Why Am I Facing Attacks If I’m Anointed by God?
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me…” (Luke 4:18, ESV)
Have you ever wondered why you feel so much resistance when you’re just trying to do what God called you to do? Why does the weight of responsibility come with the sting of opposition? Friend, it’s because you are not only anointed for the assignment, but you are also anointed for the spiritual attack. Both walk hand in hand, and both are necessary for your growth.
What Does It Mean to Be Anointed?
To be anointed means to be chosen, set apart, and empowered by God’s Spirit to accomplish His purposes. It’s not just a church word; it’s a spiritual reality.
In the Old Testament, anointing was rare. It was limited to a few people, for specific offices and seasons:
Aaron and his sons were anointed as priests (Exodus 28:41).
David was anointed by Samuel to be king (1 Samuel 16:13).
Prophets like Elisha were anointed to carry out God’s work (1 Kings 19:16).
It was temporary, selective, and symbolic.
But under the New Covenant, through Jesus Christ, everything changed. Now every believer is anointed by the Holy Spirit.
“But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.” (1 John 2:20, ESV)
“And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” (2 Corinthians 1:21–22, ESV)
That means as a believer walking with God, the Spirit of God is in you, permanently, powerfully, and personally, equipping you for every assignment.
In the Old Testament, the anointing came upon some for a season. In the New Testament, the anointing abides in all believers for a lifetime.
Understanding Your Assignments
Your first call as a believer will always be to worship and serve God. That’s where everything begins.
From that place of devotion flows your assignments; the unique responsibilities, roles, and opportunities God entrusts to you in each season of life.
But hear me: your assignments are not just the glamorous ones. They aren’t always about microphones, podiums, or stages. Sometimes your greatest assignment is raising your kids in the Lord. Sometimes it’s showing up faithfully in your workplace, mentoring one overlooked person, or serving behind the scenes where no one sees but God.
The very place you’re in right now, the one you’re tempted to dismiss as “too small,” may be exactly where God wants you.
I’ve been there. Have you ever said, “Okay Lord, I’m ready to move on now,” but it seemed like heaven didn’t get the message? That’s often because God is still working something through you and in you where you are.
And remember this: assignments can shift and change. Don’t hold tighter to the assignment than you do to God. Stay flexible. Stay surrendered. Be willing to move when He says move.
And know this: God will always give you the grace to finish the assignment. Even when you feel unqualified, unprepared, or like an imposter, the God who called you is whispering: “This is your assignment. Rely on Me.”
Your assignment is not about your ability—it’s about God’s anointing on your availability.
The Reality of Spiritual Attacks
Now here’s the other side: with every assignment comes a spiritual attack.
And let me be clear, we’re not just talking about people attacks. People may sometimes be used in the process, but they are not the source. Scripture reminds us:
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12, ESV)
Spiritual attacks can come in many forms of slander that try to stain your name, lies spoken against your character, waves of discouragement that make you question your calling, distractions that pull you off mission, division that creeps into your relationships, or pressure and opposition that rise up just as you’re about to move forward.
And this is nothing new. The early church experienced the same:
Peter and John were thrown in prison (Acts 4:3).
Stephen was slandered and stoned (Acts 6:11; Acts 7:59).
Paul was beaten, falsely accused, shipwrecked, and jailed (2 Corinthians 11:23–27).
And let’s not forget the greatest example - Jesus Himself.
He was betrayed by one He mentored (Judas).
Denied by one in His inner circle (Peter).
Rejected by the very people He prayed for and healed.
Crucified by the ones He came to die for.
And still, in His most painful moment, He prayed:
“And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do..” (Luke 23:34, ESV)
That’s our model.
But let’s be honest, this is where we, the church, often struggle and have the greatest opportunity. We’ve under-taught suffering. We emphasize gain and fulfillment, but we forget the gospel is not primarily about our comfort; it’s about unconditional love, sacrifice, and redemption.
What is the gospel? The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world, lived a sinless life, died a sacrificial death for our sins, and rose again on the third day, offering forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and eternal life to all who believe (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4, ESV).
So yes, attacks will come. But God still gets the glory:
When you choose to pray instead of lashing out.
When suffering pushes you deeper into dependence on Him.
When you emerge from the storm wiser, softer, and more Christlike.
If you don’t separate the person from the spirit behind the attack, you’ll end up living offended instead of living in prayer. And an offended heart can’t carry an anointed assignment.
Grace for a Higher Perspective
Here’s the beautiful part: God doesn’t just give grace for the hard seasons. He gives grace to see with His perspective.
From the ground view, all you see are the painful pieces, the betrayal, the pressure, the disappointment. But grace lifts you to the aerial view, where you begin to see how every piece fits into God’s bigger plan.
From His view, the slander is shaping your humility.
The opposition is strengthening your perseverance.
The betrayal is teaching you to depend more fully on Him.
When you see from His perspective, your heart stays soft. You can forgive. You can extend grace. You can keep praying instead of growing bitter.
“bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Colossians 3:13, ESV)
Why God Allows Attacks
So why does God even allow the attacks? Because they shape you. They grow you. They prepare you.
Look at Job. He lost everything: family, wealth, and health. He couldn’t see God’s purpose in it, and neither could his friends. Yet by the end of his story, Job discovered that God’s purpose was greater than his pain, and His glory outshone the loss (Job 42:10–12).
God’s purpose is always greater than the pain of the moment.
My Story
I’ll be real with you, no matter how long you’ve been serving and leading, challenges will come. Don’t be fooled by appearances. Even the most polished leaders have faced valleys that almost broke them.
I’ve had seasons where I felt overlooked. Seasons where betrayal cut deep. Seasons where I honestly asked God “why” more times than I could count. I’ve always been the child who asked “why” and “why not.”
And sometimes, in the thick of it, I couldn’t see the purpose. The only thing I could hold onto was this truth: God will give you the grace to endure.
I’ve had my share of opposition and hurdles. I’ve had seasons where it felt like, “if it’s not one thing, it’s another.” I’ve even cried out, “God, I’m just doing what You called me to do!” and maybe you can relate.
One particular season came out of nowhere, unexpected, unwarranted, like it hit me from left field. But isn’t that how most of these seasons are? They’re the ones that catch us off guard, the ones that come out of nowhere.
It involved someone I had invested in, prayed for, only to be met with opposition. That cut me deeper than I ever expected. I thought, “Lord, how could this be part of the journey?”
But looking back, that was the season where God sharpened my discernment, deepened my prayer life, and reminded me that people may disappoint, but His faithfulness never does. And I held onto this truth:
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10, ESV)
As leaders, whether in church, nonprofit, or business, we often feel the pressure to keep it all together, never to show weakness. But the truth is, those very seasons of weakness are usually the ones where God does His deepest work. That’s where He proves His strength in us.
And here’s what I’ve learned: even in the most challenging seasons, God is still present. In fact, those are often the seasons when we draw closest to Him, because we know He’s our only help.
But hear me when I say this: you have to allow those seasons to shape you. It is possible to go through a trial and come out bitter instead of better. Don’t let that be your outcome. I always say: never come out of a trial empty-handed. That is never God’s intention.
When I came out of that season, I walked away with more discernment, more wisdom, and more grace for others.
And here’s the truth: you and I both know that won’t be the last trial we face. In this journey, we don’t just “get through” one season and arrive; we graduate from one milestone to another. Each challenge produces something in us.
That’s exactly what James reminds us:
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2–4, ESV)
So maybe you’re in one of those seasons right now. Can I remind you? You are not walking through this for nothing. God is producing something in you, and if you allow Him to, you will come out stronger, wiser, and more like Christ.
Final Encouragement for You
If you’re leading in the church, in a non-profit, or in business, hear my heart: you will face both assignments and attacks. Don’t despise either. The assignment shapes your calling, and the attack refines your character.
The presence of an attack is often the proof of the weight of your assignment.
You are anointed for both. And if you hold steady, pray through, and stay surrendered, you won’t just survive, you’ll come out stronger, wiser, and more like Christ.
“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” (Job 23:10, ESV)
Declaration for You Today:
You are anointed for the assignment.
You are strengthened for the attack.
And by His grace, you are destined to come out as gold.
Your Challenge This Week
Think about the season you are currently in; whether it feels fulfilling, mundane, or even crushing. Ask yourself: What assignment has God entrusted to me right here, right now? Then, look honestly at the opposition you’ve been facing. Instead of resenting it, surrender it to God and ask Him: Lord, what are You producing in me through this?
Write it down. Pray over it. And refuse to come out of this season empty-handed. Let the trial produce perseverance. Let the attack produce discernment. And let the assignment produce fruit that glorifies God.
Never come out of a trial empty-handed—that is never God’s intention.
La-Kita Gilmore | “Be a Leader Worth Following”