Girlfriends in God - June 4, 2008

June 4, 2008

Your Scars Are Beautiful To God

Today’s Truth

“Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story” (Psalm 107:2 TNIV).

Friend to Friend

I have several scars on my body. One is in the middle of my forehead I acquired during a rock fight when I was eight-years-old, one is on my lip when I fell on a nail after disobeying my mother and crossing a busy street to see a friend, and another is on my shin after disobeying once again and shaving my legs when I was twelve.

However, some scars on my body aren’t so humorous. For example, there are two crescent shaped scars just below my belly button. They aren’t the result of body piercing, but of two laparoscopic exploratory surgeries to try and discover why I was unable to conceive. They remind me of the years my husband, Steve, and I struggled with infertility and the loss of a child. Then there’s the scar on my right breast that reminds me of the weeks of waiting and wondering if the lump was malignant or benign. No, not all scars are humorous.

Perhaps the most painful scars that I bear are the ones you can not see. You know the ones I’m talking about. We all have them. They are the scars on our hearts and in our souls. The scar of rejection from a father that didn’t know how to love me; the scar of growing up in a home riddled with alcohol and physical abuse; the scar of disappointment at the loss of a child; the scar of broken dreams.

We receive scars in one of two ways: what has been done to us by other people or what has been done through us by our own mistakes and failures. Either way, I believe that scars are not something that we need to hide or be ashamed of, but rather an invitation to share the healing power of Jesus Christ with a hurting world. For a scar, by its very definition, implies healing.

Perhaps you’ve never thought of the wounds in your life as potential treasures. I encourage you to dig a little deeper, push aside the dirt, and discover the jewels that lie beneath the surface. The Bible tells us, “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story” (Psalm 107:2 TNIV). Your story may be one of your greatest treasures. Like sparkling diamonds, glistening rubies, and shimmering emeralds, our scars are beautiful to God.

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, I have many scars on my body and on my soul. I pray that you will take these scars and use them for Your glory. I pray that you will give me the courage not to hide them, but to show the world the healing power of Jesus Christ in my life. Thank You for healing me and making me whole.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Now it’s Your Turn

Do you have some scars on your body that are comical?
Do you have some scars on your body that represent a deep hurt from your past?
Do you have some scars on your soul that represent a story to tell? A story of healing or redemption? If so, consider telling someone today!