Scars: Beauty from Ashes.
Even being a Christ-Follower Is Not the Most Comfortable Lifestyle If We Do It Right. –
Scars are Often the Price We Pay for Faithful Discipleship.
By: Meredith Shafer
Your scars are proof of the battles you have been through.
This message will walk you through what it means to allow God to use your scars for His glory.
It doesn’t happen overnight. – but if you let him, God can take you from broken to beautiful, damaged to your destiny, and scarred to set free.
Scars: Beauty from Ashes
Hurts come in all shapes and sizes.
But God takes us from broken to beautiful, damaged to our destiny, and scarred to set free if we allow him to be part of our healing process.
Wounds come from anywhere: betrayal, trauma, loss, or abuse.
Even being a Christ-follower is not the most comfortable lifestyle if we do it right.
Scars are often the price we pay for faithful discipleship.
My own family has suffered some scars.
We have been through addiction, PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
And We have even survived a suicide attempt. These things leave more than a few scars.
We now recognize the healing that our scars represent.
And We understand that though we were broken, the scars we are left with are now beautiful reminders of God’s mending and strengthening in our lives.
Scars: Beauty from Ashes
Each person handles hurt differently.
Some of us ignore it.
Others of us fight, get angry at God, or turn to drugs, alcohol, sex, or food to numb ourselves.
God wants to heal us and promises to give us beauty for our ashes and joy for our mourning. (Isaiah 61:3)
That beauty comes from laying our hurts at the feet of Jesus.
Childhood neglect, divorce, the loss of a parent or child—we can lay them down.
The internal injuries from being left out, ignored, or bullied—we can lay those down, too.
God wants all your hurts.
He has healing for each one.
And He has a divine way through human suffering.
Also, He doesn’t promise we won’t have pain; he promises never to leave us.
He changes wounds into scars–reminders of how far God has brought us and proof that we have survived what the enemy meant for our harm.
Scars: Beauty from Ashes
Let Us Pray:
Father, take all my woundedness, grief, and pain.
Make something beautiful from these ugly wounds.
Please come in and work your healing into each hurt place.
I want to be healed, whole, and restored!
Take my brokenness and show me the way out of the pain.
Begin turning my wounds into scars today, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Scars: Beauty from Ashes
Isaiah 61:1-3 KJV
[1] The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek;
he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
[2] to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
[3] to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,
to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Scars: Beauty from Ashes
Damaged to Destiny
Only God can take the damage we have hidden in our hearts and use it to further our destinies.
Telling others about our scars is how God brings healing to them.
And to us. Retelling the battles we fought gives hope to someone else.
We can show our scars as a roadmap out of the pain we have suffered.
It is not easy to show our hurt places to others.
Will they laugh or make fun?
Will they walk away or talk badly about us?
Showing our scars is part of walking out our destinies because that makes us Overcomers.
When we allow God to work on us from the inside out, we reach a point where our scars don’t hold as much pain.
They become reminders of all God has brought us through.
And They are beacons of hope and healing to others who aren’t as far along in their recoveries.
Revelation 12:11 says They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.
If we want to put the enemy in his place and take Kingdom ground, we need to start telling about all the glorious things God has done for us.
Jesus died on the cross (the blood of the Lamb), and we overcome the enemy when we do our part and share our testimony.
We are all born to be Overcomers.
What stops some of us is the testimony part—what will they think of us if they know our wounds?
How will they perceive us if we show our scars?
Scars: Beauty from Ashes
Friend, don’t let what others think be the obstacle that keeps you from your destiny of becoming an Overcomer.
Even if you’re a little bit scared, scarred, worn or weary, share a piece of your story with someone who needs it.
God will bring just the right person at just the right time across your path.
Share what God has done for you and watch the light of hope come back into their eyes, even as you gather strength from the telling.
It’s time to be an Overcomer. It’s time to show your scars.
Scars: Beauty from Ashes
Let Us Pray:
Father, Comforter, Healer—allow me to share what you have done for me.
Nudge my heart when there is one who needs to hear about the healing you have worked in my heart.
Show me who needs to know the hope that my scars hold.
Please give me the courage to be an Overcomer for you and walk out my destiny. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scars: Beauty from Ashes
Scarred to Set Free
The enemy would like you to think your scars are embarrassing.
The world says scars are meant to be hidden or covered up.
You may be asking, Why should I show my scars?
The best reason I know is that Jesus did.
In John 20, Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples, has missed seeing his Teacher alive,
and says he won’t believe Jesus has been raised from the dead unless and until he can see Jesus’ nail-scarred hands for himself.
So, Jesus did precisely that.
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe. (John 20:27 NIV)
Thomas gets a bad rap, but he just wanted what the rest of us want: hope that there is a reason for all the hurt.
Once Jesus showed Thomas his wounded places, he believed.
Jesus knew the power of showing his scars.
He knew his disciples would believe in victory beyond the grave if he revealed his wounds.
They and his friends and family had watched the worst things imaginable happen to their Jesus.
And They saw him tortured and killed. Also, They knew he was dead and buried.
The hope that lives in showing our scars is full of resurrection power.
This hope can breathe life into the dry bones of dreams and give breath to seemingly dead destinies.
Showing our damaged places helps others understand that just because we were hurt doesn’t mean we are finished.
Scars are proof of battles fought and won.
For today, instead of hiding away your scars or trying to cover them up, consider showing them to someone.
Though the enemy tried to take you out, your scars prove that you are set free.
Scars: Beauty from Ashes
Let Us Pray:
Father God, thank you for the healing you have brought to my life.
Thank you that every scar is evidence of my freedom in Jesus.
I know you have more healing for me.
As you do your good work in healing my wounds even further, please give me bold courage to show my scars as proof of your healing hope.
Help me be more like my brother Jesus and offer my scars as a testament to your glory and power. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Also Read: My Cancer. God’s Grace. His Glory. – Diademng (thediademng.org)
Scars: Beauty from Ashes
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