The Man Behind the Curtain

In this clip from The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy and her friends are absolutely terrified of the wizard.  There is a loud booming voice, an intimidating monster, fire, and smoke.  Then, all of a sudden, the curtain is pulled back.  The man behind the curtain is revealed.  The wizard is nothing more than a small, nervous man overcompensating for his lack of strength and power with a show of smoke and mirrors.  He is nothing but a "humbug," and he knows it!

This week, I had a very similar experience.  God revealed the man behind the curtain in my life.

For a few weeks now, I've been struggling with anxiety, fear, doubt, worry, and even a small taste of depression.  It began as simple as being overwhelmed with everything on my plate (school, internship, etc.).  However, over the course of a couple of weeks, it spiraled.  As my sleep patterns improved and my responsibilities eased up, my emotional turmoil only grew worse.  My mind ran in circles trying to reason out just how I was going to make it through the next 6 and a half months of preparing and then 11 months on the race itself.  I began to doubt God's ability to comfort me when I'm lonely, strengthen me for ministry, and lead me beside still waters.  Fear was taking over, and I was just feeling very down.

At church on Sunday, Pastor Dale spoke on fear.  I went down to the front to pray that the Lord would free me from my fear.  Even though my circumstances wouldn't change (I'd still be going on the race and leaving all earthly comforts behind), I knew it wasn't God's will for me to walk in sadness and worry as I follow Him.  Some precious members of my church prayed for me, and I began to feel a lot better.  My friend Lindsay spoke a word into my life that was directly in line with my struggles, encouraging me to stop reasoning things out and to walk in confidence that God would absolutely meet me every step of the way and show His faithfulness, goodness, and love.

On Monday, I posted a fundraising update and then added a quick request for prayer, as I had felt emotionally attacked recently.  I didn't think much of it at the time.  Later in the day, a friend texted me and asked what I meant by "feeling emotionally attacked."  In the church where she grew up, they didn't talk much about spiritual warfare.  She was used to looking for physical explanations to problems.

She asked me, "Don't you think you may also be tired? … Don't you think you may be more melancholy these past two weeks because you were so run down…?"  Couldn't it just be the rain?  Maybe I needed more sleep?  Maybe I still had too much on my plate?

As I considered her questions and how to respond, God began to reveal the man behind the curtain.  He showed me that the onslaught of fear and doubt was not a result of my busy schedule but a spiritual attack from Satan.  Furthermore, God showed me that Satan would love for me to blame my emotional stress on physical realities like a need for more sleep or a busy schedule because I would then fight the problem with physical weapons: naps, fun weekends away from school, etc.  These weapons would be powerless in the face of Satan's weapons of fear, doubt, and lies.

Satan was using smoke and mirrors to redirect my fight towards the physical realm rather than the spiritual realm.  Once I realized who was behind all of the lies I was believing about myself, my future, and my God, I knew I needed to fight with spiritual weapons: prayer, worship, and scripture.  Whereas physical weapons were powerless to help me, these weapons absolutely disarmed the enemy and brought peace to my soul.  As I worshipped the Lord, read His promises to me in His Word, and brought all of my thoughts before Him in prayer, Satan had no further power to intimidate me.

I saw Satan for what he is: scared.  He knows he has already lost the war.  He's fighting from a place of defeat.  He hides his powerlessness with a show of smoke and mirrors, grasping for control from his hiding place behind the curtain.  He is terrified of what the Lord has planned to do in and through me.  He is nothing but "a humbug"… and he knows it.

Ever since I realized who was behind the lies and began engaging in spiritual warfare with the right weapons, I have felt so much joy and peace!  I find Satan laughable as I compare his pathetic lies with God's powerful Truth.  I have enjoyed praising God and basking in His presence.  My circumstances have not changed, but God gives me grace each day, and I once more see each opportunity as a gift from Him!  All glory to God!

    Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
(Ephesians 6:10-18)

Are you feeling overwhelmed?  Do you find yourself believing lies about yourself and your God?  Do you struggle with fear, anxiety, or depression?  Don't look to "flesh and blood" for answers but recognize that your fight is against "spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."  Clothe yourself with spiritual armor to fight the enemy rather than turning to the solutions the world offers.  When you fight with the right tools, you will find that Satan is just like that man behind the curtain– completely ineffective in the face of the weapons with which God has equipped you!