Grace to Heal

I remember the burns. The sharp stings of pain and the hot pulsating throbs. I remember feeling like I was on fire. In that moment, I did not know what all body parts had been burned. I just felt my scalp and face in excruciating pain. I remember trying to talk to my son and only being able to cry Jesus' name as my body started shaking from the pain. Days later the raw wounds followed along with the slow process of healing from some areas. In the beginning all I could see was the injuries, red, tender, and puffy skin that was impossible to ignore, which later turned into dark blistered skin. And even after the pain subsided, the marks remained, a reminder of what happened.

As I look at the marks, wounds, and discoloration left, I often wonder will I always remember what happened and have a sense of shame and guilt? The question, "How could you be so careless?" often hits my mind when I see the discoloration of my skin.

But then there are moments where I marvel at how God is healing me. How there are parts of me that you can't tell how my skin peeled off my face, ear, and scalp unless you saw me during the actual process of it happening. That part of the process gives me hope. As much as I hated how it looked going through the process, being on the other side of it makes me hopeful for the other parts that are still healing.

Isn’t that how life feels sometimes? We make mistakes, we experience heartbreak, we fall into struggles that leave marks on our souls. And just like physical scars, those emotional wounds don’t always fade away quickly. We carry them-sometimes as shame, sometimes as regret, sometimes as reminders of where we’ve been. We look at ourselves with guilt stained eyes. We look at ourselves and see failure. We question how could I have been so careless? So stupid? How could I go back when I know better? And so often, the enemy tries to use those marks to make us feel unworthy.

But what if those marks weren’t meant to remind us of our failures, but of God’s grace? What if healing wasn’t about erasing the past completely, but embracing how far we’ve come?

In this journey of healing, both physically and spiritually, I’ve learned that grace doesn’t erase the scars or marks; it transforms them. It takes what was once a painful wound and turns it into a testimony. Because even in the healing moments, there are still glimmers of joy and happiness. There are moments when we see ourselves and simply thank God for growth and the healing that we have come through. We know what we have endured. We celebrate the good choices and progress while we still gather the strength to push a little further.

There are still glimmers of joy and happiness.

Let’s talk about what it means to heal, to face the reminders of our past without shame, and to trust that God’s grace is greater than our wounds.

While on this journey, I know there is grace to heal intentionally and at a pace that allows the full healing process to take place. Where there is no rush to show up in a perfected state but rather choosing to allow God to use us in the mess. And though it may not be at the speed we desire, God knows how to heal us fully from the inside out.

Pain doesn't mean there is an absence of healing happening. Often times there is pain in the journey because of healing. Healing is a process of restoration. A process that is often uncomfortable whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. And it is that pain that often push us toward growth, reflection, and seeking God's help.

Pain doesn't mean there is an absence of healing happening.

Shame and guilt keeps us stuck in the past and prevents us from fully stepping into and receiving the grace of God. It distorts your identity. Instead of seeing yourself the way God sees you, loved, chosen, and forgiven, you define yourself by your failures. This also hinders healing when shame is left unchecked. Resisting vulnerability, pushing others away, or even rejecting God's love. These marks change your view of God's grace, a gift that doesn't have to be earned but one that is given freely.

These marks whether physical or emotional, are not signs of failure or brokenness but of survival and redemption. They are proof that we survived! 🙌🏾 These marks are proof of God's faithfulness toward us.

How to Overcome Shame

1. Replace lies with the truth of God's Word. There is no condemnation for those in Christ

2. Bring it to the light. Confession and community. Don't isolate yourself.

3. Embrace Grace. - God sees you through the lens of Christ's sacrifice not your past.

4. Walk in your Christ centered identity. You are not what happened to you. You are not what you did. You are redeemed. You are restored. You are forgiven. You are called for more.

I'm changing the narrative. I don't refer to these as scars. I called them my beauty marks. Beauty for ashes ☺️🥰 Healing that happens slow, is still healing. 🫶🏾

TRIGGER WARNING: COULD BE CONSIDERED GRAPHIC PHOTOS

Some of my beauty marks:

Ways to Support Me:

• Pray for the continued healing of the other spot with the least scarring as possible. God is able!

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