There is no fairy tale

For the full context of this post read John 15:18 - 16:33.

Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Rapunzel, Arial, Jasmine: fairy tale princesses.

Charming, Florian, Phillip, Adam, Eugene, Eric, Aladdin: their corresponding fairy tale princes.

Even if you aren’t much of a princess person, everyone loves a good fairy tale story. We want to live happily ever after. We want the promotion. We want the rainbows and roses. We want a fairy tale life. But there is no fairy tale. Life’s disappointments exist partially because we have a predetermined imaginative view of a perfected utopia that will never exist.

Jesus told his followers that the world would hate them. He said they would be treated poorly and that they would grieve when the rest of the world rejoiced. He promised that life would be hard. He did not promise a fairy tale, but he did provide hope. Jesus told his followers to take heart because he had overcome the world. He ascended into heaven to prepare a place for us. Jesus promised a fairy tale for our eternal life. We just have to make it through our earthly life first!

This week I plan to meditate on and memorize a simple verse:

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

When life brutally reminds you that there is no fairy tale, take heart. Jesus told us we would have trouble, but we know that He has overcome the world!