Have you ever felt like you are being filled with holes? As we go through life there are things that happen that feel like holes in our lives. We all know the saying, “Sticks and stone may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” But how true is this saying? It sounds “good” but in reality, it is not true.
Reality is what people say to us can stick with us for the rest of our lives and give us the trend of our life as well. We can also say things to ourselves as well that can destroy our effectiveness in life. It can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Words do affect. Not only do others words affect us we can also affect others with our words. We tend at times to be so self-absorbed that we only focus on what others say to or about us rather than what we say to or about others.
It reminds me of a story I heard once. There was this little boy who had a really bad temper. His dad gave him a bag of nails and a hammer. He told him that every time he lost his temper he wanted him to nail a nail into the back fence post. So the first day he nailed a lot. I can’t remember the number but it was a lot. He continued to do this every day. The boy decided that it was easier to hold his temper than to have to go and nail a nail. So after a while, he did not have to do it anymore. He told his dad and his dad told him, every day that you don’t lose your temper you can pull out a nail. Eventually, all the nails were pulled out and he went and told his dad. Then his dad took him to the post and showed him that even though the nails were gone the holes were still there. That is how it is with our words and actions. We leave holes in people and although we may apologize and they may forgive us, that can’t totally remove the wounds that it has caused, there will be scars.
We all have scars from what people have said or done throughout our lives. And we have all caused scars in others as well.
This makes me think of the biggest scars that we have caused and it has been in our Savior. Our sin has cost Him those scars. The nails were put in His hands and feet because of the bad things that we have done. And when the nails were pulled out the scars were still there and are still there.
The scars are not just still there; Jesus suffers more every time we sin. Each time we choose to be unlike Him and sin and wound, we are also putting nails in Him. “If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” Hebrews 6:6. Christ feels the pain every time we choose to sin.
It is so easy to say or do things without thinking. We need God’s help. Thank the Lord that He is forgiving when we come to Him in confession.
Dear Father,
We are a people who are desperately wicked and we need You. I pray that each one of us will surrender each day to You and I am asking You to prompt us by Your Holy Spirit every time we go to do or speak so that we only do or speak that which You would have us to.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
If you have hurt others confess and God will forgive. If you have been wounded God is the healer. Surrender all to Him today.
Love you all.
Do you have a story of pain and hurt that the Lord brought you through? Maybe you hurt someone, how did God help you accomplish His will through your experience?