"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."
Ephesians 6:12, NAS95.
I'm backing up this morning because as I was re-reading this chapter, I was reminded that we live in very real invisible world that influences us and a place where battles for our lives and the lives of others are being waged. One of the lies of Satan is that there is no Satan and no realm of darkness. He wants us to believe that there is no influence of evil in our lives, relationships, and world. He wants us to only see with natural eyes because if we only battle in the natural, He knows we will lose.
Most of us are looking for natural causes to the problems we have. "It's the economy, the politicians, the religions, the greed, and the dysfunction." While it is true that these are where the fruit of the manifestations of darkness reveal themselves, we have been told that there is an unseen world behind it all.
This brings me to a quick thought about our relationships. Why do we think that our problems with people are simply natural? When we are in conflict, with spouses, children, co-workers, and friends, there is an unseen force at work. We attempt to work it out and it gets worse. It is because Satan's strategy is to isolate us from one another.
There is only one cure. We must bind our hearts in prayer and fight the strategy. Our struggle is not with "them." When you are losing it relationally, especially with family members, simply stop and pray with them. The Holy Spirit will flush out the "forces of this darkness" and you will find peace again.