When I was nine years old, I had an electric scooter. It was so much fun! We lived on a steep hill and it was especially fun to start slow and then accelerate to the bottom of the hill. There was a switch on the bottom to turn the scooter on and off. My parents always warned me to check and make sure it was turned off before I started down the hill. However, one day I didn’t follow that advice. The scooter was already turned on and before I knew it I had pushed the throttle and was being dragged down our hill. I had no way of stopping as my legs scraped against the cement. I remember thinking if I could just get my finger off the throttle, then maybe it wouldn’t hurt so bad. Unfortunately, it took me long enough to get my hand off the throttle, resulting in a scar on my knee. It started as a cut, but because the wound was so deep and it didn’t quite heal correctly, it became a scar. It was extremely painful when it first happened and I was a little embarrassed of the resulting scar on my leg. No one wants to have scars.
At some point in life, we might make choices that lead to us having scars. That’s exactly what I did when I made the decision not to check the power button on my electric scooter. Maybe there are circumstances out of our control that cause scars. Regardless of the situation, no one wants to have a scar. It mars the flesh and can often result in physical deformities in wake of the injury. Of course, I’m only alluding to physical scars. I’m mostly talking about emotional scars. Whether your scar is small and almost unapparent or your scar is evident and bothersome, you might try to cover it up. It’s not something you want people to know about. We all have scars we try to hide. If you have ever made a mistake, you might have earned a consequence that resulted in scar tissue. Maybe it started as a cut, but as the painful experience continued, the wound got deeper and your small cut finally transformed into an ugly scar. We feel ashamed of our scars and for good reason. However, trying to bury the memories and the pain connected to our scars only serves to temporarily alleviate the anxiety we feel about them. In reality, the scars are there to stay. Scars don’t just disappear. They might fade with time, but we know they’re still there.
Staring at us. Mocking us. Making us relive the painful experience over and over again.
The real question is: How do we deal with our scars in a healthy way? Sure, we could try to cover them up by any means possible. You could wear a fake smile to mask the tears. You could eat away your sorrows. You could run out your troubles. You could buy some new clothes for a little retail therapy. You could pretend it never happened. You could avoid conversation about the past because you don’t want to go back. However you deal with your scars, the ugly truth is that you don’t want to reveal your scars for fear of what others may think. Unfortunately, none of these are HEALTHY ways to deal with emotional scars.
Here are ways we should deal with our scars:
1. Recognize that we are broken and need to be made whole.
2. Cast our cares (scars) upon the One who cares for us.
3. Pray for healing.
4. Know that we are not alone.
5. Be thankful for the scars.
"I'm thankful for the scars 'cause without them I wouldn't know your heart."
If you never had scars, you wouldn't know what it was like to be healed. If you never had scars, you wouldn't know what it was like to surrender your heart to Jesus. If you never had scars, you wouldn't understand how Thomas felt when he touched the nail-scarred hands of Jesus after His resurrection. You see, Jesus Christ has his own scars. They tell a story of the pain, ridicule, and betrayal He endured. Maybe Jesus didn't completely realize the impact His scars would have on the world, but His scars are some of the most significant scars in history. They tell a story of a love so great that it was willing to die for us, though we were yet sinners.
Whether you realize it or not, your scars tell a story too. They might tell of a painful experience, but sooner or later, there is going to be a story of victory and of the awesome healing power of our Lord and Savior.
Romans 8:18-The pain that you've been feeling, can't compare to the joy that's coming.
Don't underestimate His power to heal every infirmity. Even wounds that have left ugly scars.
Psalm 147:3-He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
We might feel ashamed and unworthy because of our scars, but believe it or not, our scars are something God can use. He specializes in taking brokenness and making it into something beautiful. Child of God, if you have been struggling with emotional scars or possibly physical scars because of past mistakes or situations out of your control, stop trying to hide them. God already sees you for who you are and He loves you no matter your scars. Without the scars, you wouldn't know of God's love and mercy. Whether it takes 10 days, 10 months or 10 years, let's learn to be thankful for our scars because they are proof that God heals. Our scars will shape us into who we are in Jesus Christ.