While reading a book on business, I came across an interesting idea:  A business owner should have a strategic view and not a tactical view of his or her business.  
This idea resonated in my spirit, and I knew there was something more that God wanted me to see. In business, strategic planning emphasizes implementing long-term goals and objectives to foster growth and sustainability. On the other hand, tactical planning focuses on the actions employed in reaching the goals and objectives set forth.  
In the spiritual sense, God sets forth a strategy for his people to become all that he has declared they should be — saved, healed, prosperous, joyous, strong, wise, etc. However, sometimes as God’s people strive to carry out the objectives and calling that God has set forth, Satan uses tactics to interfere with the implementation of God’s strategy.
Remember Job? Job had it all — blameless and upright, feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons and three daughters, 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys and a large household. To put it in today’s terms, “Job was a baaad man!” Job had a strategy.  He knew if he remained faithful to God, God would be faithful to him.  
However, in all Job’s prosperity, Satan received permission from God to put Job through the greatest test of his life. Why did God give Satan permission to buffet Job? I believe it was because God was sure of the strategy that he had given to Job, and the test was to ensure that Job also was sure of God’s strategy in his life. Once given the go-ahead, Satan dove into action, launching his attack against Job. Satan’s tactics cost Job his property, children, health, friends, wife and livelihood.
When we meet Job in chapter 19, he is responding to one of his best friends who questions Job’s relationship with God and discounts God’s strategy for Job’s life.  After listening to all that his friends have to say, in verse 25 Job responds, “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the Earth.” In other words, Job says, “I know too much about my God to doubt His strategy for my life. I know that the only One who can save me is alive and well able to carry out what He has planned for my life.”
What a great view Job has there! He looks beyond the momentary tactics of Satan and remains focused on the enduring and imperishable strategy of God. Job, an ordinary man, was able to anchor himself on the only rock he knew — his mighty God. No matter what trials you face, remember that your redeemer lives. He will come through every time. His strategy never fails. His strategy always will be the best plan for your life.  
Don’t doubt the strategy and, more importantly, don’t doubt the strategist.

Morris is a member of the United Ministerial Alliance of Liberty County.