Healing Scars

   

   Scars tell a story.

   When I was a kid I loved to ride my bike. I rode all up and down and around where we lived. Thankfully our house was located in a gated, secure community; so many times I could take off by myself or with my granddad and be gone for an hour. The roads were SO hilly! Of course, as a kid, I loved that! Racing fast down hill, no worry of falling – it’s what kids do! Well, one time, I was doing just that when I hit a rock just right and took a nose dive off my handle bars. The next thing I remember was getting up and wondering what happened! Thankfully the accident didn’t leave me critically hurt, but it did leave a nice scar on my knee to remember it by.

   Just in the few minutes it took for me to re-tell that story, mentally, I was back in time, riding my bike as an 11 year old. I can picture the hill, feel the wind in my face and recall the look in my mom’s eye when she saw me. Funny how our brain can do that, huh?!

   We have emotional scars too, don’t we? Evidences of past hurts and wounds. Maybe we were the driving force that caused them. Maybe we were an innocent bystander caught in the middle. Maybe we were involved due to a loved one who made a poor decision. Either way – just like the scar on my knee – we can recall every detail of the incident and remember how we felt at just the mention of the scar.

   What does it take for a wound to become a scar? Healing. The raw gash must take the time necessary to heal. This can be a delicate process. Usually in the beginning, a wound needs to be thoroughly cleaned and carefully covered to avoid being bumped and re-opened. Then, after awhile, it needs to air out, for it’s become soft and mushy. The open air is necessary for a scab to form. And a different times, medicine, like Neosporin may be required to prevent bacteria from growing in and around it.

   In our hearts, there is a similar process that goes on. Although it’s not as easy as steps 1-2-3, but it is still a process. Sometimes we need time away from the source of our pain. Like time-outs in a football game to assess the injured and take them to the side-line. The rest of the team carries on with the next play until the injured player has had time to catch his breath and is able to return. This is OK! Other times, we need open air. It’s time to pull back the shutters and let the light shine in our face. A little bit of daily routine and normal functions can keep us moving in the right direction. And sometimes, we require a little antibacterial ointment to prevent further infections. Maybe that comes in the form of coffee with a prayer partner, candid, heartfelt conversation with a counselor or pastor or even late night confessions at a Women’s Retreat. Healing can take many forms, but is always necessary, and H-A-R-D.

   Without healing, however, shame sets in. Shame is like an intruder with a backdoor key. It slinks in unknowingly, but leaves behind sure evidences of his presence. Shame pops up in thoughts like, “Why did you ever go ride your bike in the first place? You knew you could fall. You’ll never be able to ride that hill again. And no one will want to ride with you because you’re so careless. They wouldn’t want to risk a relationship with you – they might get hurt. Better just stay by yourself, it’s better that way.” Shame wants the OPPOSITE of healing. Problem is, as opposite as these two are, it’s often hard to differentiate between the two. In the end, shame seeks to cover what should be exposed, expose harshly that which is delicately private and apply only cough medicine where heavy antibiotics are needed.

   Dear friend, if you have wounds that need healing, seek FIRST the Great Physician. He sees every hurt, every cut and holds every tear. He will not let shame overwhelm you, but instead waits to clothe you in beauty instead of ashes. He wants to give you garment of Praise instead of a spirit of Despair. He helps you into a robe of righteousness as He cleanses away all our impurities. He wants to make you into an Oak of Righteousness – a planting of His for the display of His splendor. (Isaiah 61) There’s no room for shame here.

   Work through the pain, despise the shame and you will find a grand testimony of His faithfulness waiting on the other side of that scar! That is something to proudly share when you get the question, “Where did that scar come from?”!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Gvt__r9EU0
Check out this amazing song from Mandisa called "What scars are for"

Putting it In Our Own Words,

~Julie