In our Western culture, the societal mantra has become, “If it’s going to be, it’s up to me.” I lived that lie for too many years, striving to be all things to all people and taking on burdens that I was ill-equipped to carry, until my body raised the white flag of surrender.
Rather than carrying all our pain, shame, guilt, regret, fear, and worry by ourselves, we are called to “give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7 NLT).
But God doesn’t take our cares without our consent—it is a matter of our will to hand them over to him and not pick them up again.
Enduring a violent crime, longing for a prodigal child to come home, digging out from bankruptcy, undergoing cancer treatment, or living through an extramarital affair are each too painful to carry by ourselves. The pain cuts deep and the emotional wounds often cause a ripple effect in our attitudes and beliefs that can cause extensive collateral damage.
God never intended for us to be capable of healing ourselves—that’s why he promised to be our Healer.
Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:2–5 emphasis added
In this lifetime, where evil is fighting to keep as much control as possible, we can choose to despair and wish God would right all the wrong, or we can trust that he will execute justice in due time. God’s very nature will not allow him to tolerate sin and evildoing.
But our perspective of time is so skewed with a focus on the immediate that we lose sight of the fact that God’s timing is perfect, and in the span of eternity, what we think of as so time-sensitive is but an almost imperceptible blip on God’s timeline. We can get so focused on our desire for healing and justice that we lose sight of God.
“But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.” Hosea 12:6
*The above is an excerpt from Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson ©2024 Revell Publishers, used with permission.
Ever wondered where God is when it hurts? Pain can obscure our connection with Him, but you're not alone. Discover practical steps and biblical insights to help you reconnect and recognize His presence, even in hardship. Share on X Has pain clouded your connection with God? Learn to recognize His presence even in the shadows of hardship and rediscover hope through understanding that God is always intricately involved in your life, especially during painful times. Share on X
Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise that Your Pain is Not Wasted
Now Available!
We all endure trials, pain, and hardship in this life. Too often we believe these experiences disqualify us from being useful to God. But the truth is, your past pain and brokenness serve as preparation for what God wants to do in and through you – if you will surrender to and trust him.
Just as Jesus’s scars didn’t disappear after his resurrection, our emotional or physical scars tell our story and lend credence to our testimony of God’s love and power. If you are ready to turn your past pain into present comfort and future hope, let Dr. Bengtson be your compassionate guide.
Find out more and order here: Sacred Scars
