A few weeks ago, Caroline and I spent a few days down in New Orleans. As we were playing cards down in the lobby of the hotel, Caroline struck up a conversation with some ladies at an adjacent table. The ladies talked everything from life up north- they were from Delaware- to the heat and cruises. At one point, the conversation took a serious tone, and one of the ladies used this phrase to describe her perspective on life. “Life is brutiful.” Well, that immediately drew my attention. She went on to explain that life is often brutal but can also be beautiful. I had never heard that before. So, I grabbed my phone and wrote down that phrase. I knew I would use it later. 

I did a Google search and found it was a thing. In fact, the term was popularized by author Glennon Doyle to describe life experiences that are hard and painful yet wonderful and amazing at the same time. Now Doyle and I would not see eye to eye politically or in lifestyle; however, I do have a couple of things to say about it from a Christian perspective. 

“Life is brutiful.”

Some days are breathtakingly beautiful. Others feel brutally hard. Most days are a mixture of both.

Scripture never promises a life free from suffering. In fact, Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). But He didn’t stop there: “Take heart! I have overcome the world.”

The Christian life isn’t pretending everything is okay. It’s trusting that God is still good when life isn’t. It’s finding peace in the middle of the storm, hope in the middle of grief, and purpose even in pain.

The cross is the ultimate picture of “brutiful.” Humanity’s darkest moment became God’s greatest display of love and redemption. What looked like defeat became victory. What seemed like the end became the beginning of new life.

If your life feels brutiful right now, don’t lose heart. God is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). He is working all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28)—even the things we don’t yet understand.

Your pain is real. But so is His presence.
Your struggle is real. But so are His promises.
Your story isn’t over because the Author is still writing it.