the power of sharing
Three days from now, they are going to slit my throat. Don’t worry, it’s not the first time, but it’s been a while and there are a couple of things I’d like to know. How long is recovery? What’s my scar going to look like? Of course I’ll feel pain and I know healing takes time. Nothing helps more than a personal encounter with someone who experienced bright lights and cold steel and now has a well-healed scar. If you are brave enough to show your scar, I need the power of sharing your hurt and your healing.
2 Corinthians 1:4, “He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.” MSG
SCAR REDUCTION
My new choker neck shirt will cover my wound nicely. Oh how we carefully hide our physical scars and emotional ones too. According to “Human Skin Wounds” (NCBI*), Americans spend $25 billion dollars annually on scar reduction. If we fork out that much on skin wounds, what is the price tag of covering up human heart wounds?
Psalm 109:22, “For I am afflicted and needy; my heart is wounded within me.” HCSB
ME TOO
When we hide our scars we deny the power of, “Me too.” I get it, pretending I’ve got it all together is way more appealing than mustering up the courage to risk exposure. Some days I don’t feel so brave, but my pretense of smooth sailing will never encourage you when you’re battered by waves. My advice is far more credible when you know I’ve been there, and lately I’ve been here, there and everywhere and I’ve got the scars to prove it. What would happen if we quit concealing? Wonder how many would be surprised to know YOU struggle with:
Insecurity?
Depression?
Marriage?
Addiction?
Abuse?
Kids?
Faith?
Doubt?
Anybody brave enough to raise their hand? Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to see your wounds, I’m licking my own. But when healing is complete your scar gives us hope. If you healed, maybe we can too. No one will know if you cover it up and never let anyone see your scars. Those of us hobbling along this broken road need the healing power of seeing hope. When you’re on this side of the knife or heartbreak you’re looking for survivors. Anyone willing to admit they’ve been broken?
You never find wholeness until you acknowledge your brokeness Click To TweetImagine what would happen if we were honest and real.
Galatians 6:2, “Carry each other’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” NIV
*National Center for Biotechnology Information
So true! Those scars carry a kind of victory that gives strength to others. Thank you, Vickie. On you, even a scar would be cute.
I love that! Scars carry victory
This really felt like a dagger in my spiritual heart. But God’s truth is not always easy to hear or read, but He knows what these insecurities do to us. Thank you for sharing your personal journey.
So often we just suffer in silence
I know how scars are formed. Sometimes accidents, injuries, abrasions will cause scarring of our skin. Other times a skilled surgeon will remove a cancer and leave a scar in its place. If we follow our instructions, the scar should be as minimal as possible. Allowing my Great Physician to remove my sins and following His instructions will leave me with a scar I want to show others. Your message is so timely for me. Praying for you.
Such true words! Thank you
So true; thanks for sharing. It’s encouraging to see in my own life how God has healed scars to the point of being able to thank God for them genuinely. He is the best Physician: gentle, loving, kind, compassionate, gracious, merciful, infinitely wise, perfectly capable, and so much more. I can’t describe an infinite God, but during that wounded time, God proved His name Emmanuel to me in a very dear way. I am so thankful for how much closer I am to Him as a result of having no one else to lean on during that time. Praying for you now, that you continue to heal.
Thanks so much. He is indeed near to the brokenhearted
Thank you so much. He is the Healer