Isaiah 61:3
"...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."
The skillful surgeon disposed of the cancer and arranged the remaining skin, leaving the nurse to organize the stitches in a well ordered row. The cavernous hole, once threatening to cast toxic disease into my blood stream, heals now with intensity. Where the lacerated skin knots together by well sewed sutures, one can look carefully and now see a thin, swollen line. And it's in that narrow pathway measuring six inches that I fix my eyes. For that swollen, scarlet pathway makes room for God's glory, the "display of his splendor." How does He do this? Beauty out of chaos? Beauty instead of ashes? Beauty in the scar?
My scar accounts for a physically healed wound. A reminder of pain and discovery. The cause - no longer important. But my scar also represents extreme love. It represents the unconditional love shown by friends and loved ones enclosing me with prayer and acts of kindness. In that scar stays the picture of countless hours allowing a devoted husband to wash my hair and change bandages. And in that scar - I see God. It's not the first scar of which He's taken care.
God moves towards me with a purpose on this pilgrim journey and watches as I gather a variety of scars. And I give them all to the great Collector of Scars and watch Him transform despair into hope, doubt into faith, and conflict into grace. For the unseen scars are sometimes the worst. Yet He uses even those old emotional wounds as He does the physical, discernible ones. They shine forth as opportunities to share what he has done.
The scar? Infused with beauty and sealed from outside harm by the One who does this for His glory.
I Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace (my words - the Collector of all scars), who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you , and establish you.
Planted for His display,
Melody
