Not everything that feels hard is the devil.
Sometimes it’s discipline.
Sometimes it’s growth.
Sometimes it’s just the road you have to walk to get stronger.
I’ve learned that if we’re not careful, we’ll rebuke the very thing God is using to mature us. We’ll call it warfare when it’s actually weight training for the soul.
There is a real enemy. Scripture is clear.
Ephesians 6:12 (CSB)
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness…”
There are seasons when resistance is spiritual. When temptation feels strategic. When confusion isn’t random. When something is clearly trying to pull you off assignment.
That’s warfare.
But here’s the part we don’t always talk about.
Not every hard thing is hell. Some of it is just development.
David fought lions and bears before he ever faced Goliath. That wasn’t distraction—that was preparation. Joseph went through betrayal and prison before the palace. Jesus was led into the wilderness before public ministry. The Spirit led Him there.
Sometimes the wilderness isn’t punishment. It’s positioning.
We’re quick to label trials as attacks. But James gives us another lens:
James 1:2–4 (CSB)
“Consider it a great joy… whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
Produces.
That word matters.
Endurance isn’t handed to you. It’s built. And most of the time, it’s built in uncomfortable places.
According to research from the American Psychological Association, resilience isn’t something people are born with—it’s developed through adversity. Hard seasons, when navigated well, actually increase emotional strength and problem-solving capacity.
That lines up with Scripture.
Distractions pull you off purpose.
Development pushes you into it.
Distractions make you smaller.
Development stretches you.
The question isn’t “Is this hard?”
The question is “Is this shaping me?”
Because sometimes what feels like opposition is actually alignment.
Sometimes what feels like delay is strengthening.
Sometimes what feels like pressure is God increasing your capacity.
Victory doesn’t always come through removal. Sometimes it comes through endurance.
And if we can learn to discern the difference between the real enemy and real growth, we’ll stop fighting the wrong battles.
Some things you bind in prayer.
Some things you build through perseverance.
And sometimes, what we’re trying to escape is the very thing God is using to bring us into the version of ourselves that can actually carry the victory.
Stay the course.
Not everything is an attack.
Some of it is preparation.
District Elder & Pastor Harold Robertson, Jr. is a seasoned IT Professional and spiritual leader who bridges technology and faith to drive innovation in schools, churches, and communities. With certifications in ITIL, Google Workspace, AI, and church administration, he empowers organizations to thrive through strategic tech integration and leadership.
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Pastor Harold Robertson, Jr.
District Elder & Pastor Harold Robertson, Jr. is a seasoned IT Professional and spiritual leader who bridges technology and faith to drive innovation in schools, churches, and communities. With certifications in ITIL, Google Workspace, AI, and church administration, he empowers organizations to thrive through strategic tech integration and leadership.
