Rekindle a Discouraged Soul

A modern parable has been written about the tools of the enemy that I believe we can really learn from.

“Some time ago, an advertisement appeared in which the devil was putting all his tools up for sale. On the day of public inspection, each one of his tools was marked with its selling price: Hatred, Envy, Jealousy, Doubt, Lying, Pride, and so on, were each on the block. Set apart, however, from all the rest of the pile, was a harmless-looking tool, well-worn, but priced very high — it was discouragement!

Someone asked the devil, ‘why is that one priced so high?’ He replied, ‘Ah, that one is more useful to me than all the rest. With it I can pry open a man’s heart and enter, when I cannot get near him with any other tools. Once inside, I can lead him any way I choose. The tool is very worn because I use it on almost everyone, since few people know it belongs to me.’”

The enemy loves to sow discouragement — but believers have a tool much more powerful — encouragement! We can speak a word into the lives of those who desperately need to hear it: to the college student adjusting to his new environment; to the missionary who may feel alone in the harvest field; to the forgotten servants of God who labor in an obscure and difficult ministry; to the orphans and the widows; to all those who need to hear a word in due season!

Inspire one another with words of encouragement! It costs nothing, and reaps an eternal reward

The Truth
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good it is! (Proverbs 15:23)

The Helpless Parent

The most difficult aspect of being a parent is to, "Let go." Why? Because you feel helpless. It just seems to go against every instinct of parenting. Most parents want to fix or plan everything their way. But at some point, we must love our sons/daughters enough to let go and just be there when they call for advise or help. Like the father of the prodigal son, we welcome them back with UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. No lecture, no I told you so.

Our Heavenly Father (in a sense) can be like the "helpless parent", whose unending love is neither understood nor appreciated at times. However, He allows His sons/daughters to make their own decisions, despite how bad those choices may be. No matter what terrible wrongs they may commit, He loves them. He is not just a “loving” God — the scripture says that “God IS love” [1 John 4:6].

Therefore, when we come to realize that His love is freely given, we will serve our Heavenly Father because of His love for us! Likewise, when our sons/daughters realize that we love them enough to let them make their own choices, they too will fully understand and appreciate the depth of our love for them.

The Truth
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12)