“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

Some of us may be challenged to trust this promise; some of us may not feel very protected. In fact, some of us have been exposed to much evil. The culture we live in, crime, hatred, disease, and death; the experiences of the people we serve, the heartbreak we feel from broken and messed up lives. Many in the world live in war-torn, gang-ridden areas, in devastating poverty, in constant fear for their lives. It’s obvious that we live in a fallen world. So how are we to understand this promise, and come to trust in it?

To understand this promise, we must have an accurate perspective. We must see the “big picture.” In Luke 4:6, when Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness, Satan tempted Jesus by saying “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me.” By whom? God. John Piper explains, “In his sovereignty, God considered it wise, as part of his curse on the world after the fall of Adam and Eve, to give Satan a huge power in this world…. Nevertheless, Satan’s sway in this world is terrible and vast…. All of his acts of opposition to God and Gods people are part of God’s plan as he gives Satan permission to exercise tremendous power in this world.” “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).

1. The good news is that it is not as bad as it could be. Satan’s real enemy is God, and Satan would do anything and everything to hurt the people God loves. However, Satan only has power by permission and authority from God, and in God’s mercy, Satan’s ultimate power is restrained. So, in an accurate perspective, it could be worse. God has already been protecting us from the evil one to a degree.
2. More good news is that Paul reminds us that even when we are tempted, God will provide.  God may allow Satan to go so far with his evil plans, but He promises that he will protect us from the evil one and bring us safely home to eternal life with him. For example, as Jesus told Simon Peter: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren’” (Luke 22:31-32). ^“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
3. And the really good news is that Jesus has already struck the death blow to Satan. As Jesus faces Satan in His final hours, Jesus tells him, “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out!” (John 12:31). John Piper says, “Now in every battle with the devil, we can have total confidence of final victory. This is why Romans 8:38-39 says what it says: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). 

In Christ,

Judy