Do you remember how you felt at the start? You were so confident that it was God who had called you to your task or mission. Now you’re not so sure. It’s so much harder than you expected. As a result, you’ve started to doubt. Maybe you question your own abilities. Maybe you have secretly given up on your dream – even though you’re still going through the motions.

It’s true that God could be redirecting you. Another explanation is that we all have seasons of pruning (even then, the purpose of pruning is to produce new growth). But here’s an even more likely explanation if you’ve been attempting your task or mission for the glory of God: Whatever is happening to you is the work of the Thief, not the work of God. In John 10:10 Jesus said, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

It’s simple. The devil wants to destroy what Jesus wants to build. That doubt you feel? That’s the Thief attempting to create just enough doubt in your Savior and Lord so you will give up. Doubt is his malware of choice. Once you click on it, the virus will quickly spread quickly.

God cares deeply about your life. He wants you to know that he loves you very much. Let’s be careful not to mistake the work of the Thief for the work of God. Ask yourself: Have I lowered my expectations and called it God’s will, when it is really the work of the Thief? Don’t give up. Turn again to Jesus and fix your eyes on him, the author and perfecter of our faith.