Trials have a way of changing us.

We approach the hard things in our lives with anger and fear, force our way through that anger and fear only by God’s grace, and then bear the marks of our trials when we walk out of them. We remember the bitter tears. We remember the pain. We remember the heartache. It’s hard right now when you’re in the middle of the storm. All you can see is the tears, the pain, and the heartache. Your flesh demands answers to your greatest question: why? Why me? Why him? Why her? Why us? But here’s the thing: those scars we carry? Those scars are our greatest testimony of God’s power.

God chose to let His children handle His work. Sometimes, that’s easy. Give a gospel tract, pray for each other, give a mere tenth of our income to the church. It’s easy to be faithful to the church. Sometimes, that’s hard. When we’re told by that doctor that we have a disease, when we’re experiencing the tremendous heartache of a breakup, when we’re layed off or when we’re abandoned or when we’re so lonely in the middle of a crowd that we can’t even reach out for help. It’s hard to look to God in all of that and understand that He would allow such scars. And yet He does. And He allows it [on purpose].

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 tells us, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” It’s only a small piece of the big “why” that God allows trials, but one reason He allows us to endure pain and suffering is for the consolation and comfort that we are able to give others.

A person who has never had a papercut would never understand its sting just as a person who has never had a family member diagnosed with cancer would ever understand the full meaning of “chemo” and “weakness.” As a 12-years-old girl, I watched my beautiful stepmom wither away through the treatments that should have healed her. But because of her loss, I have been able to hug other young women and tell them “I know” and mean it. I am, through the pain my family endured, able to comfort others who lose their family members to sickness in a way someone who’s never experienced such a trial ever could.

As a 20-something, I had my heartbroken by two men. So, while I would have rather only have loved my husband, I instead endured overwhelming heartache and depression. And I can, with full understanding, reach out with comfort to other young women who experience such pain. My scars are my greatest testimony of faith to those who come behind me.

So, what are you facing today? And what have you faced recently? Are you able to recognize God’s comfort in your trials and thereby understand how you’re able to help comfort others? “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God” according to Isaiah 40:1. Obey Him and let your scars be the healing comfort of others.

Love, Meghan