Over the past three years I have done something that I have not had much experience doing for most of my life. I have managed to exist until recently without having to have more than a couple of X-Rays—that I can remember. And both of those were because I had taken a major fall—at least to me it seemed like a major fall each time I did it. One resulted in needing crutches for spraining my ankle. The other occurred after I fell, slipped, and slid down some stairs after my right foot continued on down the stairs and my left foot decided to stay where it was. The position I ended up in was extremely painful and very hard to recover from as it happened in a very narrow stairway. I hurt so bad afterwards! And the consensus was that I should have an x-ray to make sure that I did not have 1 or 2 or 3 or more things that were broken or, again, sprained. It turned out that I did not suffer long lasting damage—but I felt hurt badly enough to need bandages or casts or bed rest or ice packs or at least several doses of strong pain reliever. I am so happy that God put within each of us the ability to heal! I am glad that we can heal, often with nothing left that leaves visible "trophies" on display. God is good about that.
We once had a cat that tangled with another cat and then came home to us with a gouge out of one of his eyes. We were fearful that he would be blind the rest of his life. It was wonderful to hear a veterinarian tell us that our eyes are designed so that a gouge to the cornea will heal and fill in and become as new. How wonderful is that!?!? God has made us able to heal in wonderful ways. There are ways that we can do things that injure us that cannot heal and disappear. I have told a children's story about a little boy who could not stop telling lies. The missionary wanted him to learn to not tell lies and thought of a solution. The missionary was going on a mission trip and gave the little boy a bag of nails and told him to pound a nail into the hitching post and rail every time he told a lie! Several days went by and the hitching rail had many nails pounded into it. Little Pedro began to worry about what the missionary would say when he came back from his trip. The day came; the missionary saw many nails pounded into the rail. When Pedro came to see the missionary, he hung his head! But the missionary didn't scold! He only said, "Pedro, now go and pull out all the nails!" Pedro went to work, relieved that nothing bad happened to him. At last he was done pulling out all of the nails—one for every lie! Whew! Done! Until—the missionary then asked him to remove all the nail holes and scars! Pedro took a look at the missionary! The missionary's face was looking very serious. Of course, Pedro had realized that nothing could remove the nail scar holes! The lesson that the missionary wanted him to learn was the lesson that when we sin, we leave scars on our hearts and minds and nothing we can do can fix them. The only fix is to not sin in the first place or to ask God to repair the holes we have pounded into our lives. The scar will still be there, to remind us of the lessons we have learned.
My X-Rays from years ago are not the only "pictures" I have now. In more recent years, I have had a series of ultrasounds, MRI's, cat scans, more X-Rays, bone scans, mammograms and blood tests and other lab reports.....And with each new image and test, it feels like I am going to get another diagnosis that I won't like. The tests often give me more prescribed medications. The pictures/images show how much my body is deteriorating, or they show a new lump, spot, nodule....that needs to be removed. I do not like to hear what often comes from these tests and images. The results have caused me more pain from surgeries. The surgeries are fixing what has gone wrong! Knee surgery, cancer surgery, hip replacement, more cancer....it sometimes feels like something more will always be found that causes me more additional surgery.
This week I was scheduled for another ultrasound! I was trying hard to stay positive.
My Bible emphasizes that God has a plan for those who love Him, a plan that includes a future with hope, even when circumstances seem challenging. Romans 8:28 assures me that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him," which should let me face difficult situations with a positive outlook. Hope helps to overcome fear and negativity. It allows me to be able to focus on the possibilities of a better tomorrow and to try to approach challenges with courage and resilience. Romans 15:13 emphasizes that by trusting in God, the God of hope, people can be filled with joy and peace. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Then there is Romans 12:2 that encourages believers to be "transformed by the renewing of your mind." That seems to mean actively changing thought patterns to align with God's truth. Focusing on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, as recommended in Philippians 4:8, can combat negative thinking. "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." With all that good instruction and advice, how could I possibly not have a positive attitude?
And yet, I easily fall into the trap of thinking the worst at times. 2 Corinthians 12:9 reminds me that God's "strength is made perfect in weakness". This means that when feeling overwhelmed, I can lean on God's power. Philippians 4:13 reinforces this idea, stating that people can "do all things through Christ who strengthens". The Bible teaches that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance builds character, and character leads to hope. James 1:2-4 encourages people to "consider it pure joy" when facing trials, knowing that they test faith and produce endurance. Our faith grows and becomes more in tune with Jesus.
Psalm 23:4 provides comfort by reminding me that "even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me". Seeking God's presence through prayer and meditation helps to find peace and guidance in times of uncertainty. Ugh! I should have read these verses more often than I did!
Here's a good motto for me—maybe you too! By embracing these biblical principles and incorporating them into daily life, I can cultivate a positive mindset rooted in faith and find strength and resilience in the face of any challenge.
I will confess that once I had the word CANCER attached to me, there isn't a day that goes by that I am not affected by it. Maybe it is that I can relate to someone else's story. I now listen carefully to news reports on cancer and statistics. I have a strange feeling, pain, lump, etc. and I think about the reason and how it might be more cancer! I work hard to not let those thoughts take over and control me. Those Bible verses tell me to not let those thoughts become a takeover of my mind. Instead, think positive about God and the peace only He can give. This week, my latest ultrasound ended in a good report! It ended my concern in a GOOD way! For now, my fears are taking a back seat! I don't have to be concerned about what doom is coming next!
Some of those images, X-Rays, ultrasounds have led to things/surgeries that caused scars. I have scars on my left knee; I have scars that have become almost invisible with time. I have a scar of several inches where a cancer was removed. I have another lengthy scar that marks the place where a surgeon inserted a new titanium metal hip "bone" and socket that makes it possible for me to walk again! Scars on my body are memory marks of bad turned to good. Jesus has scars that help us to remember that He came to turn bad into good! He paid the ultimate price to turn the bad into something good and wonderful!
Jesus' resurrected body bears the marks of his crucifixion, demonstrating that even in His glorified state, He carries the physical evidence of His sacrifice. This shows that scars can be a badge of honor, representing victory over suffering and a reminder of the price of redemption. Thomas wanted to see those scars to make sure that his Master was really truly there in the same room with him. He could hardly believe that Jesus had truly come back to them and that He will always be with us!
A scar always represents pain endured. Pain is part of what it means to be human, and scars become silent proof of that humanity. For some, scars symbolize that life is full of pain and suffering that must be endured with strength and stoicism. Paul had scars and cuts all over his back, arms, and legs from the many times he was beaten and stoned. In 2 Cor 11:24 Paul writes, I was whipped 5 times by the Jews, with 39 lashes. From that verse alone Paul had 195 scars and each one of those scars told the story about Paul's love for Jesus.
Scars represent both the pain of past wounds and the evidence of healing, redemption, and God's grace. They can serve as reminders of past struggles, but also as testimonies to God's faithfulness in bringing restoration and wholeness. Jesus himself bears scars as a testament to his sacrifice and victory over sin and death, and these scars offer hope for believers' own healing and redemption. Scars can be physical or emotional, and they often represent past hurts, mistakes, or difficult experiences. They can be a constant reminder of the pain endured, and sometimes the shame or regret associated with it. Again, I think of the story of Pedro and his nail scars from his mistakes. The Bible emphasizes that God has the power to heal and redeem, turning even the deepest wounds into scars. These scars, therefore, become visible signs of God's grace and the restoration He brings to those who trust in Him.
He will use our scars to reveal to others that we understand what they are going through—for we were once there ourselves. He will use the situations we have gone through to prepare us for His service and fill the voids in other people's lives. His power will change not only our own lives but also the lives around us.
Just as Jesus' scars can be a source of comfort and hope for others, your own scars can be used to minister to those who are hurting. Sharing their stories of healing and redemption can offer encouragement and inspire faith in others. Some see scars as part of God's plan, not only for individual healing but also for the broader purpose of glorifying Him and pointing others to His grace. By allowing God to use their scars, individuals can find meaning and purpose in their past pain.
Jeremiah 30:17 is often cited in relation to scars, where God promises to restore health and heal wounds. The Word of God says in Isaiah 53:5, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him: and with His stripes we are healed.” So never be ashamed of the “scars” that life has “tattooed” upon the “scaffold/hitching rail" within the limitations of your soul. Some scars are from wounds in our spirit that reach deep within our past, etched by heartache, grief, doubt, or remorse. They are a lingering reminder of what we've been through, and what we've become as a result. Consider the enduring scars of people in the Bible. There's Jacob's limp, or Adam's sweat, or Paul's thorn, Jesus' scars on his head, back, side, hands and feet. They are visible reminders so that we don't forget the past and yet look forward to the time when all scars will be removed from us physically and from our minds. Jesus will wipe them away from our minds and from our hearts and from our bodies!
In essence, the biblical perspective on scars is one of hope and healing. While acknowledging the pain and hurt they represent, the Bible ultimately points to the transformative power of God to redeem and make something beautiful out of even the most difficult experiences.
Scars, both physical and spiritual, and our emotions often symbolize strength, resilience, and healing after hardship. They can be seen as reminders of past battles, trials, and triumphs, representing the journey of overcoming adversity. Spiritually, scars can be interpreted as markers of spiritual growth, moments of choosing courage, and evidence of God's healing grace.
I have another scar! Several months ago, I was struggling to walk and even a few steps were difficult, so I often took shortcuts as I tried to save extra steps. One day I needed to get in the car. To get in the car, I opened the door with my right hand—but rather than take the effort to completely open the door by stepping a couple of steps forward, I reached for the door with my left hand. In a quick series of small events the door came back closed on my left hand! That closing was nearly the same as if I had had my hand in the door as it was slammed shut. It hurt that bad!! But on reopening the door, I only saw a slightly red place on the middle segment of my pointer finger. Several weeks later, long after the hurt was gone, I noticed a funny groove across the fingernail of this pointer finger. Since this finger is often visible to me during daily duties, I puzzled over it! After many days of puzzlement, I suddenly remembered back to the door closed on my hand and how badly my finger hurt back then. For the last few weeks, my fingernail has been growing, and the funny groove has been moving toward the end of my finger. Now it’s right on the end of my finger and the end of it is very “wimpy”! It cannot be used as a normal nail would get used and it annoys me. I was sure that there must be a lesson to learn in this fingernail!
Growing out of life scars, both visible and invisible, offers us strong lessons that can shape us into stronger, more resilient individuals. Scars are proof of survival and resilience, sort of acting as badges of honor that demonstrate the ability to overcome challenges. Healing the scar is a process that requires patience and self-compassion. The past does not define the future; it is possible to create a future filled with hope that we can grow beyond the scar and the reason for the scar.
Difficulties causing scars offer opportunities for growth, learning, and building resilience.
Pain can be transformed into purpose, serving others, or a learning situation.
Valuable lessons come from our mistakes and failures, to help us be informed for future choices.
I will be happy when the end of my finger is strong and more usable again! I want my nail to grow—faster than normal would be good!
I want to grow out of and beyond my scars!