Scars

Click here: John 20:26-27

REFLECTION

by Mary Alice McGinnis

When I fell on my driveway many years ago, the surgeon put in a metal plate to put my compound fractured wrist back together.

After weeks in a cast, and several more months of physical therapy, I was declared healed. Yet this scar persists. Sometimes it aches, still gets stiff, or just plain hurts.

If you have lived long enough, you have scars too. Some have faded well and are hardly noticeable. Others we purposely hide. Some are quite visible on the surface of our skin. Still others are hidden deep within our hearts.

And what about those deep heart scars? The ones caused by our own bad choices, or from the betrayals of others. For me, sometimes those scars flare up when I least expect it.

When those kinds of scars cause you recurring pain, which of these “r” words describes your reaction?

-         Serious

-         Circumstances

-         Arousing

-         Retreat, Regret, Remorse or Revenge.

Haven’t you seen it? Just when you think, “I am finally over it, I am past that pain,” then something triggers that deep scar tissue to twinge. And we react.

But maybe our scars can serve another purpose. Perhaps we can allow our scars to remind us of God’s:

-         Sacred

-         Care to

-         Awaken

-         Rebirth, Renewal, Restoration, and Rejoicing.

Which of these “r” words is God inviting You to believe is possible through your scars?

In John 20, Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection - in His glorified body. Isn’t it curious that Jesus still had nail pierced hands. He still had that spear piercing scar on His side. And He invited Thomas to place His hand on His scars and believe. But believe what?

Jesus’ scars were left behind as evidence that “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)

Maybe our scars won't ever disappear. Like Paul’s “thorn in the flesh,” maybe we need them to remind us that God's grace is sufficient.

Our ultimate healing was purchased through Jesus’s suffering. Because of His underserved punishment, we have peace with God. His grace is enough.

Prayer – Lord, I surrender the places where my scars are causing me to retreat. I confess that often my scars stir up all my regrets and remorse. Where others have wounded me, may I not give into a heart after revenge. Instead, Lord, reveal to me how You have sacredly cared for me. Show me how You are using my scars to awaken me to rebirth, renewal, restoration and rejoicing.  I believe that by Your wounds I am healed. Your grace is enough.