Cinderella dressed her step sisters for the ball. She followed them into the court yard and watched them be whirled away until the carriage disappeared through the trees. Then Cinderella went back to her usual seat in the chimney corner and sat down and cried. Suddenly she heard a voice say, “What is the matter, my poor child?” She lifted her tear stained face and to her astonishment saw a mystical lady with a long ebony wand. “Did nobody ever tell you that you had a fairy godmother?” the lady asked. Cinderella thought for a moment and then told her, “When I was a tiny child…someone did, but I thought you had forgotten me.”

How often have our thoughts kept us from receiving what “belongs” to us? How often have our thoughts kept us living beneath our royal privilege? How often have our thoughts kept us from doing what we can for the kingdom of Christ?

One of the most popular and famous children's books of all time is "The Little Engine that Could." It’s not a fairy tale, nor a story about princesses; but one that could have great impact on our lives. The story has sold millions of copies and appeared in numerous editions since its first printing in 1930. Who hasn’t heard of the little engine with a big heart? The origin of the popular story can actually be traced back to a Sunday School publication, printed in 1906. If you recall, the story is about a little railroad engine that was employed to pull a few cars on and off the switches. One morning, a long train of freight cars asked a number of big, tough engines designed for hard work to take it over a hill. None of the big engines were inclined to help. One by one they all offered excuses why they couldn’t, or actually, wouldn’t help the long train of freight cars. When the train had exhausted all other options, in desperation it asked the little switch engine who immediately agreed to try. The little engine puffed, “I think I can, I think I can” all the way up the hill. When it reached the top and began its descent, the little engine congratulated itself, “I thought I could, I thought I could.”

You probably remember this childhood story, but have you applied its lesson concerning the power of thought to your own thought life? If you think you can’t do something, you are probably right, for “I can’t” has never accomplished anything. On the other hand, if you think you can, and you are unwavering in your determination, you will eventually be able to declare with the little engine, “I knew I could.”

I can't tell you how many times I have cried out, "I can't take it anymore. It's just too hard." There have probably been too many times to count; yet, I'm still here. If you are reading this or hearing me speak; you know that you are still here too. It's not really about whether or not you can take it any more. You are, and you're going to make it all the way through to the end. The question you need to ask yourself is, "In what manner am I going to make it?" Are you going to make it by dragging your feet and whining all the way, or are you going to make it in a way that brings God glory. Do you want to just barely survive or do you want to prosper in your pain? I know some of you are thinking right now, "How about NO pain at all?" Unfortunately, life brings with it both good and bad. How we respond to the bad is up to us. It all begins with a choice. Today, choose to face impossible situations with courage and faith. Choose to reach out to God.