Satan's Five Deadly Ds

By Kay Arthur

Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. I Peter 5:8

Has disappointment ever caused you to go into an emotional tailspin? Have you ever felt you might drown in discouragement? Then, my friend, you have engaged in warfare with the evil one and allowed him to penetrate your line of defense. Let’s take a look at how you can be more than a conqueror over Satan’s Five Deadly Ds: disappointment, discouragement, dejection, despair, and demoralization.


The First Deadly D – Disappointment
But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD, I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand. Psalm 31:14-15

To counter attack disappointment you need to launch the Christian’s Strategic Defense System – faith that in meekness praises God in every situation by seeing it as God’s sovereign appointment.


The Second Deadly D - Discouragement
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

After Moses died, God was careful to admonish Joshua to “be strong and courageous.” Years earlier the Israelites believed the report of the spies who became discouraged by the giants in the land God had given them to occupy. So they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years! What about you? Have you listened to the world’s analysis of your condition rather than courageously believing your God?


The Third Deadly D – Dejection
But as for me, I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. Psalm 71:14

Have you ever found yourself mired in the mud of Dejection? Instead of the joy of the LORD being your strength (Nehemiah 8:10), you are about to faint (Isaiah 61:3). When dejection pulls you down into its depths, reach up and take hold of His hand with the act of praise.


The Fourth Deadly D - Despair
Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence. Psalm 42:5

The fourth deadly D is Despair – to despair is to lose or abandon hope. Despair leaves you apathetic, your mind is numb. O precious child of God, when you are in despair, look for a specific promise of God to counter each cause of despair. Then you will find yourself saying Psalm 42:5 with the psalmist.


The Final Deadly D – Demoralization
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

The finally deadly D is Demoralization. Demoralized people run in circles – if they have the strength to run! They cannot get their act together in any of the disciplines of life. Many times they are simply paralyzed with fear. But God has not given you a spirit of fear, rather a sound mind – a mind under control. God loves you. If you are His child, you have His power. Use it.