I was talking with a beautiful friend the other day about ghosts from the past. I have a few, as does she. Some of hers are just louder than mine.
She had been in conversation with a family member just hours before who had used the term “damaged goods” when referring to her. As she spoke the words through tears, I felt rage welling up in my spirit and showing itself all over my face.
Seeing the color of my cheeks change she added, “Joy, it really isn’t a big deal.”
“That is where you are wrong, darlin’. It is a very big deal. You are far from damaged.”
She cut my response short, “No, I kind of am. I would say it’s an accurate description.”
At this point in the conversation I had a couple of options. I could begin ranting about what a ridiculous self-assessment this girl was making or I could speak the truth in love. Please keep in mind that it infuriates me when someone allows another human being, mortal, flesh and blood, to strip them of their identity in Christ. What shakes me to my core is when that individual doing the stripping is a mother or other guardian who has been entrusted with shaping the life of someone else.
Thankfully I chose the latter of the two options.
“Here’s the deal, sugar. We all have things that can be categorized under the label ‘damaged.’ No one is worse than another. They are equal. Yours may look different from mine, but in God’s eyes, they are the same.” As these words were coming out of my mouth, I thought, “Do I believe this? Does my path of destruction look the same as what ‘church goin’, conservative clothes wearin’, orphan savin’, never kissed a boy, doesn’t sin unless by absolute accident, savin’ herself for marriage, non tattooed/pierced/scarred‘ girl’s destruction? Do I truly believe that? Hmmmm…I don’t think I do. Well, maybe I do. I hope I do. Sometimes…on a Tuesday…when the sky is blue…and cloudless…and all the planets are in line, I do.”
I had to come clean. “You know, it’s a difficult concept to fathom. At times I have trouble grasping it myself. But I know it’s true, because Jesus said it and He doesn’t lie.” We both agreed that neither of us could refute Jesus’ words.
As we left each others company that afternoon the wheels were turning in my mind. God is always on time, yes? This morning, Rodney Anderson spoke at Buckhead church. He took a passage from Luke 18 and explained it in such a comprehensive and applicable way.
He was talking about this very thing! Comparing and thinking better of oneself and praying as if God takes out His list to make sure we are worthy of being listened to. It doesn’t happen that way. It’s an awesome message that you can watch by clicking here.
He wrapped everything up with John 19:30 when Jesus said, “It is finished.” There is no longer a need for another human being, a middle man (if you will) to do our bidding for us. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice and the comparing, accusing, condemning, rejecting was over. Now, whenever God looks at you and at me, He sees us through the eyes of His son, Jesus, who was and is the ultimate sacrifice for my “destruction.” And as Rodney explained so perfectly today, “That’s good news.”
Be encouraged. No matter the size of devastation along the trail you have blazed, Jesus is enough. He paid it all. Your ransom, my ransom has been PAID IN FULL.
Need a visual reminder? Click here
Even A Girl Like Me 
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Hi Joy, I just found your blog and have thoroughly enjoyed my wanderings through your posts. What a beautiful way you have with words, I love your honesty and refreshing realness. I look forward to coming back often. The internet needs more REAL believers like you.
Susie
http://www.recoveringchurchlady.com/
Susie,
Thank you so much for stopping by. I appreciate your feedback and encouragement.
Have a wonderful start to your week!
I smile as I look upon our bulletin from today’s sermon where the scripture is listed as Luke 18:9 – 14; and I remind myself that I believe there are no consequences. God’s got it all in hand.
If we are damaged and scarred and I would probably agree we are but I think we all are even those who appear to be orphan saving, bible school attending, tither’s X 3, never kissed, and beyond reproach. Some of us have scars that show and some have hidden scars but all have scars I believe.
Scarred and damaged but also healed and restored by the master and his child now and forever. Standing in wonder under his wings.
I love how passionate you are about your friends and how protective. I am much the same way. I think that is love manifested!
I love that! “Love manifested.”
Thanks, Mark.
I was thinking Joy that God does not even see the scars…..
I don’t know? I think He does, only very differently than we see them.
Joy, I feel so connected to your words. I too have seen myself as damaged goods. Damaged by actions of others as a child and damaged by choices I made as an adult. This paragraph touched me..
“Do I believe this? Does my path of destruction look the same as what ‘church goin’, conservative clothes wearin’, orphan savin’, never kissed a boy, doesn’t sin unless by absolute accident, savin’ herself for marriage, non tattooed/pierced/scarred‘ girl’s destruction? Do I truly believe that? Hmmmm…I don’t think I do. Well, maybe I do. I hope I do. Sometimes…on a Tuesday…when the sky is blue…and cloudless…and all the planets are in line, I do.”
Thanks for saying and writing what I so often think in silence.
Thank you Cathy.
You are an amazing woman who has weathered the storms and is now sharing your experience, strength and hope to help others. You are so beautiful and so very cherished by those who have the privilege of knowing you.
You have a kind and generous heart filled with love and faith. Just a beautiful post filled with inspiration. Yes, nobody should judge someone unless they are “sin free,” and we all know everyone has sins , that nobody is perfect. We have our flaws. We all need to be saved. You are a great friend who gave a very invaluable advice!
Thank you so much for your sincere response. I appreciate the encouragement more than you know.
You are a gifted writer. I know God brought me to your blog to stir up my complacent thoughts and make me restless.
Thank you so much for reading and taking the time to comment. We all find ourselves in a place of complacency from time to time in our faith, in our life, in our work…for me it definitely shows up as restlessness. It used to frighten me. Now I look at it with great expectancy, knowing that God is about to show up in a big way. Blessings to you, my friend, as you embark on this new week filled with endless possibilities.