Three Ways Satan Tries to Attack You

It's a question many followers of Jesus ask, whether out loud or in the quiet wrestle of the heart. Why do I feel like I’m drifting? The truth is, there is a very real enemy in this world, and his goal is to keep you discouraged, distracted, and deceived.

Satan doesn’t often push people to openly renounce their faith in a single moment. Instead, he works subtly. His aim is to steer you just far enough off course so that over time, you begin to live as though your faith doesn't matter. It begins with one day of not acknowledging God. Then it’s two. Then three. Eventually, you look up and wonder, Do I even need this anymore?

This is the slow drift. And it is one of the enemy’s favorite strategies.

Distraction: When We Stop Paying Attention
One of the enemy’s most effective tools, especially in the Western world, is distraction. He wants you to be so consumed with noise, schedules, and self-fulfillment that you stop noticing the presence of God altogether.

Distraction doesn't always feel destructive. Sometimes it looks like good things, like productivity, comfort, hobbies, or even family priorities. But when those things crowd out intimacy with God, the enemy has done his job. He wants you to be so busy and overstimulated that you don’t even realize you're spiritually disengaged.

Comfort and Control: The Silent Saboteurs
We love comfort. We love control. But these two things can quietly sabotage our faith.
In our culture, we’ve become masters at building safe, manageable lives. But when life is predictable and controlled, we often stop depending on God. Many of us read stories in the Bible, stories of miracles, of God’s provision, of bold faith, and we wonder, Why don’t I see that in my life?

It could be because we haven’t given God space to move. When we live in self-sufficiency, we start to question God’s presence. Is He even real? Do I even need Him? And that kind of thinking can lead to shrinking back.

We haven’t invited God into our vulnerability. We’ve kept Him out of our wounds and struggles, preferring to avoid pain instead of allowing Him to transform it.

Deception: The Lies We Start to Believe
The enemy is also a deceiver. He lies constantly, cleverly, and relentlessly.

Jesus called him "the father of lies," and from the beginning, Satan has worked to get people to doubt God’s truth and forget their identity. He wants you stuck in cycles of sin, shame, and self-doubt, believing you’ll never change. He’ll whisper that you’re a failure, that you’re not good enough, that you’re too far gone.

The enemy wants you to forget who you are in Christ. He wants to convince you that your standing with God is based on how well you’re performing spiritually.

“You’ll never change.”
 “You’re a bad person.”
 “You’re not really loved.”

And perhaps the most painful attack, he wants you to think your Father doesn’t love you.

Simba and the Struggle to Remember
To illustrate this, let’s look at a story that’s captured generations, The Lion King.

Simba, after a tragic event, flees from his past, believing a lie, that he was responsible for his father's death. He runs away from his destiny. He forgets who he is.

He lives in distraction and comfort for a season. It’s fun. It’s easy. But eventually, he’s reminded of his true identity. He is the son of the king.

The journey back is difficult. He has to face his wounds. He has to fight his fears. But it's in that return that Simba steps into who he was always meant to be.

This is the same tactic the enemy uses against us. He wants to lure us away into a “far country,” like the prodigal son, convincing us that we can thrive without God. But God desires to restore us, not just to survive, but to rule and reign as sons and daughters of the King.

Our Confidence Is Not in Performance
One of the most damaging lies we believe is that our spiritual standing with God rises and falls based on how we’re doing.

Many of us evaluate ourselves like this:

How consistent are my devotions?
Am I doing better with my anger?
Have I resisted temptation this week?

When we feel like we’re failing in those areas, we start to shrink back. We assume God must view us the way we view ourselves, disappointed, frustrated, or distant.

 But this is not the truth of the gospel.

 Our confidence is not built on spiritual performance; it’s built on the finished work of Jesus.
 He came. He died. He rose again. He ascended to the right hand of the Father. And now the Spirit empowers each one of us.

 We are not alone in this. The saints who’ve gone before us are cheering us on, just as the author of Hebrews describes. All of heaven is on our side. If God is for us, who can be against us?

 Stand Firm in Your Identity
 The enemy’s goal is always to make you forget who you are.

 But Jesus has already secured your place. Your spiritual highs and lows do not change your identity as a child of God. Even in failure, you can move toward Him. Even in struggle, you can approach the throne of grace with confidence.

 Because it’s not about what you’ve done, it’s about what He has done.

 So don’t shrink back. Don’t drift. Don’t believe the lie that you’re too far gone.

 Stand firm in the truth. You are loved. You are seen. You are called. And because of Jesus, you can live in confidence, not fear.

 "We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." (Hebrews 10:39)

 You are not alone in the fight. You are not without hope.

Stand firm. And remember who you are.



This blog is based on the message shared by Student Pastor Tim Yeager at our CityRise West U Baptist campus on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. Check out the full message below!