“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

– Isaiah 41:10

Something I’ve come to realize is how valuable our battles are…

It’s inevitable to face downs in life, it’s the effects of living in a sinful world. However, it is still seemingly one of the hardest things to accept. People all over the word endure a variety of sufferings, but how we see them is the important thing I want to share with y’all.

So many people look back with regret from various decisions or events in their lives that leave their name scarred. Whether it be the things we did, said, or experienced, we all have those “dark times or moments” that we wish could just be erased from our story.

But allow me to show you the value in your scars…

I love this verse stated above because yes, it’s a pleasant reassurance to have God’s help in our desperate times, but what I find even more captivating is the fact that when we are in the valleys, we have the opportunity to witness God move in miraculous ways.

Without those downs, we would have never experienced the humility in our humanity.

I think the most beautiful thing we can witness is the compassion God shows while moving in our hearts and lives.

However, without those wounds, we would never have the opportunity to show others the scars; not so much highlighting the struggle of the battle, but the power of our God in the midst of it.

Our scars are our individually unique reminders that yes, we are imperfect humans, but also that we have a perfect God. A God so powerful that no matter how intense the battle was, it’s simply a scar and a story now.

Whether you’re ashamed of your past or you just don’t see a value in it, think again.

Our sins should not be something we boast about, but rather, use that time in your life as a glory story about how good the Lord is.

He is so loving and forgiving that EVEN WITH all of our brokenness, He gladly fights on our side, claiming victory over our battles day by day.

May we never hide our scars, for they are our testimony of God’s merciful work in our lives.

One of the greatest examples where we can witness the significance of scars is in Luke 24:39.

“See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

This verse was when the resurrected Jesus came back to eat with the disciples and they were scared because they didn’t believe it was truly Him.

How great is it that by, of all things, the SCARS from a treacherous experience is how we can most easily identify our Lord.

It’s quite ironic that the marks in which many see as imperfections on themselves, are marks signifying a glorious act of redemption on Jesus.

He is seen to have kept these scars, even in His resurrected body, as a sign. A sign showing the power in which God had over death and how He turned something intended for bad, into the greatest act of love ever expressed in history.

Jesus endured great affliction, but just as He let the Father use it for our good and His glory, we should surrender our pains for Him to do the same.

If there is anything I can encourage you to do, it is stop. Stop listening to the enemy when he whispers in your ear saying that you are no good anymore…that your trials are signs of God not caring about you…that you have no value or purpose…or that you are too far gone, too scarred up, and too broken to be a part of God’s storyline.

As we face battle after battle, gaining countless scrapes and bruises, begin seek God’s understanding of how He can move in your life. We can take action by simply praying each day for wisdom, clarity, peace, strength, and hope, because our God is a God who listens. He cares so so so much about you and gladly stands by your side.

This does not mean your trials will disappear or that your situation will always result in the way you want it to, but it does mean that He will hold your hand, and as you lay your burdens on Him, He will guide you to the finish line where one day, on earth or in heaven, the reason for your scars will be revealed as a significant symbol of His power and love for us.

Blessed are we, that our God uses the misfits to carry out His mission. May we have hope in His sovereignty and rest in His faithfulness.