Physical scars represent a story, a moment in one's life, and they show others that there is a history of healing. Author Sharon Jaynes shares with women how their internal scars marks from past hurts and mistakes also represent a story of restoration. Encouraging chapters, inspirational stories, godly wisdom, and a Bible study guide lead readers to give their wounds to the One who sees their beauty and who turns hurts into hope.
Inspirational speaker Jaynes declares that like the wrinkled spine of a good
book, internal and external scars imply a story waiting to be told. Jaynes
reminds readers that they will receive scars in two ways, either by the hand
of another or by their own choices. Both scenarios, Jaynes states, are
invitations for Christ to restore and heal. Weaving real women's stories of
abortion, sexual abuse, infidelity and the like into every chapter, Jaynes
effectively explores specific topics with biblical references and practical
suggestions. She details the power of recognizing Jesus' presence through
one's scars by reflecting on their purpose, redeeming pain by investing in
others, replacing wounds with scars and restoring a broken heart. One powerful
chapter deals with the lie of disqualification that individuals succumb to
after being wounded, believing that because of personal sin, ministry
opportunities are destroyed. Citing Luke 22:31, Jaynes unpacks Jesus'
response, "When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." While it is a
given that Christians will fail, she says, God intends for them to repent and
emerge stronger. Although Jaynes's writing may not rouse an emotionally
riveting response, the book is a steady, reliable resource for Christians in
pain. (July) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Hurt to healing; this is the story our physical scars tell. What we often don’t realize is that our emotional scars tell the same story—and that God can use them to heal other people. That’s the point Sharon Jaynes makes in her excellent book, Your Scars Are Beautiful to God: Finding Peace and Purpose in the Hurts of Your Past. She says, “Scars are not something we need to hide or be ashamed of, but rather an invitation to share the healing power of Jesus Christ with a hurting world. For a scar, by its very definition, implies healing.”
As a woman who bears scars herself, Jaynes knows what sheÂ’s talking about. She is the daughter of a former alcoholic and grew up amidst her parentsÂ’ rocky marriage. As an adult, she miscarried her second child. But she has learned to allow God to heal others through her wounds, and she now writes to show us how to do the same. With remarkable candor, she moves from acknowledging the scarÂ’s existence to seeing its purpose, then from accepting GodÂ’s grace and forgiveness to releasing the power of our scars to heal others.
Your Scars Are Beautiful to God is written well and its message is clear. The tone is gentle and open like a “tell-everything” friend. Jaynes fills the pages with biblical principles and illustrations as well as with personal stories from her years of ministry. She also includes a Bible study guide in the back. Although an emphasis on relationships and feelings slants the book more toward a female audience, it would be useful to anyone who is dealing with wounds from a troubled past. However, the very candidness that makes the book so accessible is its greatest limiter; much of the subject matter is inappropriate for children and young teens.
“Are there beautiful scars in your life that need to be revealed?” Jaynes asks. “I wonder what God wants to accomplish through you. I wonder how long He’s been waiting for you to remove the covering. Don’t be ashamed of your scars, for it is by those very scars that the world will recognize the Savior, Healer, and Lord.” Jaynes’ book is just like the scars it’s written about: raw, personal, sometimes painful, but always purposeful. To anyone who bears scars—whether from mistakes and heartbreaks or from abuse and deception—and to anyone who wants to minister to the hurting, I highly recommend Your Scars Are Beautiful to God. – Rachel Niehaus, Christian Book Previews.com
