I received this from Hennie more than a decade ago (he has passed away): 

It is said that the devil once went bankrupt and would sell all his tools to anyone willing to pay the right price. 

On the night of the auction, all the tools were beautifully displayed, and all the evil things lay there: There was jealousy, envy, hatred, immorality, adultery, murder, enmity, anger, and all the other evil tools, each with its price. 

But on one side, separate from the other tools, lay a tool that had clearly seen a lot of use. Its price was much higher than all the others. 

Someone then asked the devil what that tool was. His answer was, “It is discouragement.” 

“Then why is it so expensive?” the person wanted to know. 

“Because it’s much more useful to me than all the others”, said the devil. “With discouragement I can force open and penetrate someone’s consciousness which I can’t do with any of the other tools.” 

“And once I’m inside, I can use it as I see fit. This tool is already so battered because I use it on almost everyone. Because, you see, very few people know that discouragement actually belongs to me.” 

All I can say is that discouragement’s price is so high that the devil has never been able to sell it. He still owns and uses it. 

Often, we’re so overwhelmed by our circumstances, our guilt, and our suffering, that we stop believing, that we lose heart. 

Things we’re unsure about often drive us into the pit of discouragement and slow us down. It is like a handbrake that is pulled tighter and tighter, eventually forcing us to a standstill. 

Along with these uncertainties in our lives, feelings of guilt often put a spanner in the wheel. You’re driving calmly along and before you know it, the front wheel gets stuck, we’re flying through the air, and hit the ground with a big thud. 

Uncertainties and feelings of guilt are not part of God’s equipment to help us on the road. They are tools that the devil uses to steal our joy and prevent us from getting where God wants us to go. 

Fortunately, we do not have to stay stuck. We believe in a God who is much bigger than the tools of guilt, uncertainty and discouragement. Listen here: 

20For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. 

Text
1 John 3:18-24

Reflection
What guilt are you carrying around?
What makes you insecure?
How can God’s greatness erase this from your life? 

Prayer
Father, thank you for being so much bigger than my insecurities and guilt. Give me the strength not to be discouraged. Amen.