At times, we may feel as though we're going up the down side in life. Someone might say, "What are you talking about?" Let me give you an example. Have you ever tried to go up a down escalator? You might take two steps forward and fall back four steps. It takes tremendous effort to make it to the top.

Well, sometimes that's the way it is for believers. What should you do when you find yourself in that position? You will wear yourself out trying to go up the down side if you don't trust in God's Word.

When everything is going wrong, one of the first things we do is question whether or not we're in the will of God. But you know something, I have never seen the devil attack anyone who was out of the will of God. Why should he? The devil is not interested in stopping someone if that person is already out of the will of God.

So when I find myself in a test or trial, with the devil sitting on my shoulder hollering, "You better check; you're probably out of the will of God," I tell him, "This trial is the best sign I have that I'm in the will of God." I'm not saying that the problems are from God, because the devil is the one who causes problems for God's people.

God didn't say that you wouldn't have trials or tribulations, but He did say that He would bring you out on the other side with victory (Ps. 34:19)! So don't start trying to figure out where you went wrong, because the devil would love to tell you where you missed it.

But the devil isn't the only one who will tell you that you're defeated. People will say, "You're never going to make it. You shouldn't have tried in the first place."

That's why you need to renew your mind with the Word of God. When you know what the Word says, it won't matter what the devil or anyone else says or does or what your senses tell you - nothing will deter you! You're going to keep standing on the Word, and God will see you through!

When everything and everyone seems to be against you, remember that you "...have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). If the Greater One is living inside you, why are you listening to the devil?

The Bible says that we are more than conquerors through Christ (Rom. 8:37). I want you to grab hold of that. We're not just conquerors. We're more than conquerors! Therefore, we cannot be overcome!

I'm not saying that you might not fail sometimes, but you're not a failure until you quit. So when you feel like you're going up the down side, put the Word of God to work in your life - keep standing on His promises - because it's not your wisdom or strength that will cause you to rise up in victory; it's God and His Word!

Source: From a Pastor's Heart by Kenneth E. Hagin. Jr.
Excerpt permission granted by Faith Library Publications