When Bad Things Happen: Is it Satan's Attack or God's Teaching?

When things fall apart, is it Satan’s victory or God’s teaching? Even spiritual losses may hide a greater purpose in God’s plan.

Last week, I ended my email with this: “The closer you get to your breakthrough, the fiercer the attack becomes. If you're experiencing intense spiritual warfare right now, it might mean you're closer to your destiny than you think.”

That’s my hope. However, here’s what we must also consider …

When Bad Things Happen: Is it Satan's Attack or God's Teaching?

Remember Flip Wilson's comedy routine? "The devil made me do it!" We'd all laugh because it sounded so ridiculous—blaming Satan for our choices. But what happens when you're facing genuine spiritual warfare, and you honestly can't tell if Satan just scored a victory or if God is teaching you something profound through the pain? 

I found myself wrestling with this exact question when the knife was driven deepest into my heart.

The Double Whammy That Shattered Everything

It hit like a one-two punch that left me reeling.

First, my wife, Char, comes home from the gym and tells me her trainer is upset that she was notified by Back to the Bible that our daily spiritual fitness app GOtandem is closing down. Her trainer doesn't understand why something that helped her so much would just... disappear.

I'm still trying to shake off those nagging feelings of failure of letting so many people down, when Janette, our enthusiastic donor services person, posts this message to all our staff, that felt like salt in an open wound:

Karen sent us this message online:

"I just wanted to thank you guys for the GOtandem app. For all your hard work. I have been a Christian for 12 years this August 1, and GOtandem was such a huge resource to me throughout my faith walk. I thank God for it. I bless you all and am praying for all of you!"

Janette adds her characteristic encouragement: "This is why we are here folks! God has a mighty plan that we get to be a part of!"

To myself I think, "Thanks Janette, I really needed that"—like twisting the knife that's already driven into my heart.

What made this moment so excruciating wasn't just the feeling of failure—it was the spiritual warfare raging in my mind. As I clung to Romans 8:38-39, "I am convinced that neither death nor life... will be able to separate us from the love of God," I could literally see Satan playing with my thoughts, trying to convince me that he had won this round of the battle.

Which brought me face-to-face with the question that every Christ Follower must eventually answer:

Does Satan actually win battles, or is Jesus teaching me a lesson? And how do you know the difference?

The Flip Wilson Fallacy vs. Real Spiritual Warfare

Before we dive deep, let's get one thing straight: Flip Wilson's comedy routine was actually terrible theology. When he said "The devil made me do it," he was talking about personal choices—things we do that we should take responsibility for. That's not spiritual warfare; that's shifting blame.

But what I was experiencing was different. This wasn't about personal sin or bad choices. This was about a ministry that was helping thousands of people suddenly dying due to financial constraints beyond our control. This was about watching something God had clearly blessed, now crumbling in my hands.

The question wasn't whether I had sinned. The question was whether Satan had scored a legitimate victory or whether God was orchestrating something I couldn't yet see.

And that's a question that goes to the very heart of spiritual warfare.

The Biblical Reality: Satan Does Win Battles

Here's the truth that might shock you: Yes, Satan absolutely wins battles. Scripture is crystal clear about this, and any theology that denies it is dangerously naive.

Look at the evidence:

Peter's Denial: Jesus himself warned Peter, "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat" (Luke 22:31). And guess what? Satan succeeded. Peter denied Jesus three times, exactly as Satan intended. The enemy won that battle.

David's Catastrophic Fall: "Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census" (1 Chronicles 21:1). Satan's temptation worked. David fell into pride, took the census, and 70,000 people died as a result. Satan scored a massive victory.

Judas's Betrayal: "Satan entered Judas" (Luke 22:3), and Judas betrayed the Son of God for thirty pieces of silver. Satan didn't just win a battle—he orchestrated the betrayal of the Messiah himself.

Job's Devastation: Satan destroyed Job's family, health, and wealth with God's permission. For most of the book, Job is in agony, his friends are accusing him, and Satan's attacks appear to be completely successful.

But here's what separates Satan's temporary victories from ultimate defeat: God always has the final word.

Next week: How to Know When Satan Has Won a Battle

Stay tuned,

-Arnie