Some of my favorite Christian recording artists have experienced life-crushing tragedies: Danny Gokey, Jeremy Camp, and Steven Curtis Chapman are examples.
Because I know a bit of their life stories, their music has richer meaning. When they sing of grief, regret, failure, and struggle, they speak from experience. Their messages can be trusted because they know what they are talking about.
I have friends who have also been through the fire: friends who have lost mates or children; have suffered abuse; are physically, mentally, or emotionally scarred; or have lived on the edge of survival all their lives. Sadly, some of these friends have experienced more than one of these tragedies.
When these friends share their stories with me, they become authentic people. I get a glimpse into what made them the people they are. In a very small way, I understand them. And with every bit of understanding, I become more accepting.
These people have gained insights into life that I have not. They have walked through valleys I have been spared from walking. They know things I don’t. Many times, they exhibit strengths I don’t have.
Lately, I have pondered this saying from Rumi, a 13th century Persian theologian and poet: Your wound is the place where the Light enters you.
When Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:10, When I am weak, then I am strong (NLT), was he talking about light entering him through his wounds?
All of us are walking wounded. Some of us were hurt by others; some of us suffer from self-inflicted hurts. Each wound is an opportunity for God’s light to shine in, bring wholeness to the sufferer, and make one stronger.
Often, we wounded people don’t want to reveal our damaged selves to other people for fear they will reject or judge us. My experience is that the people who love me most are the people who know me, the unmasked me, best. In fact, it has been through some of these very people that God was able to shine His light into my soul.
Danny Gokey lost his young wife, Sophia, to congenital heart disease. Jeremy Camp’s wife, Melissa, died of ovarian cancer before the couple had been married a year. Steven Curtis Chapman’s little girl, Maria, was killed in a car accident in the family’s driveway.
These Christian artists are singing from this side of their heartbreaks. They have been through the fire and suffered deep wounds. Through those experiences, their faith has been strengthened and their determination to persevere has increased. Their music now blesses and inspires thousands of people all over the world.
In their weakness, these people became strong. Their life songs, though sad, have brought about beautiful results.
Don’t be afraid to share your story with people you trust. Your life song is waiting to bless someone.
The Happy Geranium 
Thank you, Debbie, for your inspirational words and encouragement. Personally, I have much room for improvement in this area of being more transparent with others and allowing that light to come inward to me.
Becky, you have much wisdom to share with Christians and with anyone wanting to invest in their marriages and their kids. I encourage you to look for opportunities to share with others the wonderful things God has taught you. I love you.
I so enjoyed reading that and so much truth there. I am that very person who does not like to open up to people about my wounds and I’ve always thought I am just a very private person but probably more like afraid to be rejected. I have certainly counted my blessings too after thinking about others’ troubles.
Jennifer, fear of rejection makes all of us want to keep ourselves to ourselves.
When we share ourselves with people we trust, we help those people open up and become sharers too.
I have never been rejected or condemned by anyone with whom I have shared my story but of course I choose those people carefully.
Often when I tell someone the worst about myself, they say, “What? You too?” 🙂
Inspirational and well received.
Thank you for your encouragement, Mary. (And I really do like your hair!)