Romans 8:33-39

There is no hope for us in the conflict against Satan and all the powers unless we know God's love is directed toward us and is in us, and that His power is used for us and is in us. And we just read that the love of God is in Christ. So in John 17:26, Jesus prays "that the love with which you loved Me may be in them, and I in them."

But if we are uncertain about our relationship with God, we cannot stand and withstand the fight against supernatural influences. In other words, an essential key to victory over Satan is the assurance of salvation, which involves faithfulness. This directly concerns our relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ, that love is vital to that relationship.

Now we cannot have an intimate relationship with someone we do not trust and with whom we have little or no confidence. If we are in any doubt or uncertainty concerning our salvation, then Satan has made significant inroads into defeating us. We must be assured of our salvation, and by assurance we are made strong in the Lord and the power of His might. We are assured that nobody or thing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. So there is no contradiction between Christ's love for us and His allowing suffering to overwhelm us.