DEVOTIONAL: The scars do not define me…..
The scars do not define me…..
When you think about a scar, you think about a wound on your body that hurt so badly that it left a mark as a reminder of that incident forever.
Then we have the emotional scars left behind that are deeper and hurt worse than any physical scar ever could. Scars on the outside, we often try to hide because we don’t like how they look. They are ugly and we just want to hide them. That is what we often do with our inner scars of past hurt and present circumstances. We try to hide them away because we are ashamed of the cut it left behind and the pain it inflicted on us emotionally. Sometimes we try to pretend it didn’t happen so that the pain can be concealed or hidden. Do you have a scar that you can’t see on the outside but hurts you deeply on the inside? No matter what it is…..Did you know that God can mend that hurt and use every scar and wound even when you think you are just not enough for Him, that you are so damaged and wounded that you can’t be used or when you feel He has forgotten you. Yes, God can heal that scar!
You can’t let the scars of your past define your future. Don’t let the deep scars others have inflicted, the scars of your own mistakes or the scars of your circumstances make you think God can’t use you or that he has forsaken you. He is there to lovingly sooth the hurts and to mend every scar. The scars do not define you but they can set you on the path that God has for you. My own scars have transformed me into the person I am today. God has forgiven me for my mistakes that have caused deep scars and wounds in my life and He has helped me to forgive others for the scars they inflicted on me. He can take the scars that have hurt us and make something new and beautiful in our lives. He’s got a plan for those scars and you have to know that this is part of it. He’s going to finish what he started in you and mend your brokenness. God can use our broken pieces, our unexpected turns in life and He can use them in different ways for different reasons. You can’t continue to let the scars hurt you and control you so God can begin healing and changing you. Let God turn those deep scars into your testimony to display to the world His grace and mercy working in your life. Let Him set you free and heal those wounds so you can live a life redeemed.
God can use your scars to: Set you on the path where he wants you in life and to change you, for His glory, to bring you closer to Him and to help others who may have experienced similar scars. God doesn’t cause bad things to happen but God can turn those events that have caused us scars into something good. We could easily grow afraid to have hope again after experiencing much disappointment and unexpected turn of events in life that have scarred us but God says….just give it to Me and let Me give you rest; let Me turn those scars into something beautiful so that you don’t have to hide them away in shame.
I’m thankful for the scars because without them I wouldn’t be who I am today but it took me going before the Father and daily asking Him to heal the pain of those scars, it took me laying them down everyday until my heart was healed and the wounds healed. You just can’t let the scars define you but let them be used to show his grace in your life. Do not doubt that God knows about each scar. He understands your pain. He promises to use your brokenness and scars to share a message of hope to a world that so desperately needs His grace and healing.
Sometimes when we are at the lowest and the scars are painful, God is just waiting on us to look up and say God…..take the pain, take the hurt, take the disappointment, take the scars and make something new out of my life. Psalms 147:3 “He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.”
Where I once hid my scars in shame, I now embrace them because those scars have become who I am. Even the ugly and painful scars can be redeemed and used by God. The scars do not define me but they have put me on the path God has for me to be used for His glory. Let God sooth the open wounds and scars of your life and comfort you and when you are ready He wants you to do the same for others. You have two choices….you can continue to let those scars hurt you or you can give them to God today and start a new life….free of scars! The scars may always be there but God gives us the power to move forward in victory. I wouldn’t trade my own scars because God used my brokenness and hurt to bring me closer to Him and each scar is a story of His grace that He can use for His glory!
Prayer-Heal my scars:
Dear Heavenly father I come to you today and I lay every scar at your feet and ask you to comfort me, cleanse me, heal me and take away all the pain that those scars have left. I ask you to forgive me for the scars that were from my own sinful actions and I ask you to help me forgive others who have inflicted scars upon me. I ask you to take every scar and wipe them clean so that I can live a life redeemed and full of joy and peace. I ask you right now to use my scars to be a testimony to the world of your mercy and grace so that others may see you living in me. Take my life and allow me to be used in your kingdom. In Jesus name….Amen!
Bible verses:
Genesis 50:20
“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.”
Psalms 103:2-4
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,”
Matthew 11:28-29
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
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