“Both a scab and a scar show a wound occurred. The difference between a wound and a scar is whether it hurts when it is touched. If it still hurts, healing isn’t complete. If it doesn’t hurt, healing has occurred.”- Phil Waldrep
“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”- Nelson Mandela
Phil Waldrep concludes Chapter 8 of Beyond Betrayal as he explores the difference between a scab and a scar. After the wound of betrayal, healing takes time. At first, a bandage protects the stitches from infection. Eventually, though, wounds scab over. Then it’s safe to remove the bandage. Yet, we need to take care so the scab remains until healing occurs from within.
In time the scab falls away, leaving a scar. While evidence of the wound exists, no pain remains. As a result, Phil offers this summary:
“Regardless, we must give ourselves time to heal first. We must get the toxins out and change the bandages until the scab forms. Then we must protect our scabs until they naturally fall off. . . . If we follow the doctor’s advice and the scab scars over, we can return to living again, wiser than we were before, less likely to be fooled again, and ready to place ourselves back into God’s hands to live the life of fulness He promised us.”
Finally, the author encourages you to lift your burden to the Lord in prayer. Furthermore, Phil advises praying short ‘breath prayers’ of blessing on your betrayer. Because when you constantly bless the other person, that further releases you from your hurt. And, your breath prayer invites God into the process. It lets His love loose on your betrayer.
In addition, this prayer reminds you that you’ve given your betrayer over to God’s justice. A justice always administered from His love.
Today’s question: Between a scab and a scar, where do you place your current level of healing from your betrayer? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Conflicts and issues – leave in the Redeemer’s hand”
