When the Attacks Come Harder: A Word for the Weary Believer

There’s something most people don’t tell you when you start walking closer to Jesus.
They talk about peace, about joy, about freedom—and all of that is real. It’s beautiful. It’s life changing.

But what they don’t always mention is that the closer you get to the heart of God, the more resistance you will face.

You don’t really notice it at first. Maybe you start reading your Bible more consistently. Maybe your prayers go deeper than “God, bless this day.” Maybe you finally open your hands and surrender something you’ve been holding too tightly. And for a moment, things feel clear. Your steps feel steady. There’s hope.

Then, out of nowhere, the pressure kicks in.
Old temptations show back up—only now they hit harder. People in your life start acting different. Stress creeps in from places that were once steady. The thoughts in your head grow louder, more accusatory. You question your own growth. You wonder if any of it is even working.

And maybe, deep down, you wonder if God is still with you.
Let me say this clearly: you are not crazy. You are not broken. And you are not alone.
You are simply in the fight.

This is what the enemy does. When you were drifting, he left you alone. But now that you’re pressing in, he’s pressing back. That’s not weakness—that’s warfare. It’s spiritual. It’s personal. And it’s real.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world…”
— Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

See, this world isn’t neutral. We’re living in a battleground, not a playground. And the moment you start tearing down the idols, walking in obedience, or taking your calling seriously, the enemy gets agitated. He doesn’t go down without a fight.
But you don’t have to fear the fight.

Because the Word doesn’t say you’ll be exempt from trouble—it says you’ll be equipped through it.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
— John 16:33 (NIV)

“No weapon forged against you will prevail…”
— Isaiah 54:17 (NIV)

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.”
— Psalm 28:7 (NIV)

God never promised the absence of battles. But He did promise His presence in every single one.

That presence doesn’t always mean a dramatic rescue. Sometimes, it looks like strength to keep going when you’re exhausted. Sometimes it’s a word from Scripture that hits right when you needed it. Sometimes it’s someone texting you, “I’m praying for you” at the exact moment you were ready to walk away.

Those aren’t coincidences. That’s God, walking with you in the fire.
Remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? God didn’t prevent the fire. He didn’t block the furnace. He stepped into it with them.
“...and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
— Daniel 3:25 (NIV)

That’s the kind of God we serve. Not a distant, silent observer—but a present Savior. One who walks into the fight with you.

So, if you feel like you’re under attack, take a breath. The pressure isn’t a sign that God has abandoned you. More often than not, it’s a sign that something real is happening in you. You’re stepping out of the old and into something new. You’re shaking off the chains the enemy wants you to keep wearing.

And it scares him.
He’s throwing everything he can at you to stop your momentum.
But here’s the good news: he can’t win.
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
— James 4:7 (NIV)

You don’t have to figure it all out. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to keep going. Stay grounded. Stay honest. Stay in prayer. Keep reading the Word, even when it feels dry. Keep showing up to worship, even when your mind is spinning. Keep talking to the Lord, even if it’s through tears.

This season may be stretching you. It may be painful. But it’s not pointless.
There is purpose in it. Refining. Strengthening. Deepening.
So press in. The attacks may not stop. But neither will the grace of God. And on the other side of this battle, your faith will be stronger, your walk will be deeper, and your witness will shine brighter.

Because you didn’t quit. You didn’t give up. You kept going.
And God walked every step with you.