I don’t think there is anyone who gets out of this life without a few scars. Some have cut deeper than others. Some we did not think we could survive to see them become scars. But here we are, a few more miles down the road, no longer sporting open wounds, but battle scars. Too many people want to hide their scars, they do not want to share the gruesome details of how they were wounded, too many hours spent trying to conceal the scars.

That is wrong thinking, if God has brought you through the wounding phase to the place of scars that are fading, then you need to shout out loud to the heavens in praise and thanksgiving. If you are not dead, he is not finished with you. Those very scars are your victory jewelry. God has fought on your behalf and brought you from a very long way, He has overcome and brought victory into your camp. Those days of feeling pain, hurt and confusion should be laid at the foot of the cross. If you have not done it yet, you need to. They were not meant to be a crutch for you to carry or kept open by constant picking to the point that they develop gangrene.

When we do not allow the Lord to heal us our wounds become a stench that can be carried around, infecting every aspect of our lives. We start viewing our wounds as an idol, to be looked at and worshiped in some way. God never intended that for you. I get how hard it is, I carried my hurts for many years, I was uncertain who I would be if I let them go; if I allowed the Lord to fill those places. Oh my, what a lie the enemy was feeding me back then! Once I made the choice to surrender “ALL” my hurts, disappointments, wounds to Jesus, “EVERYTHING CHANGED!”

I no longer see those scars, it is as though a fresh skin has formed in those places and I am able to smell the sweet fragrance of Jesus emanating from those places. I do not see the broken shell of a person who thought she was worthless trash. I see the daughter of the King, chosen and dearly loved. I see a journey chocked full of many harrowing moments and lots of tears, rivers of them actually and they are all leading me to this place of peace; this place of security and love. Once I said yes to laying those hurts down, Jesus moved in and started coloring over the scars. Now they seem more like victory jewelry. Badges of honor that He alone won and deserves.

When I praise the Lord, I cannot help but put my everything into it. I know where he has brought me from. I know each and every hurt that his love has healed. I alone know the dark place he called me from and the beautiful life he has put in my heart.

I know the freedom that surrender brings. I know how the enemy twists and turns even good things to keep us in bandages. But just like Lazarus you can walk out of your injured tomb with all your bandages, be undone and made free and well. And you can turn from the wounded, scarred person that you were into a person who is free to help others find their way and see the living active evidence of a life made whole. I will not hide or keep silent, God has brought me so far and continues to fill my heart and soul to overflowing. I can look back at every bad moment and trace his hand and feel his presence. He is such a good God and He is so worthy of all my praise.

Jeremiah 17:14 “Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” (When God does the healing, it is complete, when he saves it cannot be undone.)

Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
(When we go to Jesus and surrender our hurts, we feel lighter. Our heavy burdens of the past do not seem so big anymore. God is so gentle, he does not grab them away before you are ready, he patiently waits for you to surrender them to him and let him replace that heavy yolk for a lighter one.)

Psalm 103:1-5 “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits–
3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion. 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” ( Only Jesus deserves our praise and thanks. He alone died on the cross to take the penalty for our sins and to heal the broken. He can and will redeem your life from the pit of despair when you say yes to him, yes to his healing love. Only Jesus can satisfy those places left scarred by the hurts of life. Walking with Jesus is not a burdensome thing to do, it brings forgiveness of sin, life everlasting, a hope and a future. )

I pray today that if you have a wound you will give it to Jesus, if you have a scar that you spend too much time looking at, that you will ask Jesus to bring his presence into it so that you do not see it as a scar, but as a beautiful piece of God jewelry with the sweet smell of the Holy Spirit.

Blessings and Peace to you!