BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN
“30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” 31 Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip.” Genesis 32:30-31.
Jacob had a mysterious encounter with God. He wanted a change and a blessing. In order to get it, he wrestled with the angel all night long. When the dawn breaks, Jacob received the blessing he was asking for; a new name, a new beginning and a new identity. But a dislocated hip and a permanent scar. A scar that will tell the story of his encounter and transformation. He's no more Jacob, the manipulator and deceiver, but Israel a prince with God.
"From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." Galatians 6:17.
In ancient times, slaves bore scars to identify who their master was. Paul suffered so much persecution until his body was scarred. 2 Corinthians 11:23-30. Yet he saw the marks as a sign that he belongs to the Lord Jesus. Apostle Paul saw his scar as a badge of honour. 2 Corinthians 12:9. The scars on his body and soul were the trophies of victories as a soldier of Christ. There was no reason for him to be ashamed of his scars.
Beloved, what scars do you have on your body or soul? 2 Timothy 3:10-12. You can either choose to look at it as an ugly reminder of a painful past, or see it as evidence of God’s grace.
"The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” John 20:25.
Jesus is risen from the grave! Instead of going straight to Heaven, He showed Himself to his disciples in His new, glorified body. Jesus showed them His scarred body to convince them He was the One. But not all the disciples were in the upper room that day. Thomas was missing. When the disciples explained to him what took place, he didn’t believe their story. Thomas wanted something he could see and believe. So, eight days later, Jesus appeared again. Not only did he showed the scars, He even let Thomas touch them. It was the scars that convinced Thomas that the man who stood before him truly was Jesus and not an imposter. The scars of Jesus were there as a reminder of what He did. 1 Peter 2:24.
It would be picture perfect if we all lived in a society where there is no strife and we all get along quite well. But such only exist in fairy tales, soap operas, and 'Mills and Boon' novels. We've all been wounded and sometimes, we do the hurting. The pain of rejection from someone you called friend. A marital vow a spouse didn’t keep. The stabbing words you overheard behind your back. Is it the abuse no one should endure? The truth is, we're all hurting. The world is full of broken and wounded people. In fact, internal wound are much more serious than the external ones. Invisible pain hurt worse than the visible ones. Some of the deepest and most severe wounds we bear are from deep inside the heart.
After a time, when we let go of our wounds, they begin to heal. Yet, the scarred flesh is never the same. The visible scar is permanent. The scars will be there forever, serving as a constant reminder of the testimonies of healing, recovery and grace. Even after the pain is gone, the scar will always be there as a reminder or memories of what we've gone through.
WE ALL HAVE SCARS:
Everyone has faced some level of hurt, pain, trauma, or misfortune. No one is exempted.
A scar is a mark left by the healing of injured tissue on the body. It damages and deforms beauty. Scars are life's souvenirs. It is a boundary between the pains of yesterday and the recovery of today. A scar is a triumph of recovery over injury. It testifies that we have overcome. A scar is a testimony of our victories over life’s blows. It serves as a link between what happened before the wound and now. Scars means that what kept you awake at night in pain is now behind you. It is a testimony of your survival. Scars are a reminder. It is a remembrance of something. Scars remind us of the danger we've faced in the past. It is a message not to make the same mistake again. A scar is a way of recalling where we’ve been and what we’ve been through. It is a sign of closure. A scar means the wound has healed, the pain is over and you’re moving on. Scars tell stories of our hurt.
Some scars bring to mind a memory of betrayal, shame, bitterness, and revenge. Some scars are visible, but many are invisible. Some scars may have come from being in an abusive relationship, an accident, multiple surgeries, misfortune, abandonment, or from sexual abuses. Scars represent pain! Some scars are not good to look at. They are not considered to be beauty marks. So, we try to conceal our scars. We often try to hide them with clothing or make-up.
Are you wounded and scarred by life's blows? Come to Jesus today! He's still healing our deepest pain and wound. You can either look at your scars as a reminder of ugly past, or an evidence of your victory. Stop hiding or concealing your scars; every scar has a story!
EVERY SCAR HAS A STORY:
Behind every scar is an untold story. Everyone has a story! Your story may not be my story. There is a story behind every scar. Every scar is a sermon. Your scar is a message! Every scar has a history! Some of the stories are painful while others are not. Some are filled with shame, while others are full of pride. So often we try to hide our scars because they remind us of a painful past. We don't see anything positive about them and wish they would go away. Many men and women spend millions of dollars yearly to cover up their scars. But God want us to see our scars in a new light. Don’t hide your scars, wear them as proof that God heals.
You can be at peace with your scars. They are your testimony. Instead of being depressed over what you've been through, have a new attitude. Let your scar remind you of your survival.
BROKEN BEAUTY:
Are you hurting, broken and in pain? We're all broken in some way. Some more than others. We might look all right on the outside, but deep inside we’re hurting and in need of healing.
God wants to heal us. He wants to give us a fresh start, a new beginning, full of opportunity, hope, joy, and happiness. Like a broken clay in the Hand of the Master Potter, God can transform us by His grace, from a broken piece of clay into beautiful vessels. "And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make." Jeremiah 18:4.
You're not broken beyond healing. You're not damaged beyond repairs. You're not wounded beyond recovery. God can transform your brokenness into something more beautiful than you can even imagine. He takes your mess and turns it into a message. You're a beautiful work of God's art. Your scars do not defines you. God sees you as beautiful still. Your scars can become objects of beauty if you use them to glorify God, and point others to His saving grace.
"But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand." Isaiah 64:8. God is the artist and our lives are His canvas.
SHARE YOUR STORY:
You never know who needs to hear your scar story to be comforted and to know that they too can be healed. Many people all around us are wounded. They're hurting, broken, damaged, and lonely. Many pretends to be okay, hoping others will not see their deep wounds and scars. They see no one who feels what they’re going through and they see no hope in sight. So they pretends to be 'cool' and 'calm'. These “calm” people are living on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Many are on the edge of depression and suicide. Some already passed on.
Your healed wounds have stories to tell. Your scars have stories to tell. It can be a source of hope, strength and comfort. Your scars can inspire someone to believe in God and not give up in their situation. Stop hiding what you’ve been through. The world needs to hear your testimony. When you share your story it has the power to help others through their mourning and painful season. Let God use your past wounds to help others going through theirs today.
WHAT TO DO?
1. Recognize your need for healing and recovery.
Sometimes we seek to cover the pain by ignoring it or the use of alcohol, which will only cause us more harm and reverse the healing process. We cannot ignore our pain and think it will go away. So we need to present them before God. Until we allow God into the painful events of our pasts we will never experience true freedom and restoration He has for us.
2. Forgive.
Forgiveness is not denying or excusing the harm. We forgive because God forgave us. When we forgive, we allow God to heal us. Forgive those who hurt you. Forgive yourself.
3. Accept God's forgiveness and know that you are loved.
You might feel alone and forgotten, but God is with you and He loves you more than you can imagine. “.....I have loved you with an everlasting love...........” Jeremiah 31:3.
4. You are not defined by your past.
God made you and He is the only one who has a right to label you. You're God's masterpiece. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10. Stop living in the past. Let it go.
5. Your scar is not the end of your story.
Periods and commas serve two important jobs. A period serves to tell us to stop, or that we at the end of a thought. Commas serve to tell us to pause. That more is yet to come. Your case is not hopeless. God hasn’t finished with you. Don’t put full stop where there’s a comma.
Your life is a book! Every storybook has chapters. Never mistake the end of a chapter with the end of the story. It's not over! Only God has the final say over your life and situations! Only He can determines when its over. God has promised to work every detail of your life together in a beautiful way. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.
6. Keep an attitude of gratitude.
We can’t always control everything that happens to us, but we can always control how we respond. Choose to keep a positive attitude regardless of what you’ve gone through. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Philippians 4:4.
7. God’s glorious plans for your life hasn't changed.
Your future is glorious. “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.
8. You may feel like you’re going through your pain, wounds and struggle all alone, but its not so. God's with you and by your side to the very end. You will testify.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
9. Be persistent in prayer. Persistence means not giving up. Ask God to heal your memories.
10. Fill your mind with the Word.
The more you fill your mind with Scripture, the more freedom you’ll have from the old, painful memories. Read the Word. Dig deeper. Memorise and speak the Word daily.
11. Believe what the Word says about you.
Ephesians 1:4. God sees you as beautiful and redeemed. As soon as you trust in Christ. He takes everything you’ve ever done wrong, all the regrets, shame, and hurts and erases them.
12. Ask God to heal you.
“He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3. “But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5.
Tell God how much you were wounded and need His healing touch. He will reach down, take your hand, and walk you through this pain. It may take days, weeks or months. For some it will may take years, perhaps even a lifetime to heal the wounds completely.
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.” Psalm 103:2-4.
13. Reach out to others.
Sometimes it takes a word, or a grasp of the hand. Sometimes it means standing by someone during a difficult time and helping him or her not give in to despair. You can be an instrument of God's love to reach out and help others who are in pain. Ask God to use you to encourage others. Because of your own pain you will be able to understand and help in a far greater way.
14. Look to the future.
Start rebuilding your life. Move on! Start where you are. Don’t keep reliving the past over and over. Philippians 3:13. It is time to refocus, and let the old memories fade away.
THE MAN OF SORROW:
As long as we're in this world, we will get hurt. We will bleed. Some of our wounds are self-inflicted. Some are a result of what other people did. Some wounds are a result of living in an imperfect world. This world is a broken place, but Jesus Christ broke his body on the Cross at Calvary to make it beautiful again. His open physical wounds: the nails in His hands, stripes on His back, the spear that pierced His side, and the crown of thorns place on His head is a sign of Jesus suffering for us. He's a Man of sorrow! Jesus understands our pain and sorrow.
God brings beauty from scars when we allow Him to use what we've been through for His glory. He turns our pain into purpose. God heal our wounds, and use them to help those hurting. Your body may be presently imperfect, scarred or even disfigured. But God sees you as beautiful. "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5.
You're not a worthless and useless human being! You matters to God. He can creates beauty out of scars and brings healing out of our wounds. God can take your broken and scarred life and create a vessel of honour and beauty. Regardless of what you've been through, God sees the beauty in you. See beauty in your scars. See beauty in the broken. Share your story.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. O Lord I want to thank You for the scars, because it is a reminder that I have been healed.
2. Father, I thank You also that You have promised to heal the broken-hearted and restore those that are hurting, in Jesus name.
3. O Lord, heal my shattered heart and restore to me the joy of my salvation, in Jesus name.
4. Father, You are the Healer of the broken-hearted. You declare that You bind up their wounds, help me today, in Jesus name.
5. O Lord, remove whatever bitterness may be in my heart, and fill the empty spaces with your Love, in Jesus name.
6. O Lord, go back into my memory and heal every hurt that has ever been done to me and heal every hurt that I have ever caused to others, in Jesus name.
7. Father, hold me close to Your heart and let me rest my head on Your shoulder, as a lamb carried by the Shepherd, in Jesus name.
8. O Lord, You are my refuge. My strong tower. My shelter in the midst of the storm. In You I am safe, not only from the past, but from haunting memories as well, in Jesus name.
9. Father, You promise that You’re doing a new thing in me; help me believe that and fix my gaze forward instead of dwelling on what was in the past, in Jesus name.
10. Lord Jesus, come and do as you promised to do—heal my broken heart and set me free.
