How to Tell If It’s God, You, or the Enemy

Q: Is it really possible for the devil to influence our thoughts—even through something as holy as our conscience?

A: Yes, and faithful people are often the most targeted. Our conscience is a sacred inner compass. But like any human faculty, it can be manipulated if we’re spiritually or emotionally vulnerable. The devil, called “the accuser,” specializes in twisting good things subtly—turning inner promptings of guilt or responsibility into weapons of shame and despair.

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Q: What does it look like when the enemy manipulates the conscience?

A: It often sounds like guilt, but it brings hopelessness. It can even feel like humility, but it erodes your dignity. For example:

• “You’re a failure as a father.”
• “God is disappointed in you.”
• “You’re a burden, and people would be better off without you.”

These lies mimic the voice of conscience. But instead of calling you back to God, they isolate you. Instead of inviting you to repentance, they drag you toward despair.

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Q: If God’s voice comes to us as a thought, how can we possibly tell it apart from our own mind—or worse, from temptation?

A: That’s the heart of the matter—and a very deep insight. As thinkers like Jordan Peterson note, we experience everything internally. Even if God speaks to you, it will feel like a thought—unless you’re visited by an angel, and even then, it gets processed in your mind.

So discernment isn’t about waiting for a “different kind” of voice. It’s about noticing the effect of the thought:

• Does it bring peace, conviction, clarity, or humility?
• Or does it create confusion, fear, hopelessness, or shame?

The voice of God convicts to restore. It calls you back, gives you hope, and tells you that change is possible.
The voice of the enemy accuses to destroy. It makes you want to give up, hide, or hate yourself.

This is why daily examination, prayer, and spiritual guidance are so important. Without reflection and community, you may mistake a subtle lie for divine direction.

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Q: Why is this more dangerous when someone is alone or isolated?

A: Isolation creates an echo chamber in the mind. Without truth spoken from others—friends, mentors, spiritual directors—even lies can begin to sound reasonable. We weren’t meant to discern alone. Even the saints needed help.

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Q: Have other faithful people experienced this? Or am I just spiritually weak?

A: You’re not weak—you’re human. Saints like Ignatius of Loyola, John of the Cross, and even modern spiritual leaders have described this kind of battle. What matters most isn’t whether you’re attacked—it’s whether you bring it into the light. God honors that courage.

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Final Reflection:

If God speaks to you, it will sound like a thought—but not all thoughts that feel “spiritual” are from God. That’s why discernment is not optional in the life of faith. Learn to recognize what leads to truth and love, and what leads to fear and despair. God speaks peace. The enemy speaks poison. Your job is to learn the difference—and speak that truth to others when they forget.

Written in collaboration with ChatGPT