I have what often feels like many scars. The one on my finger from high school newspaper when I cut it with an Exact-o knife laying out the paper,, surgery scars including a hysterectomy scar, a giant indented one (they took and left out part of my skull) from brain surgery (that surgery also includes one on my stomach where they took fat to put in my head- how weird is that?), lots of little scars from skin biopsies and one big one that’s indented on my back from Melanoma. My scars are a reminder of things that happened in my life and although I could (and occasionally do) be ashamed of those scars and see them as awful, ugly defects that make me less than, I don’t. I choose instead to see them as reminders that I am such a lucky girl that has survived some pretty yucky events in her life. They are a part of my story. They are badges that I am a survivor. 𝗠𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀.
While you may not have a bunch of physical scars like I do, I bet your have some interior scars on your heart. Me too. ALL of us have emotional scars. The kind of scars that we tend to keep hidden. The kind of scars that make us cry to speak about. Difficult childhood? Scar. Father who abandoned you? Scar. Abusive relationship? Scar. Marriage ending in divorce no matter what you did to try and save it? Scar. Death of a loved one? Scar. And those scars? They are also a reminder that though we were wounded, we have been healed. 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀.
I came across this quote about scars recently in a book i was reading and so loved it….
“But you and I, we must make an agreement to defy them. We must see all scars as beauty. Okay? This will be our secret. Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, I survived.” ― Chris Cleave, Little Bee
Jesus had scars- HUGE scars. When He appeared to His disciples after His death, they didn’t recognize Him when he walked into the room- until He showed them His scars. Once they saw His scars, they knew He was Jesus (John 20:24-27). Now Jesus could have healed His scars and come back perfect and whole but He didn’t. His scars tell the story of our salvation. He kept His scars to remind us- we are loved, He is with us always, and we are worthy. So worthy that He endured unbelievable pain. His scars are a reminder that we can be healed. God can redeem anything the enemy has stolen from you. His scars were important- and so are mine and so are yours. Jesus showed His scars with confidence, not embarrassment and so should we.
Although it’s not healthy to live constantly in the past we can use our scars to help others. We honor God when we reveal the beauty in our brokenness, in our scars. Isaiah 53:5 says…"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." This verse reminds us that God brings beauty from ashes when we allow Him to use what we have been through for HIS glory. Behind every scar is an untold story of survival. And you never know who needs to hear your scar story to be encouraged and to know that they too can be healed through Him. My prayer today is that we are able to see our scars as proof of His power and healing and share them with those who God places in our paths today.