We must not only have an adequate theology of God, but also of Satan, when we are suffering. We are to avoid the two extremes: overestimating Satan’s power and therefore being intimidated by him, or underestimating his power and becoming vulnerable to his schemes…even when God allows Satan to break through His hedge around us, it is one of the ways we are lovingly chastened by God. Our chastening is always out of God’s love and for a greater good for us [and others]. Often the greatest lessons of faith and obedience are only learned through His chastening. As much as we regret that these things are true, they are hard-hitting realities of what it means for the just to live by faith. Even as God placed limits on what Satan could do to Job, so he restrains Satan from his attacks on us.
Donald Smith
