Is it God or the Devil?

Durring the witch hunts, someone would say, a bad thing happened to me, then another unlucky thing, then some statistical event happened ( not those words, ) they would then accuse an unpopular person of cursing them.
Where are you on this decent into superstition.

Harsh words but get real things happen and they don't happen because of a witch or because of a demon.

Start studying scripture. Here's a challenge where does it say " I know the plans I have for you. "
Use Google to find it and compare it with Romans8:28.
What do you learn from these verse?

"wonder what it means to say the devil is in the details."

Means what appears simple, actually has a hidden complication.

The following is my opinion only.

I would think punishment is reserved for blatantly sinning - you know its wrong to do what you're doing, but you went and did it anyway. If you're unsure, and it's not God's will, you might keep encountering small problems to hinder what you're doing. If it is God's will, usually, you will have some kind of certainty about it, the opposition will be more direct and as a result of continuing to do God's will, and there will also be signs/encouragement along the way. The temptation to stop won't come from not knowing if it's God's will or not, but rather the overt difficulties in continuing, or the worldly rewards for stopping.

That's a good question.
Sometimes it's hard to know when we face a challenge. I don't want to attribute to God working in my life something to the devil.
Job did the opposite when he lost his family and fortune. He accepted it as simply God's will for his life. That didn't mean that he should not pray for His help.

One thing I try to do is to examine my heart to see if God might be disciplining me.
Then, did the challenge relate to obedience or disobedience?
What would the devil have to gain by the difficulty?
Is this going to bring glory to God?
Those are a few questions I sugegest for trying to determining God's will in the situation.

Either way, we should search our heart, flee to God and read His Word diligently. It has the answers.

Seems like it would depend . Sometimes the devil could be attacking a weakness , other times God could be teaching a lesson or using some situation for some purpose other times could be the result of our own dumb choice , and something God is saving us from other times it’s part of Gods ll we simply won’t understand until later looking back from the mountaintop , that offers a new view of the valley from when we are in it

I’d say “ it’s all relative “ and part of the grand design of God purifying I to himself a peculiar people ready willing and even zealous to do good and not evil towards one another

a piece of raw precious metal needs to go through a process of refinement and purification before it’s finished and becomes a pure valuable piece of metal to be made into a treasure . But even when it is t purified and refined yet the value is already there to the craftsman he sees the shining pure gold even looking at the raw earth materials before it’s refined and knows what he’s going to fashion the metal into for his purpose and usefulness

But the process still must happen even through the craftsman onows how it’s going to end in a piece of shining useful valuable material

what I mean is God is ultimately in power but because mankind chose in and wickedness he also is allowing the results of thier choices to unfold on earth where they have dominion and freedom and rule . Man chose In the beginning the course they would traverse sometimes God himself is inter e ing in the course of actions like when Jesus came to die and save everyone

that is God intervening to save mankind from the end of thier course and choice in the beginning he’s done thit’s many times in the ot but did it once for all time in Christ by the gospel

The world however we live in Is filled with much that is not the Will of God but the result of man’s transgression and rebellion against him

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:

but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:16-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Saved from death from perishing with the world and the wickedness that rules it and fills it through mankind

“And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

My point of all this is because of this sometimes it’s satans work other times it’s our own fault and bad choice other times it’s God working some thing on his own to accomplish something great and good through people or a person

mankinds corruption and rebellion caused a lot of issues not designed by God so there’s a lot of factors at play on the world still vying for men’s souls

The Book of Job (chapters 1 and 2) makes it clear that the devil and his followers are the immediate causes along with our own sinful natures of our suffering. Job and his friends had a bad theology that believed big sins cause big suffering. God has two kinds of plans for us, his permissive will to allow bad things to happen to us to teach us spiritual growth and his direct will. Such suffering is not God's fault because it comes from our own sinfulness that still remains in us (Job's bad ideas about suffering) and Satan's attacks.

On the other hand, God has many blessings in store for us that he directly causes, just as he did at the end of the Book of Job.

Sin.. everything we see has been touched by sin which equals death. How are we living? If I read my bible some times and go to Church.. maybe some days and watch what I want but not to bad and read anything but not to awful or sinful, watch the news on and on. For me this will have a price. Satan comes to kill steal and destroy. God came to give us life. We all have to make a choice I'm not talking about believing in Christ. We can not be part of two kingdoms. Now if I am living for Him every min of every hour of every day of ever week and every month so forth so on. Life will still hit me yet now GOD can act. I can not serve two masters.

In cases like this some will bring up job. Job said something I think 3 times Some will say God allow the devil to do it. Hmm I can go rob a store, break into a house car, steal something from work and wow nothing happened it seems GOD allow it. We cannot forget God said through His word " In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, wo things ". Christ said " My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight". We read Satan telling Christ “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

Take.. don't you just love Him? Well I didn't remember the scripture so I just asked and haha just popped in (thank you praise you Father) "delight your self in the lord He will give you the desires of your heart". Some even I have stopped there yet keep reading "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this". Ever read the promises that are yours?

So MsMediator to make it simple when fear pops up in my life "no God has not given me the spirit of fear but of power love and a sound mine. Sad no joy no peace.. no its written I have the joy of the lord and the peace of God which surpassed all understanding , will guard my heart and my mine mind in Christ Jesus. I walk by faith I live by faith.

No one really knows. Much happens in the spirit realm which we are not aware of. Also God has already said that all believers will suffer afflictions and tribulations (some more that others). At the same time the Enemy of our souls is constantly attacking Christians, particularly those who are faithfully serving the Lord. And some things simply happen because of human carelessness.

it can be human negligence, a season of suffering or just something unexplainable which is natural occurrence. the old testament book of Eclesiastes explains that God has not promised to answer every problem of life but has commanded us to live joyfully, responsibly & wisely.

Our misfortunes are simply that, misfortunes.

There is no need to invoke spiritual powers into everyday events.

New International Version Ecclesiastes 9:11
I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.

Christians are not promised a life without misfortunes.

God has put certain laws in force and they will be in effect until the end of time. For instance, gravity. Or the laws of nature. Also, the Bible tells us that choices have consequences, and God has certain “rules” or laws that are always going to be true—like you will reap what you sow, Galations 6:7 or 1Peter 3:10- If you want to love life and see good days then don’t talk bad about anyone and don’t lie. So, some things that happen to us are our own fault or consequences of our choices.
For something like stumping your toe and falling down, that just seems like a natural law—if you trip, you might fall. Universal for anyone. Neither God nor Satan.
Another guideline is James 1:13-14. God does not temp us with EVIL. In other words, God does not temp us to steal, or murder, or commit sexual sin. Those temptations would come from Satan because they are evil and woujd cause us to sin. However, God does say that he “tests” our minds and hearts by His word. ( or instructions).) Jeremiah 1:20 to see if we love Him and will do what He says.
A good book to read is the book of proverbs . It is a book of choices and consequences that God has put into place to help us live a happy life. I hope this helps.

Is it possible that what we see as natural law is merely God's regular and constant upholding of all things by the power of His word ala Hebrews 1:3?

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

The book of Job demonstrates that Satan is limited by God. If God allows suffering to come upon a Christian, it is to teach a valuable lesson, and to rearrange one’s priorities.

God has put certain laws in force and they will be in effect until the end of time. For instance, gravity. Or the laws of nature. Also, the Bible tells us that choices have consequences, and God has certain “rules” or laws that are always going to be true—like you will reap what you sow, Galations 6:7 or 1Peter 3:10- If you want to love life and see good days then don’t talk bad about anyone and don’t lie. So, some things that happen to us are our own fault or consequences if our choices.
For something like stumping your toe and falling down, that just seems like a natural law—if you trip, you might fall. Universal for anyone. Neither God nor Satan.
Another guideline is James 1:13-14. God does not temp us with EVIL. In other words, God does not temp us to steal, or murder, or commit sexual sin. Those temptations would come from Satan because they are evil and woujd cause us to sin. However, God does say that he “tests” us by His word. ( or instructions).)

indeed! if we all can only master that.