Serve God Loyally Despite "Many Tribulations" - SUBTLE ATTACKS

Another kind of tribulation that we may face involves subtle attacks.  How often does this differ from the frontal attacks of physical persecution?  Frontal attacks are like a tornado that blows into town and destroys your house instantly.  Subtle attacks are more like a colony of termites that slowly creep in and  nibble away at the wood of your house until it collapses. With the latter,  a person may not even be aware of the danger until its too late. 

Satan would like to destroy your relationship with Jehovah, whether with frontal attacks  of persecution or by slowly nibbling away at your faith through subtle attacks.  One of the most effective subtle attacks Satan uses is discouragement. The apostle Paul admitted to feeling discouraged at times.  (Read Romans 7:21-24.)  Now, why would Paul - a spiritual "giant" who likely was a member of the first-century governing body-call himself a "miserable man"?   Paul said that he felt this way because of his imperfections.  He really wanted to do what right, but he felt another force working against him. If you on occasion struggle with such feelings, do you no t find  it comforting to know that even the apostle Paul faced a similar challenge?

 A times, many brothers and sisters feel discouraged, anxious, and perhaps even worthless.  For  example, a zealous pioneer whom we will Deborah says: "Over and over again, I think about a mistake I made, feeling worse about it each time.  When I thing about everything I've done wrong, It can make e feel as if there's no way anyone can ever love me, not even Jehovah." 

What causes some zealous servants of Jehovah, like Deborah, to become discouraged?  There  could be a number of reasons. Some may simply have a tendency to think badly of themselves and their circumstances in life. (Proverbs  15:15) For others, negative feelings might be rooted in a physical  disorder that affect the emotions.  Whatever the cause, we must remember who wants to exploit those feelings. Really, who wants us to get so  discouraged  that we give up?  Who wants you to feel the same weighty  condemnation that looms over him? (Revelation 20:10)  It is Satan, of course.  The truth is, whether by means of some frontal attack or through more subtle attacks, Satan has the same goal-to worry us, to weaken our zeal, and to cause us to quit.  Make no mistake, God's people are involved in spiritual warfare!

Be determined not to give up the fight. Keep focused on the reward.  Paul wrote to Christians in Corinth: "We do not give up, but even if  the man we are outside is wasting away, certainly the man inside is being renewed from day to day. For though the tribulation is momentary and light, it works out for us a glory that is more and more surpassing greatness and is everlasting." - 2 CORINTHIANS 4:16, 17.

Next time: Serve God Loyally Despite "Many Tribulations" - PREPARE NOW FOR TRIBULATION

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