"You Were Never Alone..."

He had long ago taken off his armor and helmet, bundled up along with his shield... His sword had not left it's scabbard for years it seemed.After ascending and descending one mountain after another, the lone warrior looked out at the barren, rocky landscape ahead... no water for as far as his eyes could see. The dark clouds above him were always there, always blocking out the sun, always blocking out the light... always making the day as dark as night, yet never giving any rain. "Just another trial" he thought. "I can do this." Forcing his tired legs to move, he continued onward. Constantly, as he stumbled across the broken ground, he heard the voices as they whispered in his ear...
"Jusssst give up and give in," hissing like a serpent. "there issss no hope for you, you will never make it to your sssssooo called paradissssse." The warrior needed life giving water.. his tongue felt swollen, his lips cracked. He needed food... his hunger made him weak, it would be so easy to lay down and let death take him. But he continued on, holding on to the hope that he would make it to his destination. Continuing on he saw a tree... a beautiful single pecan tree in the middle of nothingness. Making it to the tree, the tired warrior could go no further. Trying unsuccessfully, to reach a branch and some pecans, he stumbled and fell to his knees in exhaustion. It was then he noticed the steep decline of the terrain into a valley below. An army of evil... an army of sin, of demons was amassed below him... beyond them was his destination. He could see his paradise glowing like a bright torch beyond the demons, on the other side of the valley... yet he could go no further. And there was that serpent like whisper...
"Jussssst give in... jussssst give up... there issssss no hope." The warrior shook his head in anger at the voice, pounded the ground with his fist, "NO!" the warrior cried. "Please, my Lord," he prayed to the God he hadn't prayed to for what seemed ages. "Help me."
Lightning flashed in the darkness and a wind blew hard in his face, whipping his hair about his face, blowing stinging dust into his eyes... the warrior wanted to curse but held his tongue as three good sized pecans fell from the tree and to the ground in front of him. Shakily, he picked up a stone and cracked the shells of all three, quickly devouring the nut inside, as a heavy rain began to fall. He grabbed his helmet, turning it upside down to gather some water and drank of it.
Feeling his strength return, he looked down on the army of evil and sin below and rose to his feet. He strapped on his armor, his breastplate, his helmet, his shield... he looked across at the paradise across the valley, and raised his sword in defiance at the enemy below him. The voice grew louder in his ear, agitated, and full of haste to "Jusssst give UP!"
The warrior almost chuckled, and with sword raised high... bellowed in as loud a voice as he could muster... "I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH MY LORD WHO STRENGTHENS ME!!!!" And the sun peaked from behind the clouds behind him, shining its warm rays upon him.... shining it's brightness on the sword held high, the blade and crossbar creating the shadow of a cross down on the evil below... down on the sin and the demons below, casting them out of the valley screaming in fear. The serpent like voice screamed in anger "NOOOOO!!!!" as the warrior, strength renewed, with sword held high... walked down and across the valley to the other side.... and into paradise.

Ephesians 6:10-17
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Philippians 4:13
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.