one who called you into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will himself restore, empower, strengthen, and establish you. To him be power forever and always. Amen. (1 Peter 5:8-11 CEB)
What are 2 of the Many Strategies that Satan uses to try and Make it Hard for One to Follow Jesus?
Pain and Suffering
The devil is a deceiver and a liar. He will use pain and suffering as a way to lie to you. He will whisper in your ear, 'What kind of God would allow pain and suffering? Pain and suffering, however, is the result of sin. Sin in the world. Sin in us. "All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23 CEB) "Just as through one human being [Adam] sin came into the world, and death came through sin, so death has come to everyone, since everyone has sinned (Romans 5:12 CEB) So, suffering is a result of one man [Adam] turning away from God, and man continuing to turn away from God. However, through pain and suffering one should seek God the more.
Rejoice in Being Reproached for Christ Sake
"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.(1 Peter 4:12-16 KJV) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:16-17) "Christ has set us free for freedom. Therefore, stand firm and don’t submit to the bondage of slavery again. (Galatians 5:1 CEB)
Jesus is the Way. Seek to Know Him
Jesus is the only One Who can restore us. Seek to know Jesus more intimately. The Apostle Paul sought to know Jesus more intimately through all of his suffering and pain. Why? He said, "that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death, if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (Philippians 3:10-11 KJV) The Apostle Paul did it for the benefit that those who endure will receive at the end of their journey. Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me(John 14:1-4 ,6 KJV).
Remember Jesus
Jesus, who is our free gift from God, Who was and is without sin, suffered till death on the Cross for us. He did this so that we may live again with Him for all Eternity. Jesus understands us and what we go through on a daily basis because He went through the same (Read John 1:14). Jesus said, " Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:32-33). He is the living Word of God our only Way to restoration with God. Jesus is our Great High Priest. Now, "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrew 4:14-16 KJV) )
Praise God
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow. Put it all in His hands. Have a blessed stress-free worry-free day on purpose, and never stop believing that Jesus paid it all.