It has often been said that, "beauty is only skin deep". But I would challenge that! ...And say that real beauty is found "within".

 

                                      ....Not on the outside!

 

Afterall, beauty on the outside? The type that most of the world seeks after? Values?

 

Isn't really worth much:

 

  "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;..." 

 

                      (Proverbs 31:30 NIV 1st part)

 

But real beauty? The kind that is real, lasting? The kind that most would not seek after? The kind that matters?

               ....The kind that God values?

 

Comes from the trials and brokenness of our lives!
      

You see our experiences, "mold us" into who we are (who we become). Whether they are good, or bad!

 

And for those of you have experienced brokenness? You know just what this means!

 

You see many do not realize that our past has so much to do with who we become as individuals! And our present situations can also determine who we are (to become) in the future.

 

The pain of abuse, rejection, betrayal, a divorce, the loss of a loved one, etc.? Can all have such devastating effects on us! All these things, plus many other experiences "form" who we, or how we "react" to life's experiences.

 

And what many do not realize that when we are deeply hurt, or mistreated as children? That it does carry over into our adult lives. And even as adults when we are awfully hurt it can affect how we relate to others!

 

And how they relate to us:

 

  "The heart knows its own bitterness,
      And a stranger does not share its joy."

 

                             (Proverbs 14:10 NKJV)

 

 ...and to ourselves:

 

 "As in water face reflects face,
       So a man’s heart reveals the man."

                              (Proverbs 27:19 NKJV)

 

And even how we relate to God!

 

Take this for example. If our earthly fathers mistreated us. How can we possibly relate to an awesome heavenly Father whom we cannot see?

 

Now, many skeptics will say (usually those who have not suffered as others who have!), that, "well the past is the past, get over it".

You see I have heard that many times! And perhaps you have too? But, you know what? It does not happen this way! You cannot just, "turn off" your feelings, emotions. Can you now? Any more than you can change your past!

 

Although Im sure for all of us that have suffered pain and awful injustice we would wish we could just do that! "Turn it off", or change it! Do we not? But that is not reality!

 

You see the pain of brokenness can be carried around for years:

 

"A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,
      But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken." 

 

It causes many problems within oneself.

For example, most children are raised (hopefully) in a loving home where the parents give the love, care, acceptance, healthy discipline a child needs and requires. Now chances are (under these conditions), this child will have the natural struggles of life. But overall, with a good healthy home enviroment, should thrive!

 

Now, take this same child. But instead of having a good "healthy" enviroment? This child has the opposite. The father abuses the child. The mother? She feels bad, she feels guilty (for ignoring it), but does not want to lose, or upset the father. So what does she do? She keeps quiet. She turns her back.

 

And although there may be some messages of "seeming concern". The child is disocuraged. Why? Because the mother sends a message to the child (not meaning too) that the child "deserves" the treatment (since she has ignored the childs pain).

 

The child is almost never hugged. Is called a "mistake", physically and emotionally abused. And perhaps even worse molested? And in turn? Feels, "unloveable", "rejected", betrayed" and unworthy of any real human value. And as this child goes through life the negative situations (common in everyone's life sometime, or another) only serve to reinforce the negative views this child has on life!

 

Afterall, the parents abuse the child in some awful ways. The father by the obvious. The mother? By ignoring the childs mistreatment and needs for love, protection, encouragment (validation, affirmation, etc.).

 

The other people around the child (those who know what goes on)? They only promote the feelings of rejection and worthlessness this child feels. How? By ignoring the abuse that is going on!

 

The pain and scars will carry through this person's life. Affecting every aspect of how this person will perceive themselves and those around them. Their relationships. And even life itself!

 

And ultimately? Will have a very hard time accepting the love of others. Or even know what love really is! And their perception of what loves is? May even cause them to believe that love is only physical (depending on their exeprience, such as molestation, etc.).

And they will have  hard time accepting the  love of an almighty God they cannot see! Even if they come to believe in Him!!

 

In fact chances are they will come to live in an, "unhealthy fear" of God (just as they do in relating to their abusive earthly father). They will become highly critical to themselves. Viewing God the same way they view their earthly father. Never believing God fully accepts them! Never realizing how He loves them unconditonally!!!

 

Or what about the person who was hurt by say another adult? Perhaps it was not even their father. Still, they will have a hard time accepting God's love. Why? Because their earthly father never protected them! Therefore giving them the idea that they were not worthy of protection.

 

But all in all. Whether it was the parents who abused them? Or someone else? Or any other hard life experience? These situations can cause real brokenness within oneself!

 

And it does not have to be physical abuse! Abuse can take many forms. Such as verbal abuse. Which can be just as damaging!! Words such as, "your worthless", "I wish you had never should have been born", "your stupid", etc. Can just destroy a person's spirit!

 

And how much damage it can do!

 

And it does not happen overnight. It happens over time!

 

Picture it this way.

The human heart is much like a waterfall. When the heart is allowed to deal with pain, hurt, rejection (etc.). Then the pain is allowed to flow out of the heart and disappear. Much like, "water over a waterfall"! And this is healthy!! The old water (i.e. "pain") flows over (and out) and makes room for the new water (life's "pains").

 

However, when the heart is not allowed to deal with pain? Or able to release it? Doe not know how too? 

 

What happens?

 

It is much like a waterfall in the winter time!

 

The heart starts to grow cold. It cannot deal with the pain that it encounters (it does not know how to release it). And what happens in turn? It freezes. It turns into ice! And it freezes to the point where the water (i.e. "pain") no longer flows. In fact it builds up! ...And keeps building up!! It continues to freeze. What happens in time? It builds up so much ice (i.e. "pain") that it becomes the heart's way of dealing with pain, hurts, disappointments (on a continuous basis)! And this is NO REAL way of dealing with pain at all!

 

Then what happens? Eventually it becomes just like a "clogged up" dam! It becomes so "bogged down" (i.e. heavy). That it will one day just break and fall apart!

                 .....And HOW great that break will be!!

 

Or how about this? Picture an icicle. Have you ever watched an icicle form on the edge of a roof? At first it seems stable. But what happens over time? More cool water drips down on top of it. It grows and becomes larger. In turn it becomes heavier and heavier. What happens? Eventually, it becomes so heavy that if falls and breaks! It's much the same way with us as people!! If were are not able to handle pain in a healthy way (release it and heal from it)? Then we fall and break also!

 

You see we all feel the pain and the hurts of our life experiences. Whether it was when we were age 5, 10, or 30. They do affect us! And if we are never able to deal with these? The pain and hurt of them? If it persists? We start to build walls around our hearts! Not letting anyone into our lives. And not letting out (forgiving) those who have hurt us!

 

In time? We have only served to isolate ourselves from those around us. And what a lonely place it is to be!

 

We become so discouraged that we believe that there is no one who really knows how we feel (how to relate to us). And it is so very sad! 

 

You see when we are experiencing our own hurt? We have a hard time believing there is anyone out there who has ever hurt like we do (or have).

 

But the truth of the matter is this. There is someone! Someone who knows ALL  too well!! 

 

Who not only knows how we feel, but He experienced horrible pain. And He knows what is it to be mistread, abused, betrayed, rejected (etc.). ...Better, than anyone else!

 

And who is this?

 

What is His name?      

                              ....His Name is Jesus!

 

Now, many of us know He did suffer. He died on the cross for our sin. But many of us probably do not realize, or fully understand? The extent to which He suffered! Well before He ever made it to the cross!!

 

You see many of us know He was ridiculed and died on the cross. But we must also come to understand His pain. The the depth to which He suffered. It was unbelievably awful!

 

Think about it. Here is Jesus, the Son of God! He is called to suffer for all mankind. Born for that very purpose (JN 3:16)! Now how many of us (myself included) would respond to being born for this purpose? To offer ourselves up for others? Probably not very well?!

 

But this is the very reason Jesus was born into this world! To suffer for us!! Now many will say, "yes, but He is the Son of God". Yes, this is true! But, Jesus was also born as a man. Born a human being with feelings like you and I! Born with the ability to feel pain, love, joy, disappointment (etc). And even know what weakness feels like!!

 

  "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."

 

                                   (Hebrews 4:15 NKJV)

 

All the feelings that come along with being a human being! And He struggled just as we do!!

 

In fact He struggled with His life's purpose in the garden of Gethsemane. He knew He was going to suffer and die on the cross. He was struggling with what lay ahead for Him. You see Jesus did not want to, "back out" of, saving us. But He wanted to be spared the pain!

 

Just AS we would!!

 

  "Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” 
Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.  So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners."

 

                                  (Matthew 26:36-45 NKJV)

 

He asked the Father to be spared. But He also commited Himself to the Father. Knowing the Father would see Him through His suffering! 

 

Now look back at verse 36. He asks Peter and the two sons of Zebedee to watch with Him. In His most desperate hour of need for comfort.

 

What happens? They fall asleep! How many of us have felt that way? We need others to be with us, comfort us. What happens? They are no where to be found! You see Jesus knows what it feels like, NOT to HAVE, the support that you need!

Especially in your darkest hour!

 

And there is something else we need to know about Jesus. He was was not like the, "beautiful" pictures we see Him portrayed in. He probably would not be someone you would take a "second glance" at while walking down the street!

 

You see scripture, "paints" a much different picture than Michelangelo!

 

 

 "Who has believed our report?
      And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 
       For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
      And as a root out of dry ground.
      He has no form or comeliness;
      And when we see Him,
      There is no beauty that we should desire Him. 
        He is despised and rejected by men,
      A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
      And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
      He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 
        Surely He has borne our griefs
      And carried our sorrows;
      Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
      Smitten by God, and afflicted. 
        But He was wounded for our transgressions,
      He was bruised for our iniquities;
      The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
      And by His stripes we are healed. 
        All we like sheep have gone astray;
      We have turned, every one, to his own way;
      And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 
        He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
      Yet He opened not His mouth;
      He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
      And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
      So He opened not His mouth. 
       

                                 (Isaiah 53:1-7 NKJV)

 

He was not a "hollywood star". A famous leader of the world. Nor was He someone you would probably see on the cover of "GQ" magazine!

 

He wast not "attractive" by the world's standards. In fact He is the type that the world would, "look down on"!     

      

   ....And that's JUST what they did!!

 

And STILL do today!!!

 

He was the Son of God (MK 1:1)! Born a man. Humbled Himself (Phil. 2:8)! That He might win us to Him for eternity (Heb. 7:25)!!

 

You see the "Jesus" of artists, and the Jesus of scripture? Are so c-o-m-p-l-e-t-e-l-y different!

 

The real Jesus knew what it was to REALLY suffer!

 

He was not the "majestic" picture painted of Him as a king. With "blondish hair" and blue eyes! He was abused, mistreated, maligned, rejected, betrayed (etc.).      

              ....By those He came to save. And those who were close to Him!

 

And He can relate to us like no one else can! And it can be hard for us to believe this. Especially when we are dealing with our own hurt and pain. And we feel as if we are in our darkest hour. But it is completely true!

 

He knew what it was to be rejected by His own family:

 

  "His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” For even His brothers did not believe in Him."

                                 (John 7:3-5 NKJV)

 

He knew what it was to be denied and betrayed:

 

  "And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

                                    

                                     (Luke 22:47-48 NKJV)

 

Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?”
He said, “I am not.”

 

                                     (John 18:17 NKJV)

 

  "Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”
He denied it and said, “I am not!”

 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

 

                                     (John 18:25-27 NKJV)

 

He knew what it was to be rejected, mistreated and abused:

 

  "The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”  And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?” Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest."

 

                                     (John 18:19-24 NKJV)

 

You see no one can relate to us like Jesus!

 

Now many people have gone through some awful things. And they can relate to us. And this is good! But who can relate to us on every level of pain we have ever experienced? ...And even more?

 

The One who loves us and gave His life for us!

 

  "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed."

                                     (1 Peter 2:24 NKJV)

You see Jesus knew what pain was ALL about! He knew it well!!

 

Perhaps you are going through a difficult time in your life?

 

You have past pain and hurts that have not been dealt with? You may even feel like a victim? Your past still causing you problems to this day? The way you feel about yourself, or others? Or...even God?

 

Or perhaps your are going through a painful time right now? Someone has abused you? Mistreated you? Or a spouse, whom you trusted, betrays you? Or one of the many tragedies that can cause us great pain. Pain, which we wonder can ever be healed?

 

If this so? There is hope for you! Not only a hope, but a REAL healing! A healing ONLY God can give you!!

 

You see if you go to a doctor with a deep cut. He will more, than likely give you stitches. Now, has he healed it? No, of course not! He has treated the symptoms!!

 

It's much the same way with our pain and brokeness! Professionals may help us (offer, or suggest "coping mechanisms", etc.). But can they heal us? No, they are only treating the symptoms! What we need is a REAL healing!! We need the great physician. We need God!

 

And He will heal us! If we call on Him!!

 

..."Via" His Son Jesus:

 

  “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
      Because the LORD has anointed Me
      To preach good tidings to the poor;
      He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
      To proclaim liberty to the captives,
      And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 
         To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
      And the day of vengeance of our God;
      To comfort all who mourn, 
         To console those who mourn in Zion,
      To give them beauty for ashes,
      The oil of joy for mourning,
      The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
      That they may be called trees of righteousness,
      The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

                               (Isaiah 61:1-3 NKJV)

 

You see Jesus came, not only to save us! ...But He also came, to heal us:

 

  "But He was wounded for our transgressions,
        He was bruised for our iniquities;
        The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, 
        And by His stripes we are healed.

                               (Isaiah 53:5 NKJV)

 

Both spiritually, physically, and emotionally!

 

He came to make us whole! And "whole" in EVERY sense of the word!!

 

How wonderful it is to have someone who knows EXACTLY how we feel! That can help us!! And not only help us, but R-E-A-L-L-Y heal us!!!

 

Born into this world a man:

 

  "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

 

                                    (John 1:14 NKJV)

 

Knowing what life's trials, tribulations, pains and hurts feel like!

 

And think about this. He comes into a sinful world to save us. Loving us unconditionally. And what happens? The people He came to save reject Him (as a whole)! He is abused and rejected. He feels all the pains of life! 

 

Even those closest to Him, betray Him!

 

One, even with a kiss:

 

 "And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”