Jenny Smith, GFC Lutz

My kids love a book called “The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls” that's about siblings that go back in time to see some of the popular bible stories happen. I was reading it to them the other night and one of the characters in the story hurt his leg and asked Jesus if He would heal the cut. The cut was healed and the only thing left was a small scar.

“I left the scar so you will remember,” said Jesus. “Don’t worry,” said Peter. “I will never forget.”

I was shocked at how deeply these two sentences hit me. It got me thinking about the scars that are left from my wounds... and I’m not talking about physical wounds. I’m talking about the wound from when my father passed away unexpectedly... from being hurt by someone I love... from a season of fear regarding my child’s health... from getting a phone call with bad news... and the list goes on.

What if we were intentional in how we view the scars from our wounds so that we always remember what God did in our hard time, in our pain. The scar is a reminder that He was there and He healed something. Maybe we can change the way we think about our wounds. Maybe when we get a little sting and remember the pain, we can see that while we have a scar there it's the most beautiful reminder of how He held us, how He healed us, and what He did for us when we were hurting. And, maybe then we won’t be bitter either. Maybe when we see our scar and remember the pain, we can turn it to praise, turn it to thanks.

What if when we are hurt and the wound is open and bleeding, in that moment we can be confident and joyful knowing that a scar will form, and it will be a memory of how HE healed us. James says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3. Imagine if we think about the scar before it’s actually there... how much greater would our perseverance be? I want to be open to this kind of healing. I pray I am.

It’s so interesting to me how Jesus resurrected and left His scars for us all to see. I think He wants our scars to mean something. His certainly do. It is because of His wounds, His scars, His sacrifice, that I am healed. “He himself carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we would be dead to sin and live for righteousness. Our instant healing flowed from his wounding.” 1 Peter 2:24.

If there was no scar, would we even remember that we had been hurt? Maybe sometimes He allows a scar to remain so we won’t forget. I certainly do not want to forget. I want to be constantly reminded of what He did so the next time I am wounded I will be encouraged. I also want others to be able to see that scar... I want others to know what my Jesus did for me and that He wants to do the same for them.

My son is all boy and has many scars. He runs into things left and right and falls doing all sorts of crazy stunts. If his scars could tell a story, they would tell of myself or my husband hugging him, soothing him, wiping his tears, putting a band-aid on, and caring for him throughout his healing process. How beautiful would it be if we remember that this is exactly what our Savior does for us when we are hurting? “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted: He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Psalm 34:18 “I left the scar so you will remember”... when I see my scars I want to remember what Jesus did for me when I was hurting and I want to remember that it is because of Him that I made it through and because of Him that I will make it through again.

“One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.””

John 20:24-29 NLT