Do not pick at your scabs!

You trip and skid your knee. You accidentally cut your arm when running past a branch. You are bleeding and hurts like heck, but the blood is already busy at work creating a scab. You get home, clean yourself up, and not bleeding anymore but you start to notice that the clot get hard and dries out, it forms a scab.

According to KidsHealth,

"...Damaged blood vessels are being fixed. White blood cells, the kind that fight infection to keep you from getting sick, go to work by attacking any germs that may have gotten into the cut. White blood cells also get rid of any dead blood and skin cells that may still be hanging around the cut. By the time it's all done, a new layer of skin will have been made.Eventually, a scab falls off and reveals new skin underneath. This usually happens by itself after a week or two. Even though it may be tough not to pick at a scab, try to leave it alone. If you pick or pull at the scab, you can undo the repair and rip your skin again, which means it'll probably take longer to heal. You may even get a scar. So let that scab sit there — your skin will thank you!"

Scabs can not only literally mean an healing cut, but could mean a healing cut from persons, places, things, additions, bad habits and anything the Lord has directed us to let go and heal. However, with all of its temptation to want to scratch that itch, or wanting to hasten the process, or make it work /heal it ourselves upon our own accord, we inadvertently end up doing even more damage - thus, creating a permanent scar.

How many of us have reopened things that God has clearly showed us that they are not meant to be picked at? Most of us have. With the scab hiding the pain of how we got the cut, we tend to forget how much pain it was to actually get that scab, until we pick at it and it starts bleeding again. Yes it seems fine, but once you reopen that dang thing, you remember the reason the Doctor or whomever told you not to pick at it - that scab starts oozing blood, looks gross, and sometimes opens up that intense pain you initially felt when you got it.

What's worse is that you may be creating a scar, a permanent reminder of that pain, when you repeatedly go back to something that the Lord has told and shown you, not to to touch! That pain can be that heartbreak - your Mama, Papa, friends, the Lord and you have shown you NOT to talk to Prince or Princess Charming- and you think that busting that scar and working it out on your accord would be better...when it's not! You are reminded of that pain and hurt, and even regress to how you once were, rather than be the healed version God was in process of making you. Sometimes, it's not a matter of you not touching the bad things, but the Lord is focusing on healing you so you could be ready for whatever He has for you. While the blood does not care less and is acting out how it's supposed to, you are back at square one! Take heed when the Lord has clearly shows us a nasty scab- walk away and let things heal, so you can have better, new, stronger healed skin.

As there are ointments and medical treatments that can aid to the healing of the skin, Biblical scriptures are also remedies to provide relief and supportive care during the healing process:

~ 1 Corinthians 10:13 states,

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

~ Galatians 5:22-23 reminds us the Fruit of the Spirit that the Lord has equipped us to fight against such temptation,

But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Other "ointments" can be joining a young adult ministry, going to church, listening to scripture throughout the day, praying ceaslessly against that pain for God to block it, turning away from it, seeking additional support.

Romans 5:3-5 states,

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

What's interesting about scabs are that the new skin is actually stronger that it was previously, before it was cut. Once you pass the test of let things heal out naturally, the scab falls off itself, you will become stronger, wiser, and better than before!