Life sometimes feels like a trip to the worst kind of used car lot—complete with high-pressure sales tactics, questionable options, and that lingering feeling of settling. 

Picture this: it’s the summer of 2021. Cars are in short supply everywhere, and here you are needing a new set of wheels. You’ve done all your homework, tracked down a car online that’s exactly what you want. You head to the dealership, feeling like you’ve got this whole car-buying thing under control, and… they don’t have it. Not even close.

They don’t have the one you wanted or your runners-up.

Of course, the salesman has a couple of “close enough” models he’s eager to get you behind the wheel of. He’s pushy, persistent, and paints his limited options as “the best deals you’re going to get in town” because of the shortage. 

You test-drive two of them, and deep down, you know neither is what you really want. But with that hard sell, that sense of urgency, and the lack of options, you end up picking the least-worst choice and signing on the dotted line. 

Fast-forward a week, and the initial luster has worn off as all the hidden squeaks and groans emerge, pointing to a choice you wouldn’t have made if you’d had more options,
or maybe more time to think.

If you’re anything like me, decisions can sometimes feel agonizing. 

Choosing a sandwich for lunch? No problem. Picking a playlist? Easy. But toss in high stakes, a sense of urgency, and the pressure to choose “wisely,” and decision-making suddenly becomes mentally draining.

When the stakes are higher, maybe it’s a job change, an investment, or a personal commitment, that weighty feeling can grate on you. Like the relentless squeal of worn-out brake pads, it warns of all the ways things could go sideways if you make the wrong move.

Reflecting on these “high stakes” choices over the years, I started noticing a pattern: Satan, or “the enemy,” really does resemble a pushy salesman.

Forget red skin and pitchforks. When I imagine him, he’s in a plaid blazer that’s a size too small, smelling faintly of cheap cigars and cologne, and pushing the worst “solutions” you’ve ever seen.

But despite his smarmy appearance, he’s persistent. And just like a seasoned hustler, he’s developed a foolproof playbook to make terrible decisions sound deceptively “right.”

Satan’s “sales tactics” are simple but effective . He utilizes tried-and-true strategies that have worked for millennia on humans just like you and me. Each one calculated to box us in, giving the impression that we’re out of options.

Here’s the breakdown of how he does it, represented by the acronym “S.U.C.R” for how he tries to sucker us into a terrible deal:

Just like a car salesman who shrinks the range of options, the enemy’s goal is to make you think you only have two poor alternatives. By narrowing down your choice, he limits the possibility that you’ll even consider other paths. This is the first tactic, and it works because we accept his limited scope and start thinking on his terms.

Once options are narrowed, the tension gets turned up with a manufactured deadline. Suddenly, it’s not just about choosing, but choosing quickly—before you have a chance to step back or ask for guidance. Even in situations that really do require a quick response, Satan finds ways to make that window feel even shorter, raising your stress and making you more likely to rush.

Next, the stakes are amplified. The enemy is good at making small decisions seem monumental, sometimes linking them to failures or regrets from the past. Ever notice how he’s quick to make you feel like one poor choice will ruin everything? This is where he cranks up the fear and anxiety to convince you that the outcome here is critical. The result? Panic and the desire to “just get it over with.”

Finally, the “sales pitch.” This is the honey after the stick, where he paints a dazzling picture of all the wonderful things that could happen—if you make the “right” choice. “Don’t miss out!” “This could be your big moment!” “You’ll regret passing this up!” All classic, pushy salesman tactics to trick you into believing there’s only one real choice, even if it’s only “good” in comparison to the other terrible ones.

The enemy’s entire strategy boils down to one goal: make you forget that time is actually on your side. 

Instead of feeling pressured to pick between limited choices, you can breathe, step back, and tap into a powerful resource: God’s creativity. Where the enemy shows only two options, God offers an abundance.

It’s through slowing down and allowing time to hear His voice that you start to see a different range of choices than the ones boxed in by fear.

When we rest in His word and remember we’re His children, we start to see beyond the options forced on us, realizing that “A or B” might be wrong altogether. Sometimes ‘C’ or even ‘Z’ is the choice He’s crafted just for you, outside the predictable paths.

Feeling pushed to pick between bad options? Here’s how to call out the scam and break free of the pushy salesman’s tactics:

In every non-emergency situation, take a step back and breathe. Often, even a brief pause is enough to counter the enemy’s fabricated deadline. If you’re not ready to give an answer to someone, acknowledge it. As Jesus reminded us, let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no (Matthew 5:37), which means not giving an answer right away is better than a hasty one.

Invite God into the conversation and ask Him “Why do I feel pressure?” This simple question can uncover any lies the enemy may be leveraging against you. Sometimes, the choice itself isn’t even the problem—the enemy is just amplifying past fears or insecurities.

Allow the Holy Spirit time to help you brainstorm on the matter. By seeking the wisdom of the Creator Himself, you open yourself to other possibilities that you might never have considered. Invite others you trust to do the same with you and seek counsel from the Lord in community to help find the correct answer.

After hashing everything out with God, submit yourself to the final decision He’s lead you to and stand on it. Trust Him by acknowledging that your Father has your back and is not steering you in the wrong direction.

Remember that as God’s child, you have ear to hear His voice. Even if circumstances shift, He will keep guiding you.

To remember these steps, I like to use the acronym “P.R.A.Y”:

When it comes to decision-making, remember: the enemy’s favorite tactic is to make you feel helplessly stuck between bad options. However, with God’s wisdom, you can prevent the enemy from making you—or those around you—a S.U.C.R.

By always leaving room to P.R.A.Y. in our decision-making processes, and guiding others in the same way, we can thwart the enemy’s scam tactics and move forward with confidence and peace, no matter what difficult decisions come our way.

Until next time,
Addison