Article January 20, 1992 Issue

Overcoming discouragement

When the way seems blocked, even repeatedly, we can listen for God's direction— which always satisfies.

Nzau Mbungu

Original in French

One day, according to an old folk tale, the devil was going out of business, and he put all his tools up for sale. He was asked why the tool called "discouragement," which was very worn, should be priced so high. The devil replied that he could get inside a person's thought with it when he couldn't get near with any of the other tools. And once inside he could use a person in whatever way suited him best. "Discouragement" was so worn, he said, because he used it with nearly everybody, since very few people yet knew that it belonged to him.

Often when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances we become discouraged. But we have a choice at such moments because God has given us a powerful and inviolate weapon. This is the ability to turn to God, know Him, and trust Him— a gift that can carry us beyond all kinds of limitations.

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