Collateral Beauty: The truth behind "Why?" you had to face a storm

It’s hard to see, the beauty in the moment of our hurt. Not because it’s not there, but because we aren’t looking for the beauty, we are looking for the ”why?”

If we know why we are going through our storm, it makes it easier to bear. You can put logic to the chaos and suddenly walking out of your brokenness seems possible. You can see the trail through the forest; the light at the end of the tunnel; the sea being parted… you can see your exit! 

So what is the WHY? What is the purpose behind such heartache and pain that each of us face every day, all over the world? The answer is simple, and I’m going to give it to you right now!

God.

That’s it, and that’s all the “WHY?” you need. 

I can feel you reading this right now and going “Nope, she missed it. That doesn’t help me one bit, because if anything, my hurt has put God and I at odds. He and I are not on the same page anymore.” It’s natural to feel that way when your life blows up and you see the collateral damage that was caused by the explosion. There are always casualties and pain that ripples out like a shockwave.

But what about the beauty? Why do we miss that side of it? It’s always there and yet it can seem so distant and out of reach. What we need to grasp, is that along with the shockwave of hurt, there is always a wave of beauty as well. It is up to you if you let it touch every part of your life or not.

This morning I saw a few clips from a movie called “Collateral Beauty” and the character meant to represent LOVE finds the man who is lost in his pain, and he blames her. He wants nothing to do with her, because when his hurt came, he felt like Love left him. He felt betrayed and abandoned and he couldn’t see her anymore. 

But LOVE, her response brings me to tears…

“No! I’m in all of it. I am the darkness and the light, the sunshine and the storm. Yes, you’re right, I was there in her laugh but I’m also here now in your pain. I’m the reason for everything. I am the only “Why.” Don’t try and live without me…”

How many times do we say, “God is Love?” How often to we hear it? How many times do we see that truth in the Bible? But do we believe that it is true? And if He is love, put His voice to those words in that quote. 

God is present in every moment of your life, both good and bad. Yes, there is a ripple effect of your hurt, but look and see the ripple of beauty God brings to your story. I wrote about mine in Beauty from Ashes, and there is more beauty every day.

In the end, your hurt is meant to start that ripple of beauty. To set a chain reaction, for you to draw closer to the Father, to be comforted by Him, to show that comfort to someone else and to be light in the darkness for them. You are meant to show God’s love to someone in a way that only you can! 

The end result of ALL of your hurt, is God! God is your “Why?” 

God didn’t betray you by allowing it to happen. He let you walk through fire to be refined and fortified. 

God didn’t leave you in your hurt, He hurt along with you. 

In this Movie, the character meant to represent Death makes her own profound statement.

“Just be sure to notice the collateral beauty”  

Open you heart to see the beauty, and the wake of it’s effect. Choose to see the chain reaction and be a part of that story. Take comfort in knowing that God is your WHY and use that to step out of your brokenness. 

God is WHY! And that is all the reason you need! Don’t try to live without Him.