Wounds and Scars

It’s been a week since the not-so-friendly canine who shall remain nameless became a canine criminal. He now has his own SAPD number. Yep, he was out to get me.  And I lost the battle.  What remains from our encounter?  A not-so-nice wound  on my leg that will slowly become a scar.

Maybe you can relate. Maybe you had a bad tumble as a kid and a scar remains.  A recent surgery.
A car accident. Injured serving in the military. Scars remind us of something that took place that caused significant pain.  Scars usually remain our entire life.  Scars are like war wounds.  They never go away, but the pain from that  wound can dissipate.

Yet, not all wounds and scars are physical in nature.  Many of us have emotional and relational
wounds as well. The longer we’re on this earth, the more scars we might experience.  A memory from childhood that brings pain to your soul. A severed relationship with a friend. The death of a family member or close friend. An unfulfilled longing. Being judged unfairly. Rejected by a friend or family member. A work issue.  Other times, we are the cause of our own wounds…self-inflicted. We hurt ourselves! Bad choices that we make that affect us for life.

In time, my dog wound will heal.  A scar will eventually form to be an outward reminder of the canine criminal. A story to tell.  However, sometimes the wounds of life can be with us for a long time. We can stuff our emotional and relational wounds acting like they never hurt us, pushing them out of our emotional sight.  For others, we rewind the wound over and over in the recesses of our mind. We obsess about the wound and as a result, it remains open and raw.  How can we thrive in life if our wounds and scars get the best of us? 

What wounds and scars do you carry today?  Anne Graham Lotz in ‘Wounded by God’s People’ writes “God’s purpose for us is not to make us healthy, happy, prosperous, and problem-free.  His ultimate purpose is to conform us to the image of His own dear Son, that we might bear much fruit to His glory. And sometimes, in fulfilling that purpose, He allows us to be hurt.”  God has a purpose and will use everything that comes your way in life.  He will use your wounds and scars for good. I can honestly say that I love and trust God more because He’s carried me through my wounds.  He’s reminded me He is good-all the time.  Don’t be afraid to come to grips with your hidden wounds. Share them with a trusted friend. Run to God for help.  He is always with you and longs to care for you. Take the journey toward healing. It’s worth it.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”   Psalm 147:3

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.