Some time ago, my husband and I were cleaning up an area that was getting over-grown with brush. We came upon a twig that had obviously been badly bruised and almost broken. Yet it had healed upward again. The scar was still there as well as the twists in the stock.
We stood and looked at it for awhile. It spoke volumes to us and I still have that twig hanging on the wall. Each time I look at it, it reminds me of God’s goodness, faithfulness and forgiveness.
We had just gone through some difficult years and were almost broken. However, we reached up to “The Son” – Jesus Christ for healing and He gave us not only healing for the wound, but strength to grow again. strengthening the scarred area into something beautiful.
Not only that, when we found the twig, the scar was hidden under the tall grass and, at first we only saw the straight twig. This said to us that even though there are scars, we can produce beautiful foliage by reaching up to that higher power, Christ Jesus.
There may be broken relationships in your life, whether with parent, spouse or child; there may be the scars of undesirable habits of the past or present; there may be the emotional bruising of abuse, whether in the past or the present; or other forms of wounding of the inner spirit. Remember the twig hidden and trampled, yet had the strength and courage to reach to the sun. Despite its misshapen and deformed stock it reached up.
Christ was bruised for us, yet triumphed. The prophet Isaiah in 53:4-5 said – “Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrow, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”
I have learned a great lesson from that little twig. I also have proven that my God is willing and able to give the needed strength to the wounded. If I but turn my eyes upon Jesus, asking Him to hide my scars and wounds under His precious shed blood; claim His promises that we find in His Word; and ask Him to help us grow straight and tall in Him right among all those things that want to trample us down, He will do it!
My prayer today is – Dear Father God – Thank you for the scars of life. They are hurtful and damaging at the time, but help us to look up and remember Your promise, “A bruised reed shall He not break, and a smouldering flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgement unto victory.” Amen. (Isaiah 42:3 KJV)
Author Barbara Thomson