This week’s devotion comes from our special guest, author and Hope Coach, Carmen Horne. I know you will be inspired by her words! Let’s learn from Carmen how to release our hurt to the Master Restorer.
Do you enjoy watching home renovation shows on TV? I do. I start one, and there is no stopping until I have watched about three of them. It is exciting to witness the rebirth of something broken and unloved.
Often, I think, just tear it down. They are hopeless. Not worthy. Unusable.
Simon felt that way about his uninvited guest. She lived among the crumbled walls of failed relationships. The rubble of her sins, piled high for all to view. Simon knew her reputation and questioned Jesus’ discernment in allowing her to touch Him. When Simon saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” (Luke 7: 39b NLT)
This brave woman ignored the stares and murmurs of the other attendees. She must have been nervous and so ashamed. The gift she offered Jesus, within her alabaster box, was her most valuable asset. Would He accept it? He will know how I earned this expensive perfume.
What the woman did not comprehend was that her most valuable asset was not the perfume. Her most valuable offering was the repentance that the contents of her alabaster box represented. She poured her pain and brokenness at Jesus’ feet.
In my book, Out of Words, we discuss our hurt boxes. Within each of our hearts, there are places we leave untouched — hidden. Maybe those places seem too dark, or they are too painful. The cost of our revelation seems too high. It was costly for our lady, also. She was willing to make a spectacle of herself to receive what Jesus had to offer — healing and restoration.
The pain our lady felt ran down her cheeks. Her tears were her prayers of repentance. Jesus gathered the pieces of her broken heart and spoke the kindest words she had heard from anyone in a long time — life-changing words, “Then Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your sins are forgiven...Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’” (7: 48,50)
Our hurt boxes are transparent to God. He gently exposes the places He wants to restore. He is El Roi — the God Who Sees us. He waits patiently, tenderly, inviting us to open our hearts and pour out our hurts at His feet. He understands the cost of releasing our hurts to Him. He paid a high price for our healing at Calvary.
Jesus doesn’t see us a fixer-upper or project; He sees what we cannot — women, whole and holy. Our prayer of release can be as simple as “Reveal and heal, Lord.”
Even when our pain and hurt is great, God’s mercy and grace are greater. He is the Master Restorer.
A Prayer for You:
Guide us, Lord, as we open our hurt boxes and reveal painful times. Help us to release our brokenness to You. Restore us, Lord! In the mighty name of Jesus! Amen.
Carmen Horne is a Board Certified Advanced Christian Life Coach, writer, speaker, and humorist who uses her gifts to encourage women. She is passionate about supporting women through life’s challenges as they learn to draw on God’s power and a dynamic relationship with Jesus to change their perspective on the unexpected.
Carmen hosts the Your Hope Coach podcast. She is also the author of Out of Words book and Grace Maps. You can learn more about her books here.
At the ripe old age of 16, the Bayou State native married her high-school sweetheart. They recently celebrated their 42nd anniversary and have one beautiful daughter. Carmen is a dark chocolate nibbler and beach sitter. But her favorite activities are those she participates in as a wife and mom.