ONCE UPON A TIME

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Hebrews 4:16 NLT

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away, lived a beautiful princess ...

Aaaah. I love stories that begin with "Once upon a time." As soon as I hear or read those magical, mystical words, I instinctively draw in a sharp breath of anticipation. For I know, indeed I'm certain, that an adventure is going to take place. Throughout the story, the heroine will encounter dragons and poisoned apples, dwarfs and talking donkeys, singing bluebirds and lost stilettos. Yet I can be assured throughout her journey that no matter what happens — whatever an evil stepmother, flying monkey, or overweight, horned-back sea monster does to spoil the protagonist's dreams — ultimately I know the ending. Because the beginning gives it away.

The heroine wins the day. She gets her prince charming. The bad guys get their dues. And everyone lives ... (spoiler alert) happily ever after. That's the thing we've come to expect from "Once upon a time" stories: Cinderella. Snow White. Sleeping Beauty. Shrek. They always end with: "And they lived happily ever after."

We sigh and smile and know that's what we want for our lives — that chance for a happily ever after. For all our dreams to come true. For us to be happy and healthy and witty and loved. And having a fairy godmother with a magic wand certainly wouldn't hurt.

Too often, unfortunately, our existence feels more like a season of Downton Abbey — which is anything but living happily ever after. We're just on the verge of bliss and life shatters down around us once again.

Happily ever after is reserved for fairy tales, yes? They are escapist legends meant to add a little pleasure, excitement, and dare I say, repetitive, hummable songs to our mundane lives. If only we could break out into song backed by a chorus of cute, harmless forest creatures singing in perfect harmony. If only we had a magic wand to help us clean our houses and domesticated mice to sew Oscar-worthy gowns to fit our perfect size 2 bodies. If only the prince were always charming and handsome and witty and loyal. If only ...

As Christians, of course, we know of a true story that begins with "Once upon a time." It states, "In the beginning ..."

Genesis chapter 1, verse 1 starts out right away with that air of anticipation. As I read those words, I feel myself instinctively draw in a sharp breath. For I know, indeed I'm certain, that an adventure is going to take place.

In the beginning ...

Throughout the story, the heroes and heroines will encounter swarms of locusts and cursed fruit, giants and talking donkeys, parted seas and stairways to heaven. Yet I can be assured throughout their journey that no matter what happens — whatever an evil relation, Passover angel of death, or haircutting wench does to spoil the protagonist's dreams — ultimately I know the ending. Because the beginning gives it away.

Prince Charming shows up and rescues the heroine. The bad guys get their dues. And everyone lives ... (Bible spoiler alert) happily ever after. That's the thing we've come to expect from "In the beginning." It always ends with: "And they lived happily ever after."

This is no new revelation for you, I'm sure. If you're like me, you've heard that analogy a thousand and one times.

We know it in our heads. We hear it at church or among our Christian friends. Jesus wins the battle. He makes everything work for good, and someday when we die, we get to go to heaven and live forever, where there will be no more tears or sadness or death or school loan payments or annoying neighbors or size 14 dresses or calories. Hallelujah and thank you, God.

But heaven seems a long way away. Years, decades, hopefully. And while heaven is wonderful, earth has more than its share of trouble and heartache. So what do we do in the meantime? What do we do while we're waiting out the happily-ever-after part? While we're living in an adventure that often may feel as though we're stuck in the middle of a Disney ride, listening to small globally minded children wail, "It's a small world after all," over and over and ...?

Do we suffer in silence while we wait to be rescued? Wear the mantle of martyr and give in to depression, sadness, and filthy dwarfs messing up our living rooms? Do we pretend that everything is great when really our magic mirror is cracked and looks more like it belongs in a carnival fun house?

We could. But then we might end up being more closely aligned with the silly stepsisters instead of Cinderella.

The good news is that we don't have to give in. We can actually experience happily ever after right now. With a little encouragement from some fairy-tale writers, along with some wise biblical authors, we can pursue a joy-filled life today. And wonderfully enough, it's with the kind of spiritual "magic" we don't need a wand to receive. Too good to be true?

Here's the secret: we have within us all the "magic" we need to make our lives matter, to find lasting contentment, and to experience God in ways we've never imagined.

So why don't we clue in to it? In my work and travels I've met hundreds of women who want to grab hold of all the fairy-tale dreams, but they don't. They remain befuddled, continuing to be the cinder girl instead of going to the ball and trying on the Manolos made specifically for them. Why?

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How We Get It Wrong

I was fortunate to work on three national magazines that I loved: Today's Christian Woman, Marriage Partnership, and Kyria. I got to read the best of the best writing and work with the best of the best authors. Most days it was a blast.

But part of my job included reading e-mails, letters, and blog comments from readers and articles from potential authors who struggled with overwhelming pain. Their worlds were consumed with drudgery and, sadly, hopelessness. There was no happy life today and no happily ever after on the horizon for them. They couldn't see past the point of current circumstances and slowly, eventually, they gave up. They stopped truly believing that God was on their side, working behind the scenes on their behalf. They forgot that the Holy Spirit dwelling within them was actually there for a purpose and not simply hanging out waiting for eternity to begin. I would read their words and deeply feel...