I don’t feel pretty ∙∙

I don’t feel pretty ∙∙

He has made everything beautiful in its time. – Ecclesiastes 3:11

Ecclesiastes 3:1-12

1 For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up.

4 A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

7 A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.

11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

12 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can.

I feel pretty (Maria – Westside Story)

I feel pretty, Oh, so pretty, I feel pretty and witty and bright!
And I pity any girl who isn’t me tonight.

I feel charming. Oh, so charming
It’s alarming how charming I feel!
And so pretty that I hardly can believe I’m real.

Feeling Beautiful

Many of us face the challenge of feeling unattractive; we don’t feel pretty! Sometimes, we wonder if our heavenly Father did not make a big mistake when He created us. But the truth is, He has a plan to make EVERYTHING beautiful in its time. This includes us. Every child of the King is a masterpiece in progress, shaped with love by the hands of our Creator.

The Father’s Creative Vision

The Father is an artist, and we are His canvas—His work of art in progress. Every child of the King is touched by His creative hand. We are His canvas, each of us a masterpiece in the making.

Watch an artist in their element. They commence with a concept, a vision, perhaps a doodle, or a reference image. They draft on a fabric or digital platform, infuse it with hues, and create depth and harmony. Gradually, they refine their work until it aligns perfectly with their vision.

It’s not a far stretch to imagine that the Father created and shaped everything in existence in a similar fashion. However, there’s a fundamental distinction. For Him, no time was required. There was no process involved. The entirety of creation unfolded instantly – as His thoughts were spoken into existence.

Psalms 33:6,9

6 The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.
9 For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command.

He created matter and time, landscapes and mountains, seas and galaxies. If He took care to craft something as fleeting as a rainbow or as grand as a galaxy, how much more does He care for you, His beloved child?

Beautiful in His Time

The phrase “beautiful in its time” comes from the Hebrew word yapheh, which initially referred to “visual beauty—something lovely to behold.” Over time, the meaning expanded, signifying “something good, right, or perfectly appropriate.” This reflects the Father’s work in creation and us.

As we move through time, the Father is at work to make everything proper and correct, that is, beautifully appropriate. We can translate this phrase as “God makes everything happen at its proper time” or “Everything God does, He does when the time is right” (UBS).

The Father is a sovereign King. He governs not only the physical world but also the realm of time. What the Father does, He does at the right time. He is working steadily to make all things proper and complete. You may not yet see the end result, but He is creating beauty within His timeframe, shaping you for His perfect purposes. The Father works wisely and lovingly, weaving the intricate threads of our lives into something extraordinary.

Trust the Process

A transformation of our thinking and perspective is required. Think of the difficult times in your life as part of His refining process. Shift your point of view and see that Father is carefully and thoughtfully adding the final touches to the complex tapestry of your life. These phases are opportunities for growth and development under His care. The Father is creating something extraordinary through our challenges. Trust His vision, wait for His timing, and take heart in knowing you are His masterpiece in the making.

“A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down” (Mary Poppins).

We are simply passing through time. Our experiences, no matter how intense, are often brief in the larger scope of our lives. With a few exceptions, they are fleeting.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Father is always at work in every child of the King. He is crafting masterpieces. His artistic endeavors in our lives are a work in progress. He is simply not finished yet.

Father, I acknowledge You as the great artist, and my life is but one of the countless canvases upon which You work. Your goal is to make everything beautifully appropriate in its time. Thank You.

INSIGHT

Clarity amid uncertainty

Human beings are bound by time, caught in its unrelenting flow. We have no control over it, no power to halt or alter its passage. Amid this reality, we often struggle to make sense of the events that shape our lives. Are they mere coincidences, the chaotic outcomes of chance? Or are we simply adrift, at the mercy of an unpredictable universe?

The Scriptures provide clarity amid this uncertainty. Time was not an accident of creation but a deliberate act of the Father God. He brought time into existence with purpose, crafting it as a framework within which His eternal plan unfolds. Each individual holds a place within this intricate design, woven together by the Creator’s hand. Unlike us, the Father is not confined by time; He rules over it. He orchestrates and intervenes within its boundaries at moments of His choosing, fulfilling His purposes with both precision and intention.

Far from being arbitrary, the events of our lives—both profound and mundane—are infused with meaning under His sovereign care. They occur within a divine order, one that harmonizes time and events in ways we may not yet comprehend. “Every event has its definite place in the time-order; the event is inconceivable without its time, and vice versa” (von Rad). Nothing is random; no moment is wasted. Though we live within the mystery of time, we can rest in the assurance that the Author of time is also the Architect of our lives.

God’s Masterpiece in Christ

Ephesians 2:10 reminds us: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” This Scripture reflects the Father’s intentional work in shaping our lives according to His purpose and calling. We are not accidents; we are carefully crafted by His hand, created anew in Christ to carry out the good works He envisioned long before time began.

The Father’s Perspective on Time and History

Ecclesiastes offers a profound glimpse into the Father’s perception of human history. His view is one of supreme understanding and purpose. This divine perspective invites us to place our confidence and optimism in Him, tempered with humility and gratitude. Throughout the space-time continuum, the Father is actively at work, implementing His eternal blueprints. Every moment and every life is part of His grand and sovereign plan.

Crafted as Unique Masterpieces

Each of us is a unique design in the tapestry of creation. Like a master artist, the Father intricately crafts every child of the King, revealing their unique calling and value. While we can marvel at the beauty of His handiwork, we cannot always grasp the brilliance or creativity behind it. Our understanding deepens as we observe the wonders of Earth, the cosmos, and the personalized craftsmanship He invests into each life. Yet, His genius remains far beyond our complete comprehension.

A Hunger for Meaning Within Our Limits

The Father has instilled in us a desire to understand life’s meaning and purpose. He reveals glimpses of His plan to inspire awe and faith, yet He also places limits on our understanding. We remain finite beings, unable to fathom His eternal thoughts and ways fully. This tension between longing for understanding and confronting our limitations brings both humility and reliance on His wisdom.

Comprehensive understanding and perfect contentment will elude us throughout this lifetime. Seeking perfection, though a noble pursuit, is unattainable in this world and can lead to disillusionment if we obsess over it. Instead, our privilege is to continually seek Him, to explore His nature and essence to the extent that He allows. We are invited into a lifetime of discovery, marveling at His greatness and finding joy in what He reveals.

Time is the Father’s Creation

Although we may feel trapped in time, it’s crucial to remember Who made it. The Father is not confined by time. As its Creator, He reigns over it. He orchestrates every moment according to His perfect will, and we, as His children, can trust in the ideal order He established. Our purpose is to live by faith within this framework, confident that He is always working for our good.

Finding Confidence in the Creator

No matter how mysterious or confining life may seem, we can rest in the truth that the Author of life has an eternal plan. He is not a distant observer but an active and sovereign Creator. Seek Him, trust His design, and take comfort in knowing you are His masterpiece—uniquely and wonderfully made.

Are you feeling pretty?

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© Dr. H 2025