Ephesians 6:10-20

Ephesians 6:10-20
English Standard Version (ESV)

 To go with the battle analogy, I think it's helpful to remember that in battle, it's not always going your way.  Battles surge and then retreat, and there are high points and low points.  The important thing we notice here is that God gives us everything we need, preparing us for what we are to face, but we still go through the battle, clothed in the armor of God.  It's not going to be easy -- we will endure, but the struggle is real, and just because you're having a tough time doesn't mean that you're doing something wrong.  It just means that you're living, and that there is real opposition, which God is hoping to prepare us for.
  So don't despair when the battle is difficult and it feels like all is uphill.  Rejoice in the reality that God is with you and will defend you, and that we know how the story ends.