Nail Biter

Her nails spoke a thousand stories. Others' stories.

The tops were stained with other's nail polish as if dipped in a bag of melted Skittles. Shreds of cotton mingled with murky clumps of dirt under her nails. Torn and jagged, her nails proved her tender intricate care of others' nails.

Gingerly she pushed back and cut off dead skin. Gently she cleaned dirt from under the beds. Gracefully she shaped and molded raw edges.

Her ragged, tarnished nails morphed mine into lovely even squares. Perfectly covered in a new coat of dainty pink, the only trace of my once bedraggled nails lay upon her nails.

Then and there Jesus said what should have been so obvious to me: He alone takes our sin upon Himself and transforms our shame into our story. He takes the raw edges and smooths them. Old sheds its layers to reveal new at His command.

In fact.... Isaiah 53 share this wonderful truth, "The punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."

So it leads me to wonder.... why won't I hold onto that peace and healing? Why do I ruminate over past sin and tote condemnation around? Why do I let judgey thoughts rule the roost? Why do I give shame two square inches in my mind?

We've been talking about jumping off negative trains {of thought} . Few trains are harder to jump off than the train of letting go of shame, guilt and other bullying thoughts. Yet staying on that train makes as much sense as biting our nails before leaving the manicure chair. Or digging in mud. Or banging them against rocks.

Entertaining thoughts that we are dirty, shameful, no good, disgusting, unlovable racks our souls through the mud, ignoring the beautiful sanctifying work completed for us on the Cross.

Friend, not one of my words can convince you to jump off the train and let go of self condemnation. But one word from God can. So I'm signing off tonight with His words to jump on board with. Write them on the tablet of your heart so when shame and condemning thoughts attempt to take you hostage on their train {of thought} and beat you up, God's words will fight on your behalf.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. " ~Isaiah 1:18

You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you. ~Song of Solomon 4:7

{My fav guys! Shane and Shane: Beauty for Ashes}


My prayer for you: May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. ~2 Thess. 2