life isn't beautiful

I am passionately pro-life, and nothing has changed. I still firmly believe in the sanctity of life, that we are created in God's image, and that every human has value no matter how small. But one thing that I have frequently said as a pro-lifer is that life is beautiful.
It isn't.
Life isn't just the good moments - the first kiss, the promotion, the birth of a child, the emotional highs... Graduating from college, sharing a special day with someone, experiencing a miracle, or feeling "on top of the world"... Because sometimes life is hard.
Sometimes life is the heartbreak, the loss of a job, the emptiness... Being heartbroken, watching a loved one die, experiencing financial difficulties, or feeling like God has abandoned you. We wouldn't call these things beautiful, yet we would be remiss on our description of existence if we were to not include them. Because being alive is the good and the bad moments and everything in-between. It is the first second of existence to our last. 
It can be tempting to lose hope in this thing we call life - the obstacles seem overwhelming, daily living seems so stressful, and tomorrow seems so far away. But I am slowly learning:
Life isn't always beautiful, but it is worth it.
The meaning of our existence isn't to aimlessly ride a roller coaster of emotions and life experiences. It isn't about leaping from one high to the next while trying to maintain a sense of optimism. It isn't even about finding our true love or living our happy ending. It isn't about the next promotion, the fancier car, or the bigger house. No, God has an even greater purpose for us than any of these things.
For a Christian, this life won't be the easiest, because this world isn't meant to be our home, no matter how comfortable we make ourselves. God offers us a grander calling than any we could make for ourselves. He offers a more fulfilling existence than any we could ever imagine. If you are part of God's family, you can hold onto this promise:
Life isn't always beautiful, but it will be.
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:4, NKJV