Lessons On Adversity From Cinderella

We all know the story of Cinderella. Cinderella had been KIND, GRACEFUL, and COURAGEOUS through every trial she faced, and let's be honest, she didn't have an easy life.

I happen to have a favorite scene from this movie:

Cinderella hits a point where she utters these words...
"I said I'd have courage but I don't. I don't believe anymore."


So often in life we plan because let's be honest, most of us are planners in one way or another, right? We come up with a vision or a dream that sounds utterly perfect for our life and then somewhere in the pull of life we hit a dead end, or a roadblock, or a 'wrong way sign' and we are asked to turn around. I think we all reach this stage in life one way or another, where we will feel broken and left in despair because we have reached our limits, but little do we know something is always greater right around the corner.

In the story of Cinderella, she was all ready to go to the ball when her dress was torn up. It took her reaching her breaking point, her lowest of all lows before her fairy godmother appeared. 

Reminds me of this bible video, where the disciples faith was put to the test:

Christ asks, "Why are ye so fearful? How is it ye have no faith?" Christ will never let us drown, it gets dark and really stormy at times but He ALWAYS comes. 

What I find so amazing about Cinderella, is that in the middle of her 'pity party' the old lady came up to her, whom little did she know at this point was her fairy godmother, to ask for a bowl of milk. Cinderella stands up, wipes her tears away, forgets herself and goes to get her a bowl, just like that!

It's hard to forget yourself when you're having a pity party! Like REALLY hard. Have you ever been there? Is kindness written on your heart when you are in your deepest moments of grief and despair? This to me is what courage looks like, the courage to forget yourself and be selfless. Courage is pushing forward no matter how you feel or how hard it may be. 

In the words of Elder Uchtdorf "It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop."

But let me remind you, IT'S HARD! While it may be hard, that doesn't mean for one second that it is impossible.

Philippians 4:13 even teaches us it isn't impossible:

{Free Printable found HERE}

I have experienced very painful, heart-aching moments in my life. Moments when I didn't think I could take any more, moments when I wondered if there was even any hope left, moments where I felt so much sorrow that I just wanted to plead with my Father in Heaven to make it all just go away, moments where I simply wanted to give up and give in.

While I have experienced these painful moments, I know others have experienced trials of pain and sorrow as well, some trials much greater than mine, trials that I can't even fathom the pain or tragedy. I think of my pain on top of the pain of the billions of other people on this planet and it is absolutely unfathomable for me to comprehend, but because the Savior loves each one of us so very much, He bled from every pore in the garden of Gethsemane for you and I. I don't know to what extent of pain and turmoil He faced, but what I do know is He did it because of His perfect and complete love that He has for every single person that will ever live, in a very individual way. He was willing to go through this pain to save me from mine.

If we're going to turn this scene from Cinderella into a parable, I believe Christ would be the fairy godmother.

Christ is the one that comes to rescue us when we reach our lowest point. 

Christ is the one that brings hope when we feel all is lost.

Christ is the one that shows us what courage looks like through example.

Christ is the one that allows us to have another chance, every single day.

Christ is the one that brings us faith when we are on the road of fear.

Christ is the one that we need to turn to for our life story to develop. 

Christ is the one that pleads our case with the Father to bring us the pleas of our hearts.

Christ is the one that makes every blessing we will ever inherit possible, it is only because of Him that we can experience everlasting joy and eternal life. 


Christ is the one that gives us to strength to
overcome ALL things!

CHRIST IS THE REASON FOR HOPE! CHOOSE TO PLACE YOUR HOPE IN CHRIST WHEN YOURS HAS REACHED THE STRAIN OF IT'S CAPACITY. 

For you are NEVER alone.