Is the Work of Satan Real?

By Jacqueline, the Unimportant Homemaker

I’ve spoken before about the dangers of becoming overly obsessed with Satan. It’s a real concern—when we give him too much attention, we risk magnifying his presence in our lives beyond what Scripture permits. However, I also want to be very clear: Satan is real. His work in the world is active, destructive, and devastating. And to ignore or downplay that reality would be spiritually irresponsible.

The Bible does not present the devil as a harmless metaphor or spooky bedtime story. No, he is a very real enemy—and yet, he is a defeated one, operating only under the sovereign permission of Almighty God.

Satan: A Tool in the Hands of God

In the book of Job, we’re given a rare glimpse behind the heavenly curtain. Satan comes before God to request permission to test Job—and God grants it. Job never knew about this divine conversation. He simply experienced the fallout: death, disease, and devastation. What’s sobering is this—God never asked Job how he felt about it. He didn’t consult him on what trials he preferred. He simply allowed it, knowing that He would be glorified and Job would be refined.

Likewise, in Luke 22:31, Jesus tells Peter:

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.”

Again, Satan had to ask. And again, God allowed the sifting. This reminds us that none of the enemy's schemes can touch the child of God unless our Father first grants permission.

Let that humble you. Let it sober you. And let it draw you to your knees in prayer.

Satan’s Power Is Great—But Not Supreme

Satan has significant power, and Scripture doesn’t hide it. He blinds the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4), keeps them captive (2 Timothy 2:26), and wreaks havoc wherever God allows it.

In the book of Job alone, we see Satan:

• Cause the death of Job’s children.

• Strike Job’s body with painful disease.

• Use natural disasters to destroy Job’s property and servants.

• Incite violence through raiding tribes.

• Turn Job’s wife against him.

• And sit back as Job's friends speak foolishly in God's name.

In the New Testament, Satan also:

• Enters Judas to betray Christ (Luke 22:3).

• Afflicts people with demons and disease.

• Tempts Christ Himself.

• Opposes the gospel at every turn.

It’s foolish to ignore this. And yet, many believers only acknowledge Satan in theory, never allowing his opposition to drive them to greater dependence on God.

Not a Rival, but a Servant

Let us not be mistaken: There are not two ultimate powers in the universe. God has no rival.

Satan is not an equal opposite to God. He is a created being, fully under God’s authority. He doesn’t have free reign over believers. He doesn’t get to do whatever he pleases. He is on a leash—and it is God who holds it.

That truth doesn’t remove the sting of spiritual warfare, but it should plant our feet firmly in the hope that God is still in control, even when we feel pressed in by principalities, hatred, rebellion, and suffering.

Why Does God Let Him Roam?

Here’s the uncomfortable question: If God has power over Satan… why let him attack us at all?

Why should we, the redeemed bride of Christ, endure the schemes of a defeated foe?

Why should we suffer at the hands of one whom God could instantly destroy?

Scripture doesn't give us a full answer to these questions, but it gives us enough: God uses even the devil for His own purposes. Satan is not winning. He’s unknowingly participating in God’s refining fire.

As Romans 8:28 assures us:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good…”

Yes, even Satan’s attacks.

We are not promised ease. In fact, we are promised the opposite. But we are promised that our suffering is not wasted.

“If we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
(Romans 8:17)

God intends to bring His bride—you and me—to full maturity. That maturity comes through trial, through testing, through pain. And Satan, whether he knows it or not, plays a role in that process.

From Frustration to Faith

I’ve thought about this often—especially when life feels hard, when the road of obedience feels treacherous and never-ending. If I had it my way, the Christian life would be soft, simple, and padded with ease. But that’s not the path of salvation.

Jesus didn’t suffer so we wouldn’t have to—He suffered so that our suffering would have meaning.

So that in our hardship, we would be refined.
So that in our weakness, we would turn to Him.
So that in our trials, His strength would be seen.
So that in the fire, our faith would come out purer than gold.
And yes—even so that Satan’s schemes would serve a greater glory than he ever intended.

Final Words

Don’t fear Satan—but don’t forget him either.

He is real. He is active. And he is against the children of God.
But he is not sovereign. He is not all-powerful.
And he is not working outside of God’s control.

So let us be serious-minded, alert in prayer, anchored in the Word, and ever aware that we fight not against flesh and blood—but we fight with the armor of God.

And no matter what Satan brings our way, we can rest in the truth that nothing—absolutely nothing—can separate us from the love of Christ.

“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

- Jacqueline, the Unimportant Homemaker