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 from 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 her 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 too painful. The cost of our revelation seems too high. It was costly for our lady as well. She was willing to make a spectacle of herself to receive what Jesus had to offer — healing and restoration.

The pain this woman 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.’” (Luke 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 as 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 are 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. Reveal and heal. Restore us, Lord! In the mighty name of Jesus! Amen

“Releasing Our Hurt to the Master Restorer”

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