Cosmetic Surgery

Have you ever been given a compliment you didn’t deserve? I have. A few months ago a friend sent me a very sweet and encouraging message. She wrote that she was inspired by my upbeat attitude, especially with all I’d been through. I was so touched by her kind words, but something was unsettled in my heart. Like an ill fitting sweater, I just couldn’t get comfortable wearing her compliment. After a slow and careful rereading, the culprit came to light. I knew I needed to clarify. I messaged her back that the attitude she admired in me was not in spite of all I had been through, but rather because of it. You see, suffering is God’s scalpel. Hey, that’s pretty good so I will say it again; suffering is God’s scalpel. It is the tool God uses to skillfully cut away the things in our lives that don’t resemble him.

Does God bring pain and sorrow into our lives on purpose? Not necessarily. The pain is already here because we live in a fallen world. Jesus did promise that we would have tribulation, and he didn’t lie. Eventually sickness, relationship or financial woes will touch us all. It is our response that shapes us. We can either press into him, or pull back in offense.

So dear friend, if you find yourself in a season of suffering, take heart. When the bandages finally come off, you will emerge looking more like Jesus. Remember, he has scars too.