WHAT ARE SCARS?

Many people struggle with emotional scars that are invisible to the naked eye. Some believe that if they don't talk about their scars, they will eventually disappear or nobody will notice them. However, in order to heal from emotional scars, it's crucial to acknowledge how they affect your life. It's important not to hide from your scars, but to talk about them in order to heal. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many families had to deal with the loss of loved ones while still trying to carry on with their lives.

Here are some common events that can lead to emotional scars:

- Divorce

- Homelessness

- Illness

- Death of a family member or close friend

- Losing a pet or having a pet pass away

- Being bullied at school or by others

- A parent, family member, or friend who abuses drugs or alcohol

- Experiencing sexual assault or rape

Mental scars, also known as emotional scars, refer to psychological abuse that can leave a person profoundly hurt and make them unable to trust anyone enough to discuss their problems. Such scars result from behaviors that create mental trauma, causing long-lasting harm to the victim's emotional well-being. For instance, I recall a time when my ex-husband said to me, "You're fat, you're ugly, you're uneducated, and no one will want you with two kids." His words deeply affected me, and I kept hearing them repeatedly in my mind. For many years, I carried this scar and was hurt by his words. Emotional scars can result from various causes, such as being called fat or obese, having abusive parents, spouses, or partners, or experiencing mental health problems. It's important to recognize that emotional scars are a type of mental scars that can cause immense pain and suffering.

Physical scars refer to those scars that are visible to others. Sometimes, in cases of domestic violence, individuals may attempt to cover their scars depending on their location. Some people may be scarred due to a congenital disability, and they may have to live every day knowing that their scars are visible to others. One famous example is Seal, whose prominent facial scarring resulted from a type of lupus called discoid lupus erythematosus. This condition affects the skin and leaves behind noticeable scars. Physical scars can be inherited or present at birth, while others can result from accidents or domestic violence. Despite the cause, healing always starts with oneself. Some common causes of physical scars include domestic violence, skin diseases, congenital disabilities, deformities, disfigurements, abnormalities, and hair loss. 

I have spoken to both men and women who have been hurt by the actions of others in the church, and these spiritual scars can be very painful. Many have witnessed behaviors within the body of Christ that have caused them to leave the church, as they saw no difference between the actions of those in the church and those in the world. Some young boys and girls have even experienced sexual assault at the hands of clergy and other church members. Shockingly, there have been instances where pastors have had affairs with members of their congregation. One person even shared some of the dark secrets behind closed doors of the church, which would make you never want to return. Sadly, many churchgoers believe that pastors steal from their members and live luxurious lives, adding to the pain felt by many who have already suffered from church hurt.