7 Differences Between Everyday Trials and Spiritual Warfare

Everyday trials often result naturally from living in a fallen world full of sin. These struggles are not necessarily caused by direct spiritual opposition but are part of the human condition. We might develop a health problem when we get older because of natural causes, go through relationship conflicts because of misunderstandings, or lose a job due to economic downturns. Spiritual warfare, however, has a different source – it originates from an intentional attack by evil spirits. 

The Bible warns in Ephesians 6:12 that “… our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”. 

Unlike everyday trials, which come into our lives from natural circumstances, spiritual warfare occurs when evil spirits actively work to derail our faith and relationships with God. We can ask God to give us discernment so we can identify the source of the situation we’re struggling with. Once we know the source, we can determine the best response with God’s guidance. When dealing with everyday trials, we may need to ask God for patience, wisdom, and perseverance. But if we’re facing spiritual warfare, we should ask God for the strength to stay strong in faith and rely on him to help us.

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Unlike everyday trials, which can strengthen our faith, spiritual warfare is an aggressive attempt to destroy it. While everyday trials can test our faith while we struggle with them, they often strengthen our relationships with God because they lead us to rely on God more. 

James 1:2-4 encourages us that everyday trials can build our character. At the same time, they test our faith: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” 

Spiritual warfare, however, is designed to weaken our faith. Evil spirits try to create doubt, fear, and confusion in us. That often leads us to question God’s goodness and his promises. The Bible warns about this in 1 Peter 5:8: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” When we recognize that we’re under spiritual attack, we need to respond with spiritual weapons like prayer and meditation that will move us closer to God and farther away from evil. Instead of giving into fear, we should declare God’s truth over our circumstances and rely on God’s help to stay strong in our faith.

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Everyday trials may challenge our confidence and endurance, but they don’t directly target our identity in Christ. We may feel discouraged or overwhelmed when we go through everyday trials, but our sense of who we are from God’s perspective generally remains strong. Trials like financial struggles or health issues affect our circumstances but don’t necessarily cause us to question our spiritual standing before God. 

Spiritual warfare, however, often attacks our identity in Christ. Evil spirits want us to forget who we are as children of God and to believe lies about ourselves. Satan tried this tactic with Jesus in the wilderness, saying in Matthew 4:3: “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Just like Satan tried to undermine Jesus’ identity, he tries to make us doubt our worth, salvation, and calling. When we experience thoughts of condemnation, we need to recognize them as spiritual attacks. Romans 8:1 reminds us: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” 

Reading and studying God’s Word regularly, we can remember our identity in Christ as God’s beloved children and overcome spiritual attacks.

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God allows everyday trials to happen in our lives because they can help us grow spiritually. If we trust God while we go through everyday trials, he will use them to strengthen our faith, develop our character, and draw us closer to him. 

Romans 8:28 assures us: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” 

While it’s challenging to go through everyday trials, they serve a good purpose in shaping us into the people God wants us to become. However, trials that happen because of spiritual warfare are different. Spiritual warfare attacks God’s authority. Evil spirits want us to think that God is powerless against our trials. When we face trials that result from spiritual battles, we must remember that God is still in control. 

Job 1:12 describes God setting limits on what Satan can do to test Job’s faith. Even under spiritual attacks, God’s awe-inspiring authority remains strong and reliable. We can always trust God’s authority and rely on God’s strength during spiritual warfare. As 1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us: “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.”

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Everyday trials test our faith for the good purpose of helping us grow closer to God. 

James 1:12 says: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” 

Spiritual warfare, on the other hand, often involves the temptation to sin. Evil spirits try to lure us into sin and lead us away from God in the process. 

James 1:13-14 points out that temptation never comes from God: “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.” 

It’s important to recognize the difference between trials that simply test our faith and trials that tempt us to sin. When we go through trials that tempt us, we should seek God’s wisdom for our decisions to avoid making sinful choices. When also need to resist evil and rely on the truth we know from God’s Word, just as Jesus did in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).

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Going through everyday trials can sometimes slow down our progress in life, but it doesn’t stop us from fulfilling God’s purposes for our lives. For example, financial struggles might make it hard for us to pursue certain goals, but struggling with money problems doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re being spiritually stopped from fulfilling God’s will. 

Spiritual warfare, however, often directly opposes our effort to participate in God’s work. Whenever we step out to do something God is leading us to do, evil spirits may launch attacks to try to stop us. The Apostle Paul experienced this when he tried to visit the Thessalonian church but was blocked by Satan. 

1 Thessalonians 2:18: “For we wanted to come to you – certainly I, Paul, did, again and again – but Satan blocked our way.” 

A clear sign of spiritual warfare is when significant resistance arises just as we walk in obedience to God. This may show up as sudden conflicts in our relationships, discouragement we can’t explain, or obstacles that seem like they’re more than just coincidence. 

Nehemiah faced spiritual warfare while he was rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls. Enemies sought to intimidate and stop the work, but Nehemiah responded with faithful prayer and action (Nehemiah 4:7-9). When we face resistance to our work serving God, we should ask God’s Holy Spirit to help us. God will always give us the strength we need to fight any trial that comes into our lives because of spiritual warfare.

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While we can manage everyday trials with everyday solutions, we can’t overcome spiritual warfare unless we use spiritual weapons to fight. We can use better budgeting to overcome a financial struggle, medical attention to heal a health issue, and communication and forgiveness to solve a relationship problem. But any kind of problem that results from spiritual warfare requires the spiritual weapons that Ephesians chapter 6 describes, including the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, and prayer. These are all important for fighting spiritually. 

Jesus showed us the power of spiritual weapons when Satan tempted him. Instead of arguing or using physical means, he responded with scripture. Matthew 4:4 records Jesus telling Satan: “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’.” This teaches us that God’s Word is a powerful defense against spiritual attacks. Another vital weapon is worship. When Paul and Silas were in prison, they praised God in worship, which led to their miraculous deliverance (Acts 16:25-26). Worship changes our focus from our problems to God’s power, and that helps us stay strong in our faith to fight and win our spiritual battles.

In conclusion, it’s important to recognize the difference between everyday trials and spiritual warfare so we can respond successfully. While trials are a natural part of life in this fallen world, and God uses them to strengthen our faith, spiritual warfare attacks our faith and tries to distance us from God. The good news is that God will always help us fight – and win – spiritual warfare when we stay faithful.

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