Old Wounds- A Beautiful Mess Part 1 by Shalene

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13 NKJV

While the verse above is not what yesterday's sermon was about, nevertheless, yesterday's sermon in church spoke to me. We were studying one of the miracles of Jesus. This was the third week of a six week series on the miracles of Jesus. You can listen here, if you so choose. (The sermon notes are also available here, if you want them.) It wasn't so much the miracle that Jesus performed, and that which was the sermon topic that had me thinking, so much as the fact that we all have wounds that keep us from being our very best, and more than just a beautiful mess.

All of us bring old wounds into the present on a consistent basis. In some instances, it clouds our judgement, and in others, it's just a minor irritating reminder. Having been married before, and having a husband that was married before, I can guarantee that there have been "ghosts" of the past that have haunted our marriage. I also know that my childhood has brought many such wounds.

One such circumstance happened the other day. My husband was playing around with me, and lifted his arm as though he was going to swipe at me, and I involuntarily flinched. Now, I know without a doubt that my husband would never hit me, but my old wounds from childhood have caused me to flinch at even a hint of violence.

I relate this story to you, because I think many of us flinch away from asking God for anything, because we don't want to be hurt. We shy away from any amount of brokenness and dependence, because we don't want to be vulnerable. We don't want anyone to take away our sense of being able to take care of ourselves. Even when common sense tells us we can't. And even when our faith tells us we must. So today, I pray that we will all learn how to be broken, before Our Lord, knowing that He will never harm us, and He will never forsake us. Isn't that a beautiful thought?! Knowing always that there is One that we can always depend on, One that always has our best in mind.

--Lord, thank you for seeing me as more than just a beautiful mess. Thank you for having plans for me. Thank you for being a God we all can depend upon. Lord, I thank you for taking my old wounds, and causing them to make me pause and think of You. Thank you for healing my old wounds, and making them just a slight scar of a reminder. May I always, rest in You. I pray these things in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen

Casting Crowns- The Word Is Alive