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Acts 28:1-6

1 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. 2 And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live." 5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

Does it seem that every time something bad happens, people wonder what you did to deserve it?
"Boy, they must have sinned big time, look how God is punishing them." People seem to say.

Just because you are attacked by Satan doesn't mean you have messed up or sinned. In fact it is usually the opposite. Satan can't stand your joy in the Lord and he wants to steal it from you.
But then it could also be a testing from the Lord. Not for punishment, but to help you to grow.

Romans 5:3-5 (NLT) 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us--they help us learn to endure. 4 And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. 5 And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Just as Paul was attacked and bitten by the snake, so are we attacked and even bitten by Satan.
We should learn by Paul's example. He didn't freak out and start yelling at God saying, "You saved me from drowning so You could kill me with a snake."
No, Paul didn't say that at all, in fact Paul just ignored it, and what was the result of his trusting in God.
They stopped judging Paul and started to listen to Paul.

People watch us as Christians, not for how much God prospers us, but rather on how we handle trials when they come our way, and they certainly do.

I remember a real tough trial I was going through a few years ago, nobody knew that I was even going through it. Then one day I was talking to my boss, and I had to let him know what was going on (for one reason or another, I don't remember why).
His response was, "How could you be going through something like that and still do your job and with a smile on your face?" He asked, so I got to share the Lord with him. Although he tried to blow it off, he couldn't deny the fact that my joy was in the Lord and I got to plant a seed. He still watches me as do others, and my prayer always is that people would see the Lord and not me.

People watch you to just as they were watching Paul, but what they saw is not a man falling, but rather God's love and protection for him.
And they will see the same in you, if you show them the Lord in your life.

So don't let it get you down when you go through trials. God will not allow you to go through anything beyond what you can handle.

1 Cor 10:13 (NLT) But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.

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