Discouragement - A Tool of the Devil

Discouragement - A Tool of the Devil
By: Author Unknown

Once upon a time it was announced that the devil
was going out of business and would sell all
his equipment to those who were willing to pay the price.

On the big day of the sale,
all his tools were attractively displayed.
There were Envy, Jealousy, Hatred, Malice, Deceit, Sensuality, Pride,
Idolatry, and other implements of evil display. Each of the tools was
marked with its own price tag.

Over in the corner by itself was a harmless looking wedge-shaped tool very much worn, but still it bore a
higher price than any of the others.
Someone asked the devil what it was, and he answered,
"That is Discouragement."
The next question came quickly,
"And why is it priced so high even though
it is plain to see that it is worn more than these others?"

Because replied the devil,
"It is more useful to me than all these others.
I can pry open and get into a man's heart with that
when I cannot get near him with any other tool.
Once I get inside, I can use him in whatever way
suits me best. It is worn well because
I use it on everybody I can,
and few people even know it belongs to me."

This tool was priced so high that no one could buy it, and to this day it has never been sold.
It still belongs to the devil,
and he still uses it on mankind.
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"We must not lose hope. Hope is an anchor to the souls of men. Satan would have us cast away that anchor. In this way he can bring discouragement and surrender. But we must not lose hope. The Lord is pleased with every effort, even the tiny, daily ones in which we strive to be more like Him. Though we may see that we have far to go on the road to perfection, we must not give up hope."
--Ezra Taft Benson, "A Mighty Change of Heart," Ensign, Oct. 1989, 2