Greetings!
Today’s Word of Encouragement is” Don’t Believe your Scars, They Lie”
Sometimes when I look in a mirror, those scars from my past shame, the issues I had with never wanting to trust again, or my self-inflicted scars now faded with time, still tell their story, and they lie! Jesus had some scars, when Jesus rose from the grave Thomas needed proof. He needed to see the scars in Jesus hands and side. These scars became part of the fabric of evidence to prove that the Resurrection was not a rumor or a figment of his imagination brought about by grief and denial.
Scars tell us that bad things can happen at any time and they leave their mark. They tell us that we can’t protect ourselves from pain. They claim that God will not shield us from the sorrows of this world. Sometimes they whisper that we will never be truly beautiful or whole. They lie!
All of us have scars. Some can be external and there are those that are internal. Scars are a reminder of something, and most of the time a scar reminds us of something unpleasant. Scars are not unusual because there are many people who have scars all over their body. And for every scar they have, it indicates that something bad happened. Most of the scars we receive are from something bad. When you receive a particular scar or mark on your body it is there for a reason. I often thought God could have made the flesh so that it would not scar when it is torn. For example, the tongue has a certain type of tissue that does not scar when it is torn. In fact, the tongue does not have scar tissue.
I don’t care how many times you might bite your tongue and hurt yourself, God has fixed it so that the tongue can virtually repair itself, and when it does—it leaves no scar. However, a scar that the tongue could possibly leave is when you use tongue to speak harsh words to others, it doesn’t leave a physical scar, but it still leaves a scar. Almost every one of us have some sort of physical scar on our bodies from sports wounds, surgical cuts, war wounds, or accidents, but what about the emotional scars?
Some of the worst ones hide in the unseen places of our hearts. Scars from cruel words spoken to us or kind words withheld. Scars from lack, loss, divorce, addiction; scars from love betrayed and promises broken; scars from being loved only for what you can do for someone. You walk into a room, and no one can see those scars. But they are there. And they tell their own story!
Some emotional scars and wounds are in desperate need of treatment, but have been ignored for years. Ignoring these types of scars and wounds may result in your mindset needing some help. It is important to not only recognize when you have emotional wounds, but also know what is needed to heal the hurt. Many of us hold on to situations, circumstances, thoughts, mindsets, and trauma long after it becomes obvious, we are being still being damaged long after the event has occurred. All because scars are like that, they are reminders of something unpleasant, they are reminders of hurt and pain, and they are reminders of our trials and tribulations. And sometimes they are even reminders of some sin in our lives.
Those emotional, internal scars is why we need to seek God’s help. There are some things we would love to forget, but scars will be there, serving as a constant reminder. As painful as they may these inwardly and outwardly actually do serve a very important purpose.
Scars remind us not to make the same mistake again; you’ve heard it said that we learn by our mistakes. In other words, it’s ok to make a mistake as long as we don’t repeat them over and over again. God can use our failures to make us stronger. But they lie and tell us that God will not shield us from harm. They say God is always displeased and disappointed with us. They whisper others are better than you, more worthy, more lovable, and you are never good enough. They are liars! Scars tell their own stories. And if you aren’t careful, you will believe their lies.
Unless you listen to a different story. The story told by other scars. The scars on Christ’s hands and feet and side, the scars from the thorns on his brow and the whip upon his back. These swallow up the scars of our old wounds because they tell a story of love without boundaries; of new beginnings; of a God who gives us our worth and welcomes us; of a Bridegroom who pursues us; of a hand that shields us against evil.
These scars empower us to say no to the stories that our scars tell. We can choose to believe a new story — the one fulfilled on the cross. The more time we spend in the presence of that story, and the less time we bestow on the lies our scars whisper, the more stability we develop in our inmost being.
Overcomer, the scars that you have held against yourself were nullified by God’s grace. They hold no power. Their stories shall be silenced. Silence the lies of your scars. Listen instead to the story told by the scars of Jesus on the cross. You are an Overcomer!
Be Optimistic; Be Open Minded; Be an Over comer!!
Love Min. P.