DEFINED BY SCARS

“The enemy wants to define you by your scars. Jesus wants to define you by his.” 

“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:16). 

I have visible scars that have healed. The scars that the enemy often tries to use to define me are also hidden. The names of these scars are depression, anxiety, doubt, insecurity, inadequacy, and unworthy. The details associated with them are not important here. But just like the physical scars, sometimes they reopen. And they hurt. They hurt a lot. 

Engraved—Jesus’ nail-pierced hand says my name. His scar says my name! 

That is the only scar that I want to define me. His scar does not say I’m not enough. It says I’m made in his image and that he is with me. It says I can do all things through him. It says that his grace is sufficient. 

His scar says I am a son of the King. It says I belong to the One who wrote my story which began on the day he knit me together in my mother’s womb. It reminds me that my story won’t end until the day I see those nail-scarred hands in heaven. 

It says I am loved with an everlasting love and my future is secure in him. My story, and the scars that are a part of it, aren’t a mystery to him because he is the author. 

So as I write and pray, I will choose to focus on his scar that brings life. It doesn’t take away the pain of my heart scars. But it does take away the enemy’s power to try to use my scars against me.

Dear GOD- please walk through my house and those reading and take away any illness, depression and sadness. Watch over and protect our families and friends. Bring quiet where there is chaos and bring light where there is darkness. And put love in our hearts, in JESUS’ NAME…AMEN!