If you are reading this, I’m 98% sure that you have some kind of scar on you somewhere. Some scars may remind you of something special. Maybe you try to hide them. Or perhaps they represent a life lesson.

I couldn’t tell you where all my scars come from. At last count, I have more than 40. I’m somewhat accident-prone. But there are a few that I remember vividly because of the lessons they taught me. For example, don’t ever try to jump on sheet metal. It’s a lousy idea.

So what do we do with life scars, the things we are embarrassed by, the mistakes we have made in our past? What do we do with the things we try to cover up or don’t like to talk about?

Jesus can use anything for his glory, even your scars.

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
— Hebrews 12:11

One of the most important disciplines we can have in our lives is to learn from our mistakes and move on. One of the greatest things you can do is to teach others from your mistakes. As Hebrews says, it doesn’t feel pleasant, but it will produce fruit in your life and help produce fruit in others’ lives.

Scars can be good things. When I think of scars, I think of when Jesus showed himself to the disciples, and Thomas put his finger in the scar on Jesus’s hand. That sounds gross, but man, can you imagine how powerful that moment had to be? That instance helped change the world. If you can ask God what he is teaching you through your life scars, you will find healing, and you too can change the world!

My scars remind me of God’s goodness. Too many people in this world talk about their achievements and how great they are. Instead, what if we shared about the hurts in our lives and talked about how God carried us through? I believe God will use our pain to connect with the hurt of others, allowing us to show them hope!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
— 2 Corinthians 1:4