Everybody has a scar in his/her body, whether it’s an umbilical cord mark, tattoo, Cesarean section operation mark,  BCG mark et-cetera. When you take time to carefully inspect your partner’s body from the head to the toes, you will note a number of them and other bath marks. Men have hundreds of them more so on their legs due to an adventurous boy life. I have dozens of them and one major one is on my left ear which reminds me of a day the ear was almost chopped off by a ruthless young man. I have shared the story on the Behind the Scene Book. My scars show pain and suffering, battles won and victory kept, experiences, bitter and adventurous memories, but they also show my will to survive. The cause of the scars has left me stronger and resilient. They’re part of my history that will always be there, though they are not my life. The umbilical cord is a necessary scar of survival. Every time you look at the scar on your body, there is a memory that reminds us of a moment in life.

All the great achievers that we fondly celebrate have scars of a kind. Scars have the strange power to remind us that our past is real. They could be physical or emotional. Others were tortured, betrayed, humiliated and lost their esteem. Some people were taken advantage of and others had circumstances working against them.

In John 20:24-29, After news of Jesus resurrection reached the disciples,  Thomas demands to see the scars on the hands of Jesus to believe it. He is full of doubt and when he is told by one of the other disciples, “We have seen the Lord,” Thomas responds with some honest and sincere doubt, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” He was genuine but the scars on Jesus palm, feet and ribs was a proof that surely He was the one who was crucified. Jesus as the son of God had the ability to clear the scar if He was raised from the dead but the scars were left as a reminder for me and for you.

A scar is a proof that there is healing and evidence of overcoming life’s injuries. Even though they show memories of past moments showing us where we have been, they do not dictate where we are going.

Your scars are battle wounds to remind you that you are an overcomer and an evidence to show to other people that they too can overcome.

In preparation for a purposeful life, God can inflict wounds and binds them to create scars that you will use to build your life’s mission on. He may allow you to suffer emotional breakdown, suffer depression to have a counseling ministry later. He can allow you to lose part of your body part to be helping other disabled people emotionally. He can allow you to lose your loved one through death or divorce to help you establish a platform where the widows and divorced will ride on.

Job5:18-20, For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole.  He shall deliver you in six troubles, Yes, in seven no evil shall touch you. In famine He shall redeem you from death, And in war from the power of the sword.

He allowed it to happen to Job and later crowned his life with a double portion.

A great warrior has many scars which prove he has overcome many odds. After a bruising moment, going through the recovery phase, what follows is scars which later you will look at and remember there is a God in heaven who led you to overcoming the odds. These marks should be a reminder of times when life tried to break you, but failed. They are markings of where the structure of your character was welded. Don’t hide them, let them tell your story. Scars can be your stars. They can heal wounds when exposed. They can lift a crushed spirit. Make them star scars shining a light of hope and inspiration to everyone around you. The future glory far outweighs the present troubles. No matter where you once were, no matter how dark your storm, God doesn’t want you to remain there. Overcoming may not be easy, but it’s possible when you ask your Father to battle for you.

Most people who have gone through ghetto life, abusive family and some terrific adversities end up celebrating the fact that they victoriously went through that life because that is where the seed of greatness was born. Do not entertain those who try to bring you down by humiliating you because of where you have come from and the scars incurred. Your mockers will only have your attention only if you give them your attention. Your attitude will determine their perception and reception. If you face them with the scarred overcomer attitude they will treat you a champion. If you face them with a terrorized bruised victim attitude they will sympathize, victimize and avoid you.

The truth is real change begins with your willingness and courage to take the first step forward. It’s a personal responsibility which is independent on the surrounding or exposure. Usually, the first step is the most difficult one to take. All resistances and old habits must be eliminated. Deep within you there must be determination to overcome your obstacles. To believe God has something better for you and lean on Him as you persevere.

You must see challenges as virtues of opportunities for personal development. You will then have the strength to overcome the challenge.

The next time something seemingly bad happens to you, look for the divine in it. Look for the soul in the mundane, every day occurrences of your life. Look for the spark, look for the light. Get the scar , write your story with it and use it to light the path to your destiny.

Those who use your problems to describe you shall begin to use your testimonies to describe you. They shall testify on your behalf  just like the story of the lame man who was healed by Peter and John and everyone in the area started talking about his healing. Act3:2-10

There is a day when your relevance will begin to dawn in people’s hearts. A day is coming when you will no longer borrow but lent to nations even them who you used to borrow from, you will owe no more but bless.

There is a day when your bothering appearance becomes a divine visitation to places, nations and people. There is that day that your tears of pain end and rivers of joy commence an immense overflow. There is a day when you no longer run out but run over. There is a day! A day of kingdom manifestation when God will come and change your story. Weeping may endure for a moment but joy is coming in the morning. Psalm30:5b.

There is a God of remembrance and there is a time of divine visitation, restoration and providence. At the fullness of time Our God who is a restorer will make everything beautiful. A day of divine visitation is at hand.

The scars we get in life are valuable not only to you but the people we shall meet in pursuit of our life’s purpose. Life will throw all kinds of obstacles our way. It’s our job to scramble over them and hunt for the little miracles tucked away, then leave some reminders for the people that follow behind us.

The story of your life is not your life. It is your story – John Barth