Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what
he has done for my soul.
Psalm 66:16
Battle Scars – Badges and Reminders
This past couple of weeks we have been focusing on the spiritual battle we
are in today learning how to fight this spiritual battle. We have talked about the armor we must wear.
But every soldier that goes to battle comes home with scars, whether you can
see them or not.
Scars are both badges and reminders. They are badges of honor, whether the battle was won or lost. They are badges that say we made it. We persevered. We finished, even if our only accomplishment is that we are still upright and breathing. They remind us of where we have been and where we are. They remind us of our own insufficiency and the sufficiency of Christ, and that only by His sufficiency we have made it this far. They remind us that He is our strength and has carried us through it all, and finally they are reminders that we never want to go backwards.
Most people think scars are ugly and try to hide them. Some of our worst scars are hidden away deep inside our hearts and minds. When we just cover our scars and don’t appreciate the lesson we have learned and the reminder they bring, we create some serious scar tissue in our lives. Scar tissue is ugly. It is unhealthy, thick, and covers our beautiful scars, sometimes creating more pain over time. After we allow scar tissue to cover them up, it is much more work and pain to get back down to the original scar and deal with it.
Scars remind us of our strength and our weakness at the same time. They are a sign of healing, and when we embrace them, we can allow God to fully heal us and use our scars for His glory. Nothing is wasted. God uses everything, good and bad, to bring His glory to our lives, and to others through us. They allow others to see His healing power in our lives. They keep us from making the same mistakes over and over. They strengthen our relationship with our Healer and Rescuer. They help others not to make the same mistakes, and help people get through a similar battle they might be fighting. Our experiences help lead others through some tough times in their lives.
No matter how complicated our life is or what a matted-up mess we have made, God can weave it into the most beautiful story that brings glory to His name. Our scars are part of our story. They are part of what makes us who we are. They are the chapter in our story where character is born, courage is resurrected, and perseverance grows. Don't skip the in-between chapters where the true development happens. We get anxious to know the ending, but the ending only works when you go through every chapter. If you skip chapters, none of it will make any sense.
What scars are you hiding? What do you need to embrace, hand over to God, and ask Him to use? If we hide away all that we have overcome, it is just a waste. Let the Lord take your scars and turn them into His gift to you and others.
Lara Cook
