Our Mistakes

“The emotional scars of our mistakes will teach us far more than the joy of our successes.” 

(Steven Aitchison)

 Our scars that tell stories. Some of us has some sort of physical scar on our bodies from sports wounds, surgical cuts, war wounds, or accidents, but what about the emotional scars? Though emotional scars may be easier to hide, they affect us on a deeper level and take longer to heal. It’s easy to see physical scars and wounds. You can see if they are old or new, or whether the wounds need to be stitched by a doctor or whether the use of a Band-Aid would be enough.

Some emotional scars and wounds are in desperate need of treatment but have been ignored for years. Ignoring these types of scars and wounds may result in serious psychological damage. It is important to not only recognize when you have emotional wounds but also know what is needed to heal the hurt. Many of us hold on to situations, circumstances, thoughts, mindsets, and trauma long after it has become obvious we are still being damaged long after the event has occurred. Nothing reminds me of this topic than the song "Scars" by I Am They. I think we can all relate to the feelings spoken by with these lyrics:

Waking up to a new sunrise
Looking back from the other side
I can see now with open eyes
Darkest water and deepest pain
I wouldn't trade it for anything
Cause my brokenness brought me to You
And these wounds are a story You'll use

 

Chorus
So I'm thankful for the scars
'Cause without them I wouldn't know Your heart
And I know they'll always tell of who You are
So forever I am thankful for the scars

Now I'm standing in confidence
With the strength of Your faithfulness
And I'm not who I was before
No, I don't have to fear anymore

Chorus

I can see, I can see
How You delivered me
In Your hands, In Your feet
I found my victory
I can see, I can see
How You delivered me
In Your hands, In Your feet
I found my victory

Chorus (Twice)

Why does God allow our hearts to scar?

 

1.   Scars allow us to help others-Sharing your story—your scars—can actually bless those around you. Now, let me clarify: I do not mean venting. But once you have come full circle—you’ve seen Christ’s healing, processed the experience, and learned from—then share what the Lord has done. Sharing your story (without pointing fingers or venting) can help others, warning them away from a bad relationship or an unwise decision. It may even save someone’s life.

2.   Scars draw us nearer to Christ-When we remember a wound—and the difficulties surrounding it—we also remember the comfort of Christ. He always meets us in our darkest hour. If we have emotional scars because of our own wrong/unwise choices, we are reminded of the grace of His forgiveness and never ending love.

The truth is God sometimes allows us to experience difficult situations—even scarring experiences—to sanctify us and draw us closer to him. So when you go through something difficult, run to Christ. If that pain resurfaces later down the road, run to Christ again. He is always there for us in our time of need, and He is bigger than any difficulty we can experience.

3.   Scars keep us from repeating mistakes-Scars are meant to remind us of the difficult times so we will: 1) not repeat mistakes; and 2) be careful not to injure others. I don’t want to repeat past mistakes in a new relationship. I don’t want to ignore red flags and be injured again. Remembering old wounds also makes me more cautious in how I treat others.

 I don’t let my past define me or dictate my future, but I do allow it to inform it. My scars act like bumpers at the bowling alley. When I start heading toward the gutter (i.e. start to repeat my past mistakes), I feel the bumper (i.e. remember how I was hurt in the past) and bounce back to the right path. Scars can keep us on track if we remember them in a healthy way.

4.   Scars show the healing power of the Lord-God made the human body amazingly resilient. For example, when you get a cut, your body immediately goes to work to heal it. You don’t have to think about it or coordinate it—it just happens. And often, once the body has finished its work and the wound has closed, there is a scar. The scar is evidence of closure no more blood, no more scabs, just skin.

However, when we experience an emotional wound, our body does not naturally go into recovery mode. We have to take an active role in processing what happened and asking the Lord for healing. When we give it to the Lord, He begins to work in our heart. He eases the pain and grants us the ability to forgive the one who hurt us.

An emotional wound cannot heal without forgiveness. Unforgiveness and bitterness are like an infection: without them you will not recover. You must forgive others. You must forgive yourself. Once the Lord has helped you work through your pain, your life will be a compelling testimony to the power of God.

“It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone.”  (Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy)[i]

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[i] Sources used:

·        “4 Powerful Purposes God Has for Your Emotional Scars” by Felicia Alvarez

·        “Thank God for My Scars!” by Spencer Miller