When you’re being battled, it doesn’t mean you’re failing God; but the devil is an expert at making you think you are. When difficult trials come, the devil will make you feel like you’re failing in some way when you’re not because he doesn’t want you to live close to God. If you are a child of God, you have the faith that defeats the devil; so use it. Jesus said, In my name shall they cast out devils (Mark 16:17). You don’t have to be tormented by the devil.

When you suffer persecution for the sake of Christ, do you feel like you must have done something wrong? It is easy for those feelings to arise because battles and trials are hard. Those same feelings can also arise when you are being remade on God’s potter’s wheel and being refined with divine, purifying fire because that is not a pleasant experience. You can’t live in your feelings because when you do, the enemy moves in to defeat you.

The truth is that you are being tried because you’re doing things right. There would be no reason for the devil to try you if you were already going his way. That is why the Apostle Paul said to Timothy, Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses (I Timothy 6:12).

Job Was Severely Tried

Job had battle after battle, but he knew he wasn’t failing God. He said, My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death; Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure. Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high (Job 16:16,17,19).

Job’s so-called friends told him he was suffering because he had failed God and done many things wrong. Bildad the Shuhite told him, If thou [Job] wert pure and upright; surely now he [the Lord] would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous (Job 8:6).

Eliphaz the Temanite said, Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite? For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing. Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it. Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken. Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee (Job 22:5-10).

When someone is going through a severe trial, that is not the time to accuse them of failing God; but that is what the devil wants you to do. He loves to kick people when they are already down, especially when it is not their fault. There is no limit to Satan’s false accusations, so never listen to him. Job knew he hadn’t done anything wrong; and he said, My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God (Job 16:20).

You Will Suffer for Christ’s Sake

As children of God, it is time to speak unto edification and help people remember what the Word says about suffering for the sake of Christ. Beloved, think it not strange [unusual or perplexing] concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you (I Peter 4:12). Don’t worry when you don’t understand what is happening to you or around you. If you are living in God’s divine will, all you need to know is that the Lord is holding your hand and walking right by your side.

When the devil tries to make you feel like you’re failing, the Bible says you should rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy (I Peter 4:13). You must be happy for the Lord to be glorified through you.

Don’t feel guilty, embarrassed or apologetic when you suffer for the will of God. Just make sure that when trials come, you are actually suffering for Christ’s sake and not because of something you did. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters (I Peter 4:15). For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil-doing (I Peter 3:17).

Live by Faith

Never let feelings dictate what you will or won’t do because you can’t fight the good fight of faith in your feelings. Only divine faith brings victory. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith (I John 5:4).

Faith is a gift from God to each one of us. God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith (Romans 12:3). As you use that measure of faith, the Lord will give you another; and as you use that measure, He will give you another. There is no end to divine faith, and you must live by it every day. The just shall live by faith (Hebrews 10:38). That is talking about divine faith, not human faith because human faith is weak; and it will not make you an overcomer in Christ.

Never live by your feelings or accept the devil’s thoughts as your own because his thoughts will destroy you. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy (John 10:10). The devil will try to make you think you can’t get rid of his thoughts and that they are actually God’s thoughts. He wants you to think that God has had it with you, but God never feels that way about His children. He wants them to draw closer and closer to Him, so He can shelter them in a beautiful way.

When you are battling and the devil starts telling you that you must have failed God, ignore him and your feelings and take God’s thoughts for you. He said, Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness (Isaiah 41:10). God will always be there for you in your time of need.

Take Your Stand

Instead of listening to the devil when he tells you that you’re failing, resist him; and the Bible says you can do that. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith (I Peter 5:8,9). Unfortunately, some of you are not putting forth the effort to do that, and you are not using all the power God has given you. You can’t just carry God’s power around like extra baggage; you have to use it.

It is time for you to put on the whole armor of God every day and stand for Him. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore (Ephesians 6:13,14). Don’t think about failing but about winning. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin (I Peter 4:1).

When you are being tried, you must hang on to every thought of God and keep your eyes on Jesus knowing that He will always be with you. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour (Isaiah 43:2,3).

God's Children Have Suffered Much

Jesus suffered many trials and persecutions, but that didn’t mean He was failing His heavenly Father. Jesus never failed; He always did His Father’s will. Even when He was suffering great agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, He still prayed, Not my will, but thine, be done (Luke 22:42).

Jesus is our example, and we are to follow in His steps every day. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth (I Peter 2:21,22). When you can’t see Jesus’ steps in front of you, stop and talk to Heaven. Then wait until the blood footprints of Jesus show up plainly for you. Don’t just keep walking without knowing if you are walking God’s way.

Paul suffered much, but he wasn’t failing God. For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day (II Timothy 1:12). After Paul was saved, he committed everything into the hands of the Lord.

The apostles suffered much for the cause of Christ, and they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to do so. After they had been beaten for preaching the Gospel, they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name (Acts 5:41). When you are being persecuted for Christ’s sake, you too must rejoice and give all the glory to the Lord.

The heroes of the faith suffered greatly, but it wasn’t because of their failures. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise (Hebrews 11:36-39).

All God’s promises were not available to those saints at that time; but even so, they received much from the Lord and had the strength they needed to endure and overcome because of their great faith. Today, all God’s promises have been made available to us, so we must claim them and use them.

Life Is Not Easy

The Bible plainly lets us know that we will not have it easy in this life. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake (Philippians 1:29). We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). Nevertheless, you must know that when you suffer for Christ’s sake, you will be rewarded in the end. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together (Romans 8:16,17).

Until that great day, know that the trials of your faith are worth more than all the gold in the world. Peter said, That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (I Peter 1:7).

Wealth and possessions won’t overcome the devil and his kingdom, but faith in God will. You can find all the faith and strength you need in the Word to face any trial that may come your way. My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word (Psalm 119:28).

God’s people cannot afford to lose even one battle in this final hour because we will lose souls, and we need to win every soul we can before Jesus comes. As a child of God, you will have to do battle with the devil; but you must be on the Jesus winning side. Go forth saying, “I come in the name of Jesus!” Use that name with all power, and never run from the battle. All of Heaven’s power is in that name, and you have the authority and permission to use it.

Join the Winning Side

If you are unsaved today, your battles will never truly be won until you invite Jesus into your heart. You may think you can never live free from sin, and it is true that you can’t in your old, ugly self; but you can if you will let Jesus make you a brand-new creation. Lift your hands and say this prayer right now: Oh, God, save my soul! I am so sorry I sinned against you, but I have come home; and I am going to serve you the rest of my life. I believe the blood of Jesus washes away all of my sins. Come into my life, Jesus! Come on in!

If you meant that prayer, you can say, “Hallelujah, Jesus has come! Hallelujah, Jesus is mine!” Now, you can be a Jesus winner and walk in His shoes.

Win Your Battle with Sickness

If you are sick and afflicted, you can be healed today. Jesus is the healer; and He can heal you of AIDS, diabetes, cancer, heart trouble, lung trouble, leprosy, paralysis or any other kind of disease or affliction you may have. There is nothing the Lord cannot or will not heal. The battle is yours to win through faith in God—just trust Him.

Lord, I bring the people to you. You told me years ago that you would heal the people, and you have healed and delivered millions through this Jesus worldwide outreach ministry. I come with the divine, healing blood of Jesus; and I am using that blood, injecting it into their bodies and into the bodies of their little ones who are sick or dying. Lord, you can heal them all right now. Heal! in the blood name of Jesus. Heal!

Now, watch as you and your loved ones get well. Then let me know all about it. You can write, email or leave a message on social media. And remember, the Lord must have all the honor, the praise and the glory.

Jesus said, I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). Jesus came to bring us life and the new and living way, but you can only have those things if you live for God.

The Lord will make you whole in body and spirit. Don’t think about your past hurts; just know that the Lord is carrying you along with Him, and His love will heal all your bruises. Don’t think about how much you will have to suffer; think about pleasing God, the Son and the Holy Ghost. May God’s richest blessings rest upon you is my prayer.