It seems to come out of the blue really. A comment from a friend. A question from a relative. Or maybe even a statement made by a total stranger.
But along with the revealing comes pain. That is always the same.
A couple of weeks back, my sister ripped off the bandage from a very old wound with a question that took my breath away. I couldn't even form a response for several moments...it seemed like an eternity at the time.
I was stunned...and surprised...because I thought I had found healing in that area. It sent me reeling, begging the Father to reveal the truth to me.
I struggled for almost two weeks...wrestling over the reason for the intense pain.
And then on Thursday night, as my mind was overwhelmed with the pain and my body couldn't find sleep; I felt an answer come in the wellspring of my heart. "It is true that some of this pain is from a deep wounding that hasn't completely healed, but most of it is now a scar. Just as I still bear the scars of the cross, you still bear the scars of this."
I soon feel asleep as I thanked the Lord for His willingness to bear the scars of Golgotha for me and as I asked Him to bring deep healing to the wounds as only He can.
Then on Friday morning, as I read through the day's Scriptures, I came across this:
"(Jesus)...healed their diseased bodies, healed their hurt and bruised lives." Matthew 9 from the Message
I felt the Lord telling me that not only do the open wounds hurt when they are uncovered, but sometimes when we stare at our scars...all we can see is the ugliness and remember the pain that caused them. That was what I had been doing since my sister's question. I had been staring at the scars and feeling again the pain that accompanied them.
And then I read this quote from a friend's Facebook page:
Never be ashamed of the scars that life has left you with. A scar means the hurt is over, the wound is closed, you endured the pain, and God has healed you.
As I allowed my eyes to take in the whole picture, the ragged edges of the scar became less noticeable and I was reminded that the scar was not only a testimony to the goodness of God, but also was part of what made me into the person that I am today.
Do I wish this wounding had never happened? You bet! But this is where I have to choose to walk by faith and not by sight. Trusting that this wounding hurt Him as much as it did me...and that He is able to redeem it and make it (and me) into something beautiful indeed!
I've edited this post to include Michelle's "Hear It On Sunday. Use It On Monday" link. Visit her webpage to see what other's around the blogosphere are sharing.
6 comments:
God is so good.
You are so beautiful and loved.
Sometimes things do just come from the blue to reveal a painful stab in the past. I understand.
I do like the quote from facebook. Thank you.
I'm no good on this subject as my scar tissue is deep and at the forefront most of the time. All I can do is pray for healing.
Rita
In your memory go back in time to when this hurt happened. Pause and look around and if you do not see Jesus there, ask Him to come. Then listen to what he tells you. It is His words there that will bring the healing and also heal the HURT.
Thank you for this encouraging post.
Never be ashamed of the scars that life has left you with. A scar means the hurt is over, the wound is closed, you endured the pain, and God has healed you.
Thank you for this comment. I too have been hurt recently and am trying to get over it. I guess it is not scarred yet but it will, and I will bear the mark of God carrying me through a hard time. And, scar tissue is even stronger than our skin!
Interesting post. I have been wondering about this issue,so thanks for posting.
http://scarprinnow.com/
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