Scars

Scars.  We all have them.  Some are more noticeable than others; some are barely there.  But no matter the size or shape, they all serve a purpose. 

For example, the scars displayed from when I had chicken pox remind me that I’m not susceptible to that disease again.  They remind me of how bad those little boogers itched, hence the reason for the scarring in the first place.  I scratched the heck out of those things!  Or the scars from my c-sections remind me of the precious lives I brought in to this world.   Sometimes, scars hurt or can be sensitive.  Said c-section scar was painful in the beginning, but with time the pain subsided.  Sometimes it is still sensitive, but it no longer hurts continually.  Most of the time I forget it’s even there, except when I see it.  But, even though I no longer feel the pain, it is still there.  It will be forever there.  It’s a part of me now.  This particular scar changed me.  It changed me not only physically, but emotionally as well.  Scars have a way of doing that.  Life has a way of doing that.  The scars that accompany us throughout our lives are there for a purpose, a reason.

Broken relationships.  Opportunities that passed us by.  Abuse.  Death.  They all leave huge scars in our lives.  Scars that hurt deeply.  Scars that will never go away.  But just because they will never go away doesn’t mean that those scars have to rule us.  Just as with my c-section scar, the pain from the emotional scars we have in life can be lessened, dulled, even forgotten.  It doesn’t mean that we still don’t bear those scars, but it means that the scar has healed.  The physical scars we carry don’t bother us after a period of time because the skin repairs itself and heals.  It doesn’t look exactly as it did before the scar was there, but it is no longer a gaping wound.  Our emotional scars are exactly the same.  Emotional scars hurt, sometimes so much that they result in physical pain.  Emotional scars are no different than physical ones.  They are huge gaping wounds in our souls - wounds that are ripped and bleeding.  Wounds that carry so much pain it hurts to breathe.  And they don’t heal over night.  Or even in a week.  Sometimes it takes months – or even years - for an emotional wound to heal.  To say it may take a lifetime is not a stretch.  But healing can – and will – come if we allow the Holy Spirit to work within our hearts and lives.  It is only through His might and power that we can conquer those scars.  He is the only one that can stitch the broken pieces back together.  Only Jesus can take away that pain.  The question becomes “are you willing to let him?”

Over and over in the Psalms, we see David crying out to the Lord to save him, to rescue him. 

                                    “Save me and rescue me….”

                                    “Be my rock of safety where I can always hide.”

                                    “O Lord, you alone are my hope.” ~ Psalm 71:2, 3, 5

Shouldn’t we be like the “man after God’s own heart”? When our scars are hurting so deeply, shouldn’t we cry out to God and turn to him for our comfort?  Shouldn’t he be our hope?

Psalm 71:7 goes on to say, “My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection.”  Life. is. hard.  There’s just no way around it.  What do we do with those difficulties that we encounter?  Though I am not always good at doing so, it is important that we share our scars with those around us.  We might have a word of encouragement that the Lord can use in that person’s life.  We never know who we will meet and what that person will be going through at that very moment.  Sharing your scars with them may be exactly what they need in order to know that God is real, that he is powerful, that he loves them.  Our lives and experiences are examples of God’s faithfulness, love, and protection that need to be shared with a hurting world.  It’s never easy to let others see our scars, but sharing them may be the very reason God allowed you to get them in the first place.

Now comes the hard part!  Praising Him.  Yes, that’s right.  God is still God no matter what happens in our lives.  And, trust me, I know … so very easy to say, so very hard to truly believe.  But God deserves our praise no matter what has happened in our lives.  Even when it is hard.  Even when you are angry.  Even when you have lost hope.  Even when.  God deserves our continual praise.  You may not be able to praise him in that very moment of sadness, anger, or hurt, but one day you will be able to look back on that circumstance in your life and say, “Thank you, God, for bringing me through.” Or you may even be able to say, “Thank you, God, for that particular trial, because through it I learned more about you.”  God’s ways are higher than ours. We may never understand why he allows certain things in our lives, but be certain that he can and will use it for his glory if we allow him to. 

Webster defines scar as “a mark left by the healing of injured tissue.”  We all have “injuries” that have left indelible marks on our lives.  What will you do with your scars?  Will you allow God to use them for his glory? Let’s stop hiding them away, afraid of what others will say or think.  Let’s instead show each other grace, AMAZING GRACE, as we share our scars and how God has healed them.