When we talk about spiritual warfare, many of us picture dramatic attacks—battles in the spirit realm that come with clear signs of opposition. But what most believers don’t realize is that hindering spirits are often far more subtle than we expect. They can use the people closest to us—yes, even believers—as unwitting tools to plant seeds of doubt, fear, and discouragement. It’s not always what you see in the natural that’s the problem. It’s what’s happening behind the scenes.
Hindering spirits love to manipulate both people and circumstances to frustrate our progress. They might use well-meaning folks who unknowingly speak against the very thing God has called you to do. Or they may stir up sudden delays, distractions, and financial setbacks to keep you spinning your wheels. But make no mistake—there’s a spiritual root to this opposition, and if you’re not discerning, you could miss the real battle that’s happening in the unseen realm.
When Well-Meaning People Become Tools of the Enemy
One of the most difficult things to accept in spiritual warfare is that hindering spirits can work through the people closest to you. It’s hard to imagine that a friend, family member, or even a fellow believer could be used by the enemy. But the Bible shows us that it’s entirely possible. Even those with good intentions can unknowingly become stumbling blocks.
Think about Peter. He loved Jesus, and he was fully committed to Him. Yet, in Matthew 16, when Peter tried to tell Jesus that He would never suffer or die, Jesus rebuked him sharply: “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me” (Matthew 16:23). Peter wasn’t trying to hinder Jesus—he thought he was protecting Him. But in that moment, Peter became a mouthpiece for the enemy without even realizing it.
How many times have we faced a similar situation? You share a vision God gave you with someone, and they immediately start raising concerns, questioning whether you heard God correctly, or suggesting that you should reconsider. They don’t mean to discourage you. They don’t realize that they’re speaking against something God has already confirmed in your heart. But make no mistake—the enemy will use well-meaning people to plant seeds of doubt.
Here’s the reality: Just because someone loves you doesn’t mean they can’t be used by the enemy. It’s not about them being evil or malicious. It’s about the enemy seizing any opportunity to hinder your progress, even if that opportunity comes through the words of someone who cares about you.
Recognizing the Real Source of Discouragement
When discouragement comes, it’s easy to look at the people around us and get frustrated. We start thinking, “Why can’t they just support me?” or “Why are they always speaking against what I know God told me?” But here’s where spiritual discernment comes in. The real source of discouragement is not the people themselves—it’s the spirit working behind the scenes.
Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” When people speak against your vision or plant seeds of doubt, the battle isn’t with them. It’s with the spiritual forces that are using their words to hinder your progress.
It’s critical that we don’t get offended at people when we recognize this. Offense is another tool the enemy will use to slow you down. If he can get you upset, angry, or bitter at the people around you, he’s already won half the battle. Your fight isn’t with them—it’s with the hindering spirits that want to stop you from moving forward.
Circumstantial Setbacks: The Enemy’s Disguised Tools
Hindering spirits don’t just use people. They love to manipulate circumstances as well. Have you ever noticed that right when you’re making progress, something unexpected happens? A delay, a financial problem, a sudden distraction that demands all your attention? These aren’t coincidences. They’re calculated attacks designed to stop your momentum.
Maybe you’re on the verge of launching a new business, and suddenly, all your technology starts malfunctioning. Or perhaps you’re stepping into a new ministry assignment, and out of nowhere, a family crisis pulls you away from your focus. The enemy knows how to stir up circumstances that look completely natural but have a spiritual root. These hindrances aren’t always random—they’re strategic.
Just look at Paul’s experience. In 1 Thessalonians 2:18, he writes, “For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way.” Paul faced delays that weren’t just coincidental travel issues. He discerned that the enemy was actively trying to stop him from fulfilling his mission. If Paul had only looked at the natural circumstances, he might have missed the spiritual warfare behind them.
That’s where many of us get stuck. We get frustrated with the circumstances and start trying to fix everything in the natural. But sometimes, the answer isn’t in working harder or solving the problem yourself. The answer is in recognizing the spiritual attack and going to war in the spirit.
Hindering spirits love to use people and circumstances to block your progress. But now that you know their tactics, you can be better equipped to recognize the spiritual root behind the opposition. Don’t get distracted by the natural—look to the spiritual. When you discern what’s really happening, you can fight the right battle and press forward into the breakthrough that God has for you.
God has given you authority over every hindering spirit, and when you stand firm in your faith, no weapon formed against you will prosper. Stay strong, stay discerning, and trust that God is working all things together for your good.
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