Scabs and Scars

For several weeks, my son Ashton had a scab on his knee that I was concerned would never heal.... then one day, I saw exactly why. He kept periodically just "picking" at it, removing the scab and re-opening the wound. Of course, once he stopped messing with it, it did finally heal - but now, the scar was slightly bigger than it should have been and is much more noticeable.

Immediately, I thought about the wounds we carry in our hearts and minds - old hurts, past sins, words we should not have said, things we knew not to do but did them anyway, bitterness or unforgiveness toward someone that betrayed us or let us down. Then there is the pride, the anger, the hatred or disappointment that we just will not let go of. In error, we think holding on to that old hurt or grievance will somehow keep us safe from being hurt again. Oh and I won’t even mention the hatred spewed every day on social media toward those we disagree with politically (or in any other way for that matter).

Oh, how deceitful our hearts can be! (Jeremiah 17:9) Just as the Lord designed our bodies to have the capacity to form a scab after a fall or wound, then heal and become like new again (even with a scar), He also desires for our hearts, minds and every fabric of our life to be made new. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Nevertheless, so often, we instead choose to focus on the scab that is developing and we just will not let that wound heal completely. We “pick” at it, mull it over in our minds, and often allow it to keep re-infecting our hearts, families and lives. There is a quote I heard once that sums it up: “If you don't allow God to heal what hurt you, then you will continue to bleed on people who did not even cut you!”

So, what are we to do instead? James 5:16 sums it up: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” What? I am supposed to share MY sin with another?! Yes, we are! However, it does not stop there… then we are to genuinely pray for one another… and here is the very best part – so that we may be HEALED! Hallelujah!

I don’t know about you, but my body and life has endured many wounds and has many scars. Yet when I have chosen to obey God’s word, authentically confess and ask for prayer, God has never wavered in His complete and total healing and restoration! Are there still scars? Yes. The most amazing and glorious gift of His grace is when I choose to see those scars for what they truly are – not reminders of past things that I can’t change, but as reminders of God’s faithful love and redemptive healing.

So, I’d like to encourage my FB friends today – ask God to search your heart and reveal any wounds you are still “picking” at, things that cannot heal because you won’t let them. First, if you need to seek forgiveness, go and do that. (See Matthew 18) Then, go to a trusted Christian friend or family member, confess it to them and ask them to pray for you. My desire always for every person I know (& for myself) is that we would live authentically. We must be willing to share our struggles and lift one another up in prayer. When we live “healed” lives, God is glorified and others are drawn to Him and His ultimate healing – the forgiveness of sin and knowing we have a secure salvation by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ!

"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14