This week another celebrity couple have separated and their family is broken. The lead line in one glossy magazine says; “the fairy tale is over!”

As I read fairy tales a different picture emerges. The “happily ever after” comes following a story of great crisis, danger, perseverance and heroism. Love grows under adversity and character is developed in the participants. The hero must overcome the adversity to win the prize.

In Romans 5:3-5, Paul reminds us …
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Our world seems to promote peace and prosperity as something that follows money, success and good fortune. No wonder a world financial crisis is such a CRISIS to many!

The peace God offers, transcends understanding and is forged by perseverance—not luck.

Stephen Semenchuk