Anyone who has seen me play sports knows I’m an all out kind of player. I’ll give whatever it is 110%. Often times this can lead to scars, which frankly I enjoy.
As you know scars are wounds that were repeatedly cut open again and again. Eventually that cut scars and heals, but the skin is changed from what it once looked like. It says to others that I’ve been places and done things. What some may call blemishes and imperfections on my skin I call storytellers. To me, scars add more character.
Currently I have multiple scars I can easily find on my body and each one of them have their own stories. They may have come from spikeball at Victoria Falls, diving for a basketball on the University of Botswana campus, or even playing volleyball here in Cambodia. These all have been great times on this trip that I look back upon with joy.
Though I have always been able to look back upon these scars and others like it with joy, it used to be harder to look upon the scars on my heart with the same amount of joy.
The scars on our hearts are usually not there by choice. They are a part of us we don’t necessarily like to talk about, because it is from an internal hurt that was a long time battle and struggle. For me this was having struggled with insecurity, feeling inadequate, and pornography (which you can read about in more detail in a prior blog). Past hurts like these and so many others are on the inside, and it can be tempting to keep them there and not let others see them because we can worry about those scars being reopened once again.
But, once we make our hearts known to those around us, scars and all, we realize we aren’t as alone as we once thought we were. Your scars tell stories and those stories can help those around you who are going through a similar struggle.
Even if those cuts, or sometimes even gashes on your heart aren’t scarred over yet, in sharing them you have the potential opportunity to let others help you in that struggle or even let them know they aren’t alone if they are in a similar struggle.
Think about your favorite movies/books/stories, 95% of the time the main character(s) go through some sort turmoil. It’s seeing them overcome that obstacle which makes the story so great! In the same way, whatever scars may be on your heart take part in making you who you are.
Their is something beautiful about showcasing our scars and struggles and letting each other see who we are in whole. Not just the highlights, as lowlights add character and make us truly human.
In John 20: 19-20, Jesus appears to his disciples after He rose from the grave. He shows them His scars from the cross. In doing so he proves to them who He is. The scars showed them how He conquered sin and death. This is where our joy and hope as Christians comes from.
In the same way, if we show our scars to those around us, we show them this is who we are without a filter. Just as Jesus rose from them grave, if we show our scars to those around us, we show them how we overcame whatever that past hurt may be. Hearing about how we overcame can bring those around us a hope and joy if they find themselves going through a similar situation.
If you currently find yourself in a place of hurt, know you’re not alone. The world is broken and their is no hiding that. A perfect unblemished life is something no one will ever achieve so why even pretend? However, in that brokenness we can continue to find hope and joy in what Christ did for us through his death on the cross. His scars show us how he overcame the greatest challenge ever in conquering sin and death. With Him we can overcome whatever we are going through because the battle has already been won.
If you find yourself in a place of victory, in having overcome a past hurt, don’t keep that to yourself. It may not have been easy to overcome and may be painful to talk about, but celebrate for it because it doesn’t define you, it is just a part of you. What defines you is that you are a loved child of the most high King and loving God, so share. Share about the victory and help others receive that victory as well. Fight their battles with them.This world is not meant to be lived alone, don’t let yourself or those around you feel that way.
I want to leave the door open. This blog site has two purposes.
1. To update people on what life here is like and how things are going.
But more importantly…
2. To help those who read it with their spiritual walk with Christ.
So, if anyone reading this has a testimony/story about a scar on their heart they want to share please feel free to send it to me and I will see what I can do about posting it in a future blog! In the meantime, thank you all as always for reading and your support!
