The world feels heavy right now. Violence, corruption, and brokenness dominate our feeds. Tragedy after tragedy shows up on the news, and it’s easy to think the real fight is “out there” in the headlines. But what if the bigger danger isn’t just what’s happening in the world—but what those events do inside of us?
During World War II, Hitler was convinced the Allies would invade at Pas-de-Calais. To sell the deception, the Allies built inflatable tanks and broadcast fake radio chatter, drawing German troops away from Normandy—the real invasion site. It worked. Hitler’s army fought the wrong battle because he was distracted by the wrong enemy.
That’s exactly what Satan wants for us, to keep us thinking that our fight is against flesh and blood, when the Bible says it’s actually, “…against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12 ESV).
Often, that frustrating circumstance right in front of us and our emotional response to it isn’t the whole story. There’s more lying underneath. We need to take this note from James 1:19-21, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” We have an opportunity to move slowly with the Spirit, ask for his counsel, listen quickly, speak slowly, and be guarded from anger.
A while back, I was scrolling online after a frustrating day at work. Someone had posted about a topic I cared deeply about, but they were so wrong that it made my blood boil. I was ready to “go to war” in the comments section. But halfway through typing my response, I realized: this wasn’t about defending truth—it was about venting my anger. The real battle wasn’t against them. It was inside me.
That night, God reminded me: “Don’t become a secondary casualty. Don’t let the enemy twist your heart while you’re busy reacting to others.”
“When Christians war with other Christians online in front of non-Christians, the only one who wins is the enemy.”
The hidden war is not just in the world—it’s in our hearts. Fear, lies, anger, and bitterness are the enemy’s fingerprints. The way we respond to what happens around us either draws us into the darkness or sets us apart as light. Ephesians 5:8-10 says, “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” We have the choice to reflect the enemy’s fingerprints or to reflect God’s light to those around us in our responses.
The good news? God doesn’t leave us to fight this war alone. He sees the pain, the lies, and the fear, and He gives us His Spirit to resist. His grace doesn’t just forgive us when we fall—it empowers us to stand firm, to forgive when it feels impossible, and to live as evidence of His kingdom even in dark hours.
Here are three ways to engage in the hidden war this week:
Lord Jesus, thank You for exposing the enemy’s schemes and for giving me strength in Your Spirit. Help me see where fear, lies, or anger are creeping into my heart. Forgive me for the times where I’ve given into them and not waited on you as my Judge. Teach me to forgive as You have forgiven me, and transform my heart so that I may be a light in a dark world. Amen.
Where might the real battle in your life be happening—not out there, but inside your heart?
Want more encouragement? Watch Pastor Carter’s message on Esther 2: