I heard a really good interview with Jonathan Cahn yesterday.... he talked a little bit about spiritual warfare.  He talked about this verse from 1 Peter and why Satan is like a roaring lion.  A roaring lion isn't necessarily a lion who is about to attack because usually lions do not roar when they attack, they are quiet.  Satan roars because he can't really destroy us....he knows he is powerless over Christians.  Satan's only source of influence over us is the deceptive intimidation in his roar because it can convince us to be a weapon against ourselves.  He just has to make us believe he has the power so that we lose sight of God and start being consumed by our situation.  This fear, doubt, distraction...etc...makes us feel hopeless and causes us to lose faith.

He said something like....What is the difference between a person in a prison cell where the bars are locked shut and a person in a prison cell who believes the bars are locked shut, but they are actually completely unlocked....they will both act the same way.....won't they?

The truth is....if you are hearing the lion roar in your life....if there is a struggle that you are tempted to believe is hopeless.....that is the roar.....it is happening because Satan knows that is a point and place where God could be extremely glorified in your life by your faithfulness and he wants you to lose that opportunity and the wonderful consequences of your faith.  His only strategy is to roar and try to get your eyes off of your Savior.

We can defeat him by spending time in the Word of God and on our knees in prayer instead of feeling hopeless about our situation.