When I was growing up, my parents found it easier, and cheaper, to buy a pair of crutches for me. If anyone was going to get a broken ankle, sprains, stitches, etc., I was the one. Actually, Peter has informed me that shins were created to find furniture. So, I can honestly say at my house there are always a lot of bumps and bruises between Peter and me—not to mention when the grandkids are here! We both have scars from everything: stitches, broken bones, and, again ~ finding furniture. Luckily, not every scrape has left a scar and not every bump caused bruising; just most of them did.
This reminds me a lot about life itself. Most of the time, the bumps and bruises we have as kids are from playing; there is always a little doctoring and most of them go away. Later in life, we realize that not all bumps and bruises are physical ~ the ones that linger are the ones that hurt the most. These scars are left from words and actions of others. Emotional bruising and scarring, no matter what happened, is the hardest to deal with. Many times, because we have survived something, we think we’re fine, only to realize years later how these scars have affected our lives many times over. As a survivor of rape and abuse, I speak from experience. It wasn’t until I realized I hadn’t dealt with it that the healing began.
Now the question: how do we heal from deep emotional scarring? Step #1 ~ forgive. What? Forgive someone who did that/said that to me? Yes. Forgive. Read in the Bible and you will see over and over where Jesus tells us to forgive. It’s not an option. You need to realize that when you hold onto anger, bitterness, etc., the physical damage it does to you can be devastating as well.
Forgiveness is for us, not the ones who caused the damage.
They go about their everyday life while you sit around hurt as a ‘victim.’ Once you have forgiven, your status will change from ‘victim’ to ‘VICTOR!’
Also, remember that Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted. That’s what He’s there for—for you. Step #2 ~ pray. (Ok, so steps #1 and #2 are linked together.) Ask Jesus to help you forgive and give this battle to Him. Paraphrasing here, but in Matthew Jesus tells us to come to Him and He will give us rest. As a child, the most comforting feeling was in Mama’s arms. We’ve all experienced that. As a child of God, the time you feel that same peace is when you go to Him, cry on His shoulder, and let Him do the healing.
This is DeVaughn ~ bringing it home.
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