Even Now is Beautiful (Or Will Be)

Sometimes circumstances in the life of our prodigals seem anything but beautiful, but there is a promise that says otherwise:

"He has made everything beautiful in its time" (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NKJV). 

So where does this promise fit into this chapter of life, this chapter that is so full of pain caused by bad decisions by our prodigals? How can God actually say this will be beautiful in time?

So many other promises say the same thing in a different way:

1. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28, NKJV). 
2. "You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness" (Psalm 30:11, NKJV). 
3. "To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified" (Isaiah 61:3, NKJV).

The promise that God will bring beauty out of even really ugly situations is true. 

This first part is really good, but the verse doesn't stop there. It goes on to say: "Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

You can know that the prodigal is thinking about eternity and the consequences of their actions, even when their actions do not reflect this.

And even though He sometimes gives us raindrops to bring a ray of beauty to our situations, we cannot always see that God is working, but He is. 

We may not know how all of this ugly fits into the beautiful plan of God, but He redeems it all!