Have you ever noticed that as you begin to heal, the people closest to you sometimes seem to react in ways that reopen old wounds?
What if it isn’t just about them — but about how the enemy tries to use their brokenness, and even yours, to pull you back into pain and division?
When Brokenness Becomes a Battlefield
When we begin healing, we often become more aware of the wounds in others — especially those closest to us. We start to see insecurity, jealousy, pride, or control for what they are: unhealed pain.
But sometimes, what we fail to see is how the enemy uses that brokenness — not just to wound us, but to divide us.
Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
This means our real battle isn’t with the person who hurt us, it’s with the spiritual influence trying to keep both of us bound in cycles of pain.
The enemy knows that if he can use brokenness to breed resentment, comparison, or offense between people who are meant to love each other, he can stop healing before it ever begins.
So today, we’re talking about how the devil weaponises the wounds in the people closest to us and how we, as followers of Christ, can move past it with discernment, grace, and strength.
The Devil’s Strategy — Division Through Wounds
The devil rarely attacks outright; he manipulates what’s already there. He uses pain as his entry point.
When someone’s heart is unhealed, their wound becomes a doorway.
* Insecurity becomes comparison or control.
* Fear becomes manipulation.
* Rejection becomes defensiveness or emotional distance.
* Pride becomes blindness to correction.
The enemy doesn’t create the wound — he amplifies it.
He whispers lies that sound like truth:
* “They don’t respect you.”
* “You’re being replaced.”
* “They think they’re better than you.”
* “You’ll always be the one who gives more.”
And before long, what started as pain turns into projection, envy, or bitterness,
not just in them, but sometimes in us too.
The goal is always the same: to destroy unity and to make love seem dangerous.
John 10:10
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Wherever the enemy brings destruction, Jesus offers restoration. But we can’t restore what we refuse to recognise.
Signs That Brokenness Is Being Weaponised
You may be experiencing spiritual manipulation through brokenness if:
* You notice the same painful dynamics repeating in relationships, even when you try to set healthy boundaries.
* Someone close to you consistently misinterprets your growth as rejection.
* Conversations meant for peace always end in confusion or guilt.
* You feel emotionally drained after interactions, as though your peace is constantly being stolen.
* You sense spiritual heaviness or unrest after conflict.
These are not coincidences, they are signs of spiritual interference. The enemy capitalises on pain to stir misunderstanding, pride, and emotional reaction.
The Human Side — Free Will and Responsibility
Now, it’s important to understand: people still have free will. The devil can tempt, but he cannot force.
Every person has a choice — to yield to their flesh or to yield to the Spirit.
James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
When someone gives in to jealousy, offense, or manipulation, it’s because their wound hasn’t yet been surrendered to God. The enemy takes what’s unhealed and uses it to cause harm — often unintentionally.
This doesn’t mean we excuse sin or enable toxic behavior. But it helps us remember that hurt people are not the real enemy.
It helps us forgive without pretending.
It helps us set boundaries without bitterness.
And it helps us pray for those who persecute us — not because they’re right, but because we’re choosing to walk in light.
The Spiritual Reality — Healing as Resistance
When you heal, you become spiritually dangerous — because healed people can’t be easily manipulated.
You begin to see patterns for what they are: assignments, not personalities.
You recognise when an argument is more spiritual than emotional.
You learn to pray instead of react.
2 Corinthians 2:10-11 – Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs”
The enemy thrives in unawareness — in our unchecked emotions, unexamined pain, and unspoken resentment.
But healing, forgiveness, and spiritual discernment expose him every time.
When you choose to respond with love instead of retaliation, you disarm the weapon he tried to use against you.
Romans 12:21 – “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Moving Past It — Healing and Holding Boundaries in Love
When someone’s brokenness becomes a weapon, your job is not to absorb it — it’s to discern it.
Here’s how to move forward:
* Recognise the spiritual source. Don’t personalise what’s spiritual. Step back and ask, “What is the real battle here?”
* Guard your peace. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
* Respond, don’t react. Emotional reactions feed the enemy’s plan. Spirit-led responses dismantle it.
* Pray for them. Intercede rather than accuse. The devil wants you to fight each other; God wants you to fight for each other.
* Set wise boundaries. Forgiveness and access are not the same thing. Sometimes love looks like distance until healing happens.
* Stay rooted in truth. The Word reminds you of who the real enemy is and who you are in Christ.
Reflection / Journaling Prompts
* In what situations have I seen the enemy use brokenness — mine or others’ — to create conflict, division or misunderstanding?
* How can I recognise when a situation is spiritual rather than personal?
* What practical steps can I take to protect my peace and respond with grace instead of offense?
* Or how can I respond differently next time I feel spiritually provoked or emotionally triggered?
* What boundaries help me protect peace while still walking in love?
* Who do I need to pray for, not because they’re right, but because I refuse to let bitterness win?
Affirmation
I am not fighting against flesh and blood.
I walk in love, discernment, and spiritual authority.
God equips me to see through deception and respond with grace.
The enemy will not use my pain to control my peace.
Key Verses
Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Romans 12:21 –
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Closing Reflection
Beloved, awareness of the enemy’s schemes isn’t meant to make you fearful — it’s meant to make you powerful.
You can’t always control how others act, but you can control how you respond.
The same God who revealed your wounds can also reveal His wisdom.
The same Spirit that heals you will also protect you.
So when the enemy tries to weaponise the brokenness around you, remember: love is still your greatest defense.
Until next time, stay rooted in truth, wrapped in grace, and always remember — you are beloved. 💛
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