Who do you blame when life goes sideways?

If we’re feeling vindictive, we blame other people. If we’re feeling humble, we blame ourselves. And if we’re feeling exceptionally spiritual, we blame the enemy.

#nottodaysatan am I right?⁣

But not so fast.⁣

Take a look at the Book of Job, where Satan is horrible to a blameless man.⁣

Satan takes away everything Job has—health, riches, kids, land—and he famously never denounces God. He curses the day of his own birth and wants to die, but he still insists that God is good, just, and in control.

What’s interesting, though, is that not once does Job blame Satan for his misery.⁣

Wild, right?

In Job’s story, Satan is the one tormenting him, but if you flip to the beginning, you’ll see that God gave him permission to do it. He couldn’t just do whatever he wanted to Job—he had to ask first.⁣

Now flip to the end. The final result of Job’s suffering is a double portion returned to him of all he’d lost AND the redemption of his four “friends” who clearly didn’t understand the God they purported to love.⁣

Do you see?⁣

There is nothing the enemy can do without clearance from God; he has no power of his own. Whatever he does is overseen by our loving Father who intends the best for us, so we know that our pain has purpose and we can trust His process.⁣

Think about your situation. Where are you blaming the enemy but should be praising God? Where is He allowing you to be tested so that He can bless you—and others—even more?⁣

---

“The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Praise the name of the Lord!” [Job 1:21 ERV]⁣