The Scars of Combat

If you have scars, then you have evidence of living out loud.  Unfortunately, the scar remains long after the experience is over.    

Perhaps it is a mark of defeat.  You were in a battle – either physically or mentally or morally, yet the scar remains.  All scars are not visible to the human eye nor to x-ray. 

Marriages and divorces sometimes leave us with scars.

As do parents and siblings and the ill treatment we receive at their hands.

Harsh words leave their mark.

Even religion can scar us.

The focus of this message today is on emotional scarring and what we do with that.

This is an important topic, and a heavy one.  I’m chewing on something that is bigger than me, yet here we go. 

For physical scars, seek professional help.  Cosmetic surgery is only one of many avenues for this. 

For emotional scars, bring them to the one who finds beauty in our scars.  HE (GOD) loves us in spite of the scars and mars in our lives.  As Brennan Manning says, “God loves us as we are, not as we should be.”

My next words are hopefully words of hope and comfort from the scriptures.

-Cast all your cares on HIM, 

for HE cares for you.”  

(I Peter 5:7)

He heals the broken hearted, and binds up their wounds.  

(Psalm 147:3)

(Isaiah 41:10):   

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9 we find this:  

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

This I know … the past is irreversible.  A great writer from days gone by says this about that: 

 Leave the broken, irreversible past 

in God’s hands, and step out into 

the invincible future with Him.  

(Oswald Chambers 

My Utmost for His Highest)

And from a contemporary writer we find …
Your most profound and intimate experiences of worship will likely be in your darkest days – when
your heart is broken, when you feel abandoned, when you’re out of options, when the pain is great – and you turn to God alone.

(Rick Warren)

And now this ... you may need to seek professional help for your scars and mars. Sometimes we cannot self-heal no matter how many positive thoughts we express nor how many scriptures we recite and pray over.

Good and trusted professional counselors and spiritual leaders could be your best source. Do your research and find the professionals to whom you can turn for the healing you seek.

The scars may never completely go away ... however ... they could, in time, be a marker to say, "Look where I was and look where I am now."

Oh, what a great day that will be!

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