The Value Of A Great Enemy | Jeanne Mayo

March 5th, 2026

There was a time early in my ministry journey when I completely misunderstood the role of an enemy. I thought enemies were distractions, irritations, or spiritual potholes to avoid at all costs. I prayed them away, rebuked them away, and—if I’m honest—sometimes cried them away. But years and seasoning have a way of reshaping your perspective. Looking back now, I can say with conviction that my enemies have added more value to my life, my character, my walk with Jesus, and even my ministry excellence than some of my closest friends ever did.

It’s not that friends aren’t gifts. They are. But enemies? They are chisels. They shape you, sharpen you, and expose what needs to be strengthened. And for women in ministry, let’s be honest: two of your greatest challenges will often come from insecure men or jealous women. It’s not pretty, but it’s true. Anything God loves, hell hates—and anything God intends to use, hell tries to sabotage. And when Satan wants to derail you, he rarely starts with a crisis. He starts with a person. A specific person.

But if you learn to see your enemies through the lens of God’s sovereignty, you’ll discover that they are often the very tools God uses to grow you into the leader He designed you to be.

What an Enemy Looks Like in Real Life
Enemies don’t always come with fangs and a pitchfork. Sometimes they come with a smile, a handshake, or a prayer request. But their impact is unmistakable. An enemy in your life is often:

Anyone who breaks your focus.
They pull your attention away from what God has called you to do.
Anyone who weakens your passion for God’s future for you.
They water down your fire, your drive, your clarity.
Anyone who resents your progress.
They don’t celebrate your wins—they question them.
Anyone who prefers discussing your flaws over your future.
They are more interested in your missteps than your mission.

And here’s the uncomfortable truth: many times, my enemies have done more to push me toward excellence than my friends ever did. Joseph understood this when he said, “What the enemy meant for evil, God turned for good.” Sometimes the very people who try to break you end up building you.

Four Reasons Your Enemies Are Actually Beneficial
Jesus didn’t sugarcoat it. In Matthew 10:22, He said, “You will be hated by all men for My name’s sake…” Not might be. Will be. But He also promised that endurance would lead to salvation. So if enemies are inevitable, we might as well learn from them.

1. Enemies Cultivate Humility

Most people can’t survive their own success. Success has a way of inflating us, blinding us, and convincing us that we’re the exception to the rule. But enemies? They keep us grounded. They remind us that we’re human, that we’re flawed, and that we desperately need Jesus.

Humility becomes a magnet in your life—drawing people toward you, not because you’re impressive, but because you’re real. We lead people through our strengths, but we connect to them through our weaknesses. And nothing exposes your weaknesses quite like an enemy.

2. Enemies Reveal Your Limitations

Your enemies will often point out things you’d rather ignore. Sometimes they exaggerate. Sometimes they lie. But sometimes—painfully—they tell the truth. And if what they say rattles you deeply, it may be because there’s a seed of truth in it that God wants to address.

Whatever God didn’t place in you by giftedness, He placed near you in someone else. Your limitations aren’t liabilities—they’re invitations to community.

And don’t forget: enemies are often the bridge between obscurity and significance. David was just a shepherd boy until he met Goliath. One enemy. One moment. One victory. And everything changed.

3. Enemies Force You to Use Hidden Gifts

Pressure reveals what comfort conceals. When an enemy rises up, something inside you rises too. Courage you didn’t know you had. Strategy you didn’t know you could think of. Strength you didn’t know you carried.

Winston Churchill once said, “History will be kind to me because, by God’s grace, I will write it.” Enemies force you to pick up the pen.

How to Deal Wisely With Your Enemies

If you’re going to last in ministry—or in life—you need a healthy theology of enemies. Here are some truths that will help you navigate them well:

You will always have an enemy.
If you’re doing anything meaningful, someone will oppose it.
Your enemy is anyone who resents your desire for increase.
Jealousy is the trophy mediocrity pays to excellence.
Hurt people hurt people.
Sometimes the person you call an enemy is simply someone who feels wounded by you.
We create enemies when we react instead of respond.
Proverbs 15:1 reminds us that "a soft answer turns away wrath, gut grievous words stir up more anger."
Your enemy is anyone who fans a weakness God is trying to remove.
The wrong friends can sabotage your future faster than any devil.
People are down on what they’re not up on.
Communicate clearly. Confusion breeds conflict.
Anyone who kills your faith is an enemy.
Protect the dream God is birthing in you.
Anyone who keeps you chained to your past is an enemy.
God is always moving you forward.
Sometimes your enemies are close.
Proximity increases the potential for pain.
You cannot defeat your enemy in your own strength.
Psalm 118:6 reminds us that the Lord is on our side. Victory looks different ten years later than it does in the moment.

Jeanne’s Four Keys to Overcoming the Enemies in Your Life

1. Become Obsessed With Pursuing the Lord and Integrity

When the enemy gets big in your life, your focus shifts. You stop looking at Jesus and start looking at the problem. That’s dangerous. A crisis always reintroduces a person to themselves. Let it reintroduce you to Jesus instead.

2. Refocus on the Important Goals and Rituals in Your Life

Peter Drucker said, “First things first, last things not at all.”

Enemies distract. Purpose refocuses. Return to the disciplines that anchor you.

3. Consult People Who Have Been Through Similar Battles

Find people who have walked through conflict and come out without bitterness. Their wisdom will save you from unnecessary wounds.

4. Stay Focused on Your Goals

Your enemy wants to derail you. God wants to develop you. Keep your eyes on the assignment, not the opposition.

Closing Thought
If you’re ever going to be a real winner in God’s eyes, you’re going to have to learn to not always win. Sometimes the greatest victory is refusing to fight a battle God never asked you to fight. Sometimes the greatest strength is choosing peace. And sometimes the greatest growth comes from the very enemy you once prayed away.

Enemies aren’t obstacles—they’re opportunities. And when you let God use them, they become some of the greatest teachers you’ll ever have.

Posted in Conflict, Spiritual Warfare
Posted in Jeanne Mayo