Beauty In Pain

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This thought has been constantly in my mind as of lately. I have gone from one season to another and each has shown me just how necessary the other was in preparing me for where God wants me to be. I've witnessed and seen a lot of hurt and pain in the lives around me, all of which I could only equate to ugliness at the time; Ugliness that comes with living in a fallen world.

When people are confronted with less than favorable circumstances, they tend to recite the verse in Romans that talks about how God can turn all things for good for those who love him. After coming through the last ten years nearing the other side, I can see that this statement is a strong foundation to stand on. When you clearly experience it, it's meaning is profound and it's comfort unwavering. But to me, when someone is in the thick of ugliness, those words seem to have little meaning. Kind of like when someone tells you, "It'll be alright." You don't feel like their saying that from a strong understanding of the situation, but only trying to console you.

When I read the words from Ecclesiastes though, it seems more than a simple pat on the back.

I remember being enamored with the book of Ecclesiastes in high school because there is a time for everything, and everything on its own is meaningless but God can breathe beauty into it. Things that were once ugly will be transformed by the brilliance of God in the right time. If you don't see beauty in a situation, just give it time. He is faithful and he will do it, just you wait and see!