Joel Osteen - Peace With Your Scars

well god bless you it's a joy to come into your homes and if you're ever in our area please stop by and be a part of one of our services these are the finest people in all of Houston Texas right here at Lakewood we'd love to have you come out I'd like to start with something funny and I heard about this man he got caught shoplifting at the grocery store he was at court the judge said sir understand you stole a can of peaches how many peaches were in that can he said five Your Honor he said all right I'm gonna give you one week in jail for each peach you have five weeks his wife stood up and said Your Honor may I say something he said yes what is it she said he stole a can of peas to say it like you mean it this is my Bible I am what it says I am I have what it says I have I can do what it says I can do today I will be taught the Word of God I boldly confess my mind is alert my heart is receptive I will never be the same in Jesus name god bless you I want to talk to you today about peace with your scars you can't live very long without being injured going through hurts and pains sometimes the wound heals up and there's no sign that it ever happened but there are certain wounds that are so severe a cut so deep they heal up the pain goes away but they leave a scar scars from falling off a bike as a child scars from the surgery to remove the illness scars from the accident there are physical scars scars that we can see but there are also invisible scars scars that come from inner wounds scarred by the divorce scarred by what somebody said scarred by mistakes that we made so often we try to hide our scars we don't see anything positive about it reminds us of the hurt the sickness of betrayal we wish they'd go away but we need to see our scars in a new light God did not allow that scar to discourage you he allowed it to remind you of what he brought you through when you see the scar don't think of the pain think of the grace of God the scar means the wound is healed the scar means the pain is over and you're moving forward the scar means what kept you awake at night is now behind you don't get bitter and live in regrets that scar is a reminder of how faithful God has been without his mercy that mistake could have stopped your purpose without his healing that sickness could have been the end when you're tempted to get discouraged thinking obstacle is too big just look at that scar God you healed me back then you restored my marriage you helped me through the loss of my loved one it wasn't easy it left a scar but this scar is a reminder of your goodness you did it for me back then I know you'll do it for me right now if you'll see your scars the right way they'll be fuel for your faith they'll remind you of the goodness of God but you don't have to try to hide your scars you don't have to be embarrassed by what you've been through you can be at peace with your scars no one in the scripture fulfilled their destiny without scars we all get wounded things happen in life that we didn't see coming an unexpected illness a loss people come against us we make mistakes if you're going to fulfill your destiny instead of being depressed by what you went through instead of going around in self-pity because it wasn't fair have a new perspective the enemy tried to stop you but God healed you how do you know you have a scar to prove it you're not ashamed of it you're not depressed over it you're at peace with your scars you know it was the hand of God protecting you not letting that opposition defeat you the scar doesn't have to remind you of the pain it can remind you of the greatness of God the enemy wasn't able to take you out sure you have a scar sure it was painful but now you've come through healed restored vindicated blessed fulfilling your purpose I read about a young lady she'd been in Africa volunteering at an orphanage driving back to the airport she was in a head-on collision very serious accident her face was cut from the top of her forehead around her eye down to her chin it took hundreds of stitches to sew it up she's a beautiful young lady looks like a model now her face was forever changed permanently scarred after it healed people were concerned about her self-esteem and how she was going to handle it much did they're surprised she didn't get better she wasn't depressed she was extremely grateful she knew she could have easily lost her life this was several years ago sometimes she'll go out now without wearing any makeup she doesn't even try to cover the scar up she wears it with pride she realized that she is blessed to be alive your scarves can remind you of the pain or they can remind you of the grace of God are you at peace with your scars or are you trying to hide them living guilty mad at who hurts you bitter by what you've been through those scars are not there to depress you they are there to encourage you they are reminders of what God brought you through it may have been painful it wasn't fair but without the goodness of God you wouldn't be where you are you'd still be wounded you'd still be hurting but look at you now you're restored you're healed you're moving forward my friend Daedra one of our worship leaders developed this huge goiter on her neck it grew to the size of a man's fist it was so large she was in danger of it blocking her windpipe she'd been to several doctors but they wouldn't touch it it was too close to her vocal cords they were concerned she might lose her voice and dangers an amazing singer she's been leading worship since a little child after going to several doctors being told no time and time again she was at home researching surgeons on the Internet this doctor from Nashville stood out something said he's the one she went to see him he said he would do the surgery but it was risky he had to fly in another surgeon to assist him so complicated it was going to take two of them she had the surgery it was completely successful she was told that she could be out up to a year but three months later she was back seen six months later she had her full range a year later she had more range than before the surgery but when dangerous seems there's this scar across her neck it's interesting that she doesn't necessarily try to cover it up she doesn't only wear high neck blouses she's at peace with that scar at one time it didn't look good month after month she didn't know what she was going to do but now when she sees that scar she's not bitter look what I had to go through look at the pain I endured that scar reminds her of the faithfulness of God it reminds her that God is directing her steps bringing the right people that God being for her is more than any force trying to stop her but sometimes we have scars from self-inflicted wounds we made poor choices we have no one to blame except ourselves my freshman year of high school I was running around the track with our basketball team we were doing conditioning drills and had to run a couple of miles I had been playing around and fallen behind the team was about a hundred yards in front of me they turned around and started teasing me we're just having fun well the coach went into the Fieldhouse he couldn't see so I cut across the football field and was going to get way out in front of them when they saw me take off they started laughing they knew if the coach saw me I would be done but just as I was about to make it to the other side there was this metal drain cover on the ground a big great I didn't want to step on it so I stepped right before it what I couldn't see is the water had eroded the dirt and there was a hole about a foot and a half deep the grass had grown up and you couldn't tell well I stepped in that hole with one leg fell and my knee hit the metal drain cover I turned the somersault and kept running the team they started laughs and I thought that was so funny so did I until I looked down and I could see my kneecap outside my skin I had broken my kneecap had to have surgery missed the basketball season that year and I never told my coach what really happened I hope he's not listening but now I have this big scar on my knee when I look at it I could be reminded of my mistake live in regrets what was I thinking why didn't I just do what I was supposed to but I have a different perspective when I see that scar I thank God that I can still run I thank him for his mercy that even though I made the mistake even though it was my fault he brought me through healthy and strong the truth is all of us have scars from mistakes we made maybe not physically but invisible scars we got off course we gave in to temptation we hung around people that pulled us down we didn't take care of our marriage we could let those scars remind us of our mistakes go around guilty or we can let them remind us of the grace of God God didn't allow that scar so you can constantly think about your failures he allowed it so you would think about his mercy his forgiveness quit beating yourself up over the past the enemy is called the accuser he'd love for you to live in regrets down on yourself not enjoying the grace of God because you're so focused on mistakes you've made what you did wrong trying to hide the scars those scars weren't meant to be hidden you have nothing to be ashamed of you are forgiven you are redeemed that scar is a reminder of the mercy of God don't let it be turned into something that makes you feel guilty God has done too much for us he's paid too big a price he has brought you too far for you to swing back and guilt you can be at peace with your scars nothing you've done is a surprise to God he knew every mistake we would make he knew every time we would take a wrong turn he wouldn't have allowed it if it was going to keep us from our purpose my father was married at an early age unfortunately the marriage didn't work out he was embarrassed denominational leaders told him that he would never pastor again when you wounded there will always be people that instead of being a healer and pouring the oil on the wounds help you get back on your feet they'll judge you by your mistakes they'll try to disqualify you but people don't have the final say they didn't call you they didn't breathe life into you they didn't know you before you were formed in your mother's womb people may have written you off but don't get discouraged God has already written you on he chose you before you could choose him the scripture says God's calling on your life is irrevocable that means God doesn't change his mind he's already decided to show you mercy he's already decided to heal the wound and give you another chance don't believe those lies that you blew it you had your chance just sit on the sidelines get back in the game the scar doesn't mean you're finished the scar is a sign that you've been healed it's a sign that you're ready for action if God was through with you you wouldn't still be here there's something for you to do you have an assignment somebody needs what you have somebody needs your smile somebody needs your love somebody needs your gifts not me Joel I've have all these wounds I have all these scars everybody has scars the scars don't disqualify you the scars prepare you you learn from every experience you're gaining something you're going to need down the road nothing you've been through has been wasted it's all a part of God's plan several years after my dad was divorced he met my mother they fell in love and were married for over 40 years my father went on to pasture great churches and minister to people around the world but he could have let that scar stop him every time he looked at it he could have thought I'm not qualified look what I've been through I can't minister to others but he saw that scar in a different light instead of discouraging him it reminded him of the mercy of God instead of living condemned is just the opposite he would thank God that he was restored why he was at peace with his cars are you beating yourself up over the past not pursuing dreams not passionate about life the enemy keeps reminding you of those self-inflicted wounds how you blew it you had your chance next time he comes showing you that scar trying to make you feel guilty just turn it around this scar reminds me of the mercy of God it reminds me that I'm redeemed that I'm forgiven I've heard it said only God can take an ugly wound and turn it into a scar of beauty sounds like a contradiction how can a scar be beautiful we see scars this painful ugly we'd rather forget we try to hide but our God knows how to take an ugly wound a bitter divorce a painful loss an unexpected illness and somehow change it into something beautiful we didn't deserve the mercy we didn't see how it could work out the odds were against us but God not only brought us through he turned it into a scar of beauty now when we look at it we're so blessed we're so grateful we don't remember the pain we don't remember the heartache we remember the goodness of God my mother had polio when she was a child one of her legs is much smaller than the other she walks with a limb I've never heard her complain about her limp I've never seen her discouraged about her leg when she looks at that scar so to speak she doesn't see it in a negative light oh look what happened to me her attitude is lord thank you that I can walk thank you for your goodness in my life that scar is not a reminder of the pain it's a scar of beauty it reminds her what God brought her through in the scripture Jacob had a lot of self-inflicted wounds he was dishonest went around cheating people he tricked his brother out of his birthright caused him a lot of heartache in pain later in life he decided to make a change he went down to the brook by himself to get alone with God an angel appeared that looked like a man and wrestled with Jacob all night the next morning the angel was about to leave Jacob held on to him and said I know who you are I'm not going to let you go until you bless me the angel gave him the blessing and he left in the struggle Jacob heard his hip the scripture says he walked away with a limb but he had his blessing what am I saying you can have a limb and still be blessed you can have a scar and still be successful you can go through a breakup like my father and still do great things but too often we think our scars limit us some of them weren't even our fault scarred from a tough childhood scarred from a breakup scarred from illness those scars don't have to stop you the scars are your testimonial that's your story you don't have to hide them everyone has scars well Joel I've been through so much I have so many scars I don't see how I could ever accomplish my dreams I know someone that has more scars than you and He fulfilled his purpose he came 2,000 years ago he was betrayed by his friends misunderstood by his family he was forced to wear of crown of thorns his hands and feet were pierced where they nailed him to a cross had a big gouge in his side from a spear his back was last with 39 stripes who is more scarred than our Savior what amazes me is when Jesus rose from the dead when he came up out of the grave you would think he would be completely healed everything restored back to normal but even though resurrection power caused him to come back to lie he still had scars this is significant because God could have taken them away the scripture even talks about how when we get to heaven we're going to have new bodies no scarring God could have made his skin like noon but on purpose he left the scars maybe in part it was to show us that it's okay to have scars it's okay that you've made mistakes it's okay that people betrayed you it's okay that you lost that loved one you can be at peace with your scars knowing that we are worshiping a say yer who has scars god is saying don't let the disappointments what didn't work out who hurts you or even your own mistakes cause you the settle in life lose your passion our Savior has scars but he rose from the dead Jesus has scars but he's at the right hand of the Father what makes you think your scars disqualify you but we all want the scars to go away we don't want any reminder of the hurt the sickness the betrayal but I can't promise you the scars will go away some of them last a lifetime but I can promise you they don't have to keep you from your destiny you have to be at peace with your scars there are a lot of things in life we don't understand while we came down with an illness while we lost a loved one while we walk with the limp those scars are not there to hold you back they are reminders of the grace of God of what he's brought you through it's very powerful when you can say I worship a Savior who has scars since he has scars you know what I'm okay with my scars I'm not going to live bitter because of a disappointment not going to go around in regrets beating myself up over past mistakes I'm not gonna be sour because I had this disappointment I'm at peace with my scars after the resurrection the disciples were in a room together afraid they had the doors locked when Jesus suddenly appeared John 20 says he held out his hands for them to see his scars he showed them the wounds on his side Thomas wasn't there that day and when they told him that they had seen the Lord he thought they were just distraught and probably saw him in their imagination he said I'm not going to believe until I feel the nail prints in his hands until I touched the wound his side a week later Jesus appeared again this time Thomas was there Jesus went over to him held out his hands and said Thomas touch my scars feel the wound on my side Thomas fell down Lord I believe maybe someone needs to touch your scars to believe maybe they need to hear how God brought you through the difficulty how God gave you your voice back like Daedra how God restored you and gave you a new beginning like my father don't hide your scars show your scars there's healing in your scars there's restoration in your scars your scars can inspire someone to believe people all around us are wounded they're hurting they're discouraged they're lonely like the disciples they don't know how they're going to make it but when they see your scars when they hear how God healed you restored you blessed you that will breathe new life back into their spirits are you hiding your scars embarrassed by what you've been through bitter over who hurts you God didn't show you mercy just for your sake those scars are for somebody else he turned that around because he knows he can trust you with scars when Jesus first arose he appeared to Mary Magdalene at the garden tomb when she recognized him she went to hug him but Jesus says stop don't touch me yet he had not yet ascended to the Father to present the sacrifice there are times when you're not ready for people to touch your scars you're still going through the healing process scar doesn't happen overnight takes time you may be in a difficult situation you're waiting to be healed waiting to be restored the wound is still painful like with Jesus the time is coming when the pain is going to be gone the wound is going to be healed you'll have a scar not to remind of the pain but to remind you of the grace of God then you can tell people touch my scars here's what God has done for me John chapter five jesus healed a man that had been crippled for 38 years he said to him stand up pick up your mat and go home instantly the man could walk it's significant that Jesus told him to take his mat with him I'm sure after all those years that mat was probably dirty had holes in it didn't smell too good why didn't Jesus tell him hey throw the mat away you can walk you're not going to need it anymore that mat was like a scar it was a reminder of what God had done it was a part of his story I can imagine everywhere the man went people would ask what do you do and still carrying this old mat he would answer it may look ugly to you but to me this is a beautiful man every time he looked at it it brought a smile to his face under his breath he would whisper Lord thank you for healing me God could tell us to leave our mass he could take away the scars says there's no sign of them anymore but one reason he leaves them is not only so we'll remember what he's done but that so we can tell others are you at peace with your scars are you looking back with gratitude thanking God are you looking back bitter wondering why it happened have a new perspective the scar means you're healed the scar means you're forgiven the scar means you can walk again you may still have your mat that's simply to remind you of the greatness of God when you see other people who are wounded do like Jesus tell them touch my scars let me tell you what God did for me he can do for you if you'll do this I believe and declare God is going to take those ugly wounds and turn them into scars of beauty what was meant for your harm he's about to turn for you good healing is coming freedom is coming breakthroughs are coming victory is coming in Jesus name and if you receive it can you say Amen today I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life would you pray with me just say Lord Jesus I repent of my sins come into my heart I'll make you my Lord and Savior friends if you prayed that simple prayer we believe you got born again get in a good Bible based church keep God first place your partnership makes this ministry possible your faithful and consistent monthly support makes you a champion of Hope the vision of Joel Osteen ministries is to use every avenue available to present the hope of Jesus Christ to people everywhere we know it is this hope and the transforming power of the gospel that makes an eternal difference in people's lives to partner with Joel Osteen ministries visit Joel Osteen comm slash partner today

Channel: Joel Osteen

Views: 1,830,403

Keywords: Joel Osteen, Sueños, Perdón, Esperanza, Vida, Paciencia, Paz, Relaciones, Fe, Gracia, Amor

Id: TOzVZbGRYX0

Length: 27min 30sec (1650 seconds)

Published: Sun Nov 11 2018