We Don’t Have to Hide Scars

July 17th, 2012 by Bob Bevington

“Nobody lets it all hang out quite like my friend Bob.” I’ve looked at Joe Coffey’s Facebook page only a couple times. But the last time I did, that’s what I read there. Got me thinking, Why am I like this?

I remembered how eighteen months ago I asked one of our best friends, Mindy Cvammen, to read the pre-release manuscript of Red Like Blood. She did and was very concerned for me. “Why are you throwing yourself under the bus?” I cringed, thanked her for her time, and signed off with the publisher anyway. After all, Joe and I had purposed to keep brutal transparency in sight as we wrote the book.

My daughter Grace is now twelve years old. Last week I saw her reading Red Like Blood and all of a sudden my transparency felt a little more brutal.

Rob Thomas leads worship at our Sunday Night Cellar Dwellers community group. You can read about him on pages 111-114 and see his picture on page 211. The book ends with a profound observation he made about life. Anyway, last Sunday night I showed up with these doubts in my head. Rob must have known because he pulled out his guitar, grinned, and played a song I didn’t know. It started like this:

 Praise God, we don’t have to hide scars.

They just strengthen our wounds and they soften our hearts.

They remind us that where we have been is not who we are.

So praise God, praise God, we don’t have to hide scars.

As the lyrics spilled out it I could almost hear the Lord whispering in my ear:

It’s okay. Trust Me—it really is okay.

Really? I asked.

Really.

Maybe you have deep scars. Ugly scars. Permanent scars. Maybe they are physical. Maybe you wear them on your face. Maybe, like mine, they are emotional. And shameful. I will let you in on my little secret:

There once was a King, who, so burdened with grief,

walked to his death so that we could find peace.

He rose up with scars on His hands and His feet. By His wounds we are healed.

So praise God we don’t have to hide scars. We know His are covering ours,

So praise God we don’t have to hide scars.

Some people wonder how I can look myself in the mirror. I could not do it except for one thing. When I look, I can almost see a Hand on my shoulder. It has a big ugly scar—the ultimate beauty mark of Love. Love that satisfies God’s justice and exhausts God’s wrath. Love that offers pure, life-changing grace. Love that purchased forgiveness, redemption, and healing.

Now if your scars point to His scars, and His scars point to His great, unique love—then consider being brutally honest. It’s okay.

If your scars are covered by His, consider letting it all hang out. Someone might see His scars by first looking at yours. Trust Him. When they see His they usually forget about yours. And even if they don’t, it’s still okay. Really.

In this short clip, songwriter Jonny Diaz explains the story behind his lyrics:

Here’s a more familiar song with a similar theme:

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  • Susan Moore

    Hi Bob,
    If I understand scripture correctly, it’s vital for a Christian’s growth to let one’s scars ‘hang out’. One place Jesus teaches us this is through James, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16) I think most of us in the Cellar Dwellers have seen those words lived out through our own lives, by the grace of God!
    (Nice song pics!)

    • http://BobBevington.com/ Bob Bevington

      One of the best things about Cellar Dwellers is the transparency. It’s contagious, isn’t it?

      • Susan Moore

        Yes, it seems to be extremely contagious! I didn’t expect that!

  • tom scott

    Hi Bob, this one goes deep. So many scars have been revealed I dont know where to start. Some of us have scars so deep they have been buried for decades. Some are just little scrapes. The little white lies and cash register scars when someone gives to much change back,and I walk away. I thank our cellar dwellar gang for helping with some of the scars. The Lords scars do point to mine. I’m one of those soldiers holding the hammer. He drank the cup filled with our sin so we can reveal our scars,address them as sin,and give Him all the glory for healing us. The author of life loves me. I still have trouble with that…thx Bob.

  • TParker3neo

    Bob, Melisa and I are glad you chose to share your past with the world. It gave us the courage to be open with each other, and that has made a huge difference in our marriage. My eldest daughter came to faith not long ago and has also read Red Like Blood. Because of it I think she now better understands how the Savior forgave her father and now walks with her. Those who look at you – us – askance because our pasts have not yet taken an honest look at their own need for a Savior. But when they give us that “look,” it is a good reminder of the depths from which the Lord has lifted us! Isn’t that what you want your Grace to understand?

    • http://BobBevington.com/ Bob Bevington

      Sure is. A minute ago I got the courage to ask Grace what she thought of Red Like Blood. She said, “It was good.”

      I asked her which was her favorite part. “The stuff about Rita.” She has seen this story unfold right before her eyes. I know she understands the source and application of the grace of God more fully as a result.

      In no way does this justify the sins we committed. But it’s a very clear example of the way the triune God brings life out of ashes. We get the joy and peace; He gets the glory.

  • tom scott

    Thx Bob, this one goes deep.some scars we wear like a badge of honor,some go so deep we don’t know we have been cut for a long time. It’s kinda funny,those little scars,scrapes and bumps we get. Those scars we get when telling little white lies or cash register scars when we get to much change back and walk away. I don’t really consider them too dishonest that I’m really hurting anything. I have suffered the same kind of afflictions you have and thank the Lord he ransomed his son to cover them scars with his. I truly love it when that ugly,scarred hand holds mine as my scars are being revealed to me. I cannot complain about my scars because his were so much more painful. He drank the cup full of open wounds so we would heal and our wounds would now be covered…..thx. Tom