He will use every piece of my story!

I was thinking through a piece of Louie Giglio's last talk at Passion as I watched it this afternoon. Louie was talking about how we get SO wrapped up in our scars- emotional and physical. We are so embarrassed and ashamed of our past pain that we do whatever we can to pretend it never existed and it never happend. But guess what? It is part of our story, and God is the master writer. He doesn't make mistakes.

Louie later talked about how our scars from our past are our biggest witness and testimony to other people. Our story, our emotions and how our wounds became scars is what shows them Jesus. Not our fancy words or elaborate church services. It is when we are real that people get to see who Christ truly is.

Jesus had wounds on his hands and his feet from dying on the cross. But he never tried to hide them from people. He would openly show people and was like "Yah. I was dead. But now I am alive!" It's the same for us. We are dead in sin, in pain, in suffering. We have no hope until Jesus rescues us. Only Abba's love can heal our wounds and turn them into beautiful scars. It is part of our story, and will help bring others to his healing love.

So here is my random thought of the day for you: Praise God we don't have to hide scars. I know the pain of wounds from the past, feeling like they will never heal. But I also know this- once they do become scars, it is a beautiful thing to be able to help someone else because of your scar. Don't be afraid to let God to use every part of your story; the good, bad, ugly and the hidden. He wants to heal you so that you can help others. Let Him begin to heal your heart tonight. You won't regret it.