To Be Made Whole

It’s easy to judge other people! It’s easy to assume that we would never do anything horrid. But, how do we know? I don’t know what I will do in the next five minutes, not to mention, next week. A sin is a sin! And none of us are above it. But I’m so thankful that we have a forgiving God; who made a way for us despite our faults and failures. His way is unconditional love and He wants us to show others this great love.

He knows how weak we are, especially me. He knows the only goodness in any of us is Him. He knows that in our weakness, He is made strong. He knows that all we have to do is call to Him and He will help us. He knows that through Him we can love everyone, even those who hurt us and spitefully use us.

Growing up with scars has been a real blessing for me. It has taught me so many things. One of the greatest is to treat other people the way I want to be treated—not as I have been treated. I have always been stared at and, by some, treated as scum on the bottom of their shoe. And what people don’t understand is their reaction to me is in their eyes. So even if they never say anything hurtful, their eyes reflect their feelings. I realize this could have made me a bitter, angry person who hated everyone. But I’m so thankful God had other plans for me. He placed compassion in my heart and helps me pray for and love those who hurt me.

I couldn’t make it without my Lord. I couldn’t make it without His strength and wisdom, love and forgiveness, grace and comfort, guidance and understanding. To sum it all up—God is my everything.

However, I didn’t always feel that way. There was a time in my life when I felt empty. I remember wondering what is my purpose in life and what does it all mean. I didn’t understand what it meant to live or die. I didn’t understand how I could love someone who hurt me or someone I didn’t even know. In all honesty, I didn’t understand love at all.

I didn’t understand how God could create good and evil. I didn’t understand why I had to suffer. I didn’t understand the heartache that consumed me, nor the emptiness. But one day, God gave me a way out of my misery. He offered me a better way.

He offered me an eternal home in heaven, without any suffering or evil. He offered me His unconditional love, forgiveness, mercy, grace, strength, understanding, comfort, etc. And all I had to do was believe in Him and His greatness. All I had to do was move toward the Spirit drawing me to Him.

The day I believed in Him with my whole heart, He made me whole. There is no part of me missing or scarred—not on the inside anyway. Inside I am as God.

Of course the outward part still holds scars. It suffers with aches and pains. It gets hurt and has the devil to contend with daily. It gets angry with people and judges them, unfairly. However, despite the situation, I have learned if I look to God, He always has the solution to my every problem. He has the power to open my eyes, blinded by sin. He has the power to calm me during the strongest storm and shine a light during the darkest times. He is my answer to every question.

He has taught me that instead of putting my foot on those who are down, drowning in their sin, I should lift them up to Him in prayer. Tomorrow, I could do worse than what they’ve done today. And if I was in that shape, I know I would want someone praying for me. God loves everyone, even the ones who do horrible things. He died for them, just as He died for us all. And when we really think about it, it was our sins that killed Jesus. Prayer and love can take those that are broken, and make them whole.