Luther's Inkwell at Wartburg Castle

In 1521, Martin Luther was hiding in Wartburg Castle, spirited away by friends after his bold stand at the Diet of Worms. For months he lived in a small stone room under a false name, growing out his beard, battling loneliness and doubt. By his own account, the spiritual attacks were relentless — dark thoughts, despair, voices whispering that his life's work was foolish arrogance.

Legend says Luther hurled an inkwell at the devil one night, splattering the wall of his chamber. Whether that moment was literal or metaphorical, what happened next is undisputed: Luther picked up his pen and, over eleven breathtaking weeks, translated the entire New Testament into German. He fought darkness not by arguing with it, but by plunging deeper into the Word of God. He submitted himself wholly to the text of Scripture, and the torment gave way.

James 4:7 lays out a two-step pattern that Luther stumbled into by instinct: "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Notice the order. Luther did not first muster the courage to resist — he first surrendered to something greater. The resistance flowed from the submission. When he buried himself in God's Word, the accusing voices lost their grip.

The same invitation stands for every believer. You do not have to outmuscle the darkness. You simply have to kneel before the Almighty first — and then stand your ground.