In spite of...

Number one on the 1997 NBA Draft was TIM DUNCAN, a great player born in the Virgin Islands. Nowadays he is at San Antonio. Many do not know that Tim used to swim, and that at the age of 13 he was one of the best swimmers of his category in America.

But one day a hurricane destroyed the swimming pool where he trained, and in addition, at that time his father passed away. So he decided to play basketball instead. He had had a bitter blow, a really tough one; however, it was not forever. He could have lost heart, but instead of doing so, he became an NBA champion.

One of the enemy's favourite weapons is discouragement. When you are playing, it's quite discouraging to get one of your shots blocked by the opponent. You are almost ridiculed. The role of an intimidating centre like Tim is so important - not so much for what he can really do but for the fear he brings about in the opponent: you think twice about shooting again when he is in front of you. So one of the favourite weapons of our spiritual enemy is discouragement.

However, it all depends on the attitude we have. We might think that to give up would be the best thing to do but today we have read in the Bible about a completely different attitude: “...shall my prayer continue”. This is the attitude God expects from us.

Sometimes, in our own lives, we suffer hurt and to become discouraged seems to be the only way of reacting. What should we do, for instance...

...when our best friend moves to another city?

...when a beloved relative dies?

...when an accident destroys our career?

...when we do not calculate well enough and we get into debt?

...when we get sick for a long time?

...when we have been betrayed by the person we trusted above all others?

Prayer has the power to help us to stop being discouraged, and to open a way for God to alter the circumstances, according to his will (see James 5:16). It might seem to be an unreal solution, but it is not.

There is no better antidote to discouragement.

Nothing can compare with talking to the best friend we have, the person who understands perfectly everything that is in our heart, the one who has promised never to forsake us - God himself.

Do not get discouraged - instead keep praying!