A friend of mine had the privilege of ministering to a group of people several weeks ago. The day was exhilarating, anointed, empowered.  People’s hearts were touched.  Lives were changed.  She felt on top of the world, blessed by the Spirit of God.

When the event was over, she went to her motel room to recoup.  While praising the Lord, she basked in the warmth of the healing power that had flowed around her day.

Wanting to collapse on the bed,  she stretched out her arm to pull her bed covers back, and there on her sheet was a critter.  A tiny brownish-black something or other.

Now this fine young lady is not partial to critters in her bed.  It might have been worse if it had been a big black spider, but just the sight of that little itty bitty nasty crunchy bug, did something huge.  It stole my friend’s joy.

Poof — in an instant, all her good feelings disappeared and she sank into a pit of misery.  Confusion — where could she lay down that was safe?  Anger — why her bed?  Recrimination — would her roommate have the same problem?  Sadness!  Fatigue!  Panic!

I am sharing this scene because this is just how Satan operates.  He takes something small, tiny, itty-bitty, and uses it as part of his strategy for stealing our joy.  My friend had been on a mountain top, spiritually speaking, and in one second, she slid all the way down to the rocky, yucky bottom.

Friends gathered around her to help her climb back up the mountain side, back to a place of joy and contentment.

The good news is that her faith is growing, as is mine.  We are learning to see our Heavenly Father manage the tiniest situations.  We are becoming smarter about Slewfoot’s strategies.  We are declaring victory even when tiny things create huge problems.