This is an excerpt from my book Dancing With the Scars. I thou | Barry Stagner

This is an excerpt from my book Dancing With the Scars. I thought some might find this to be an encouraging reminder today; "There was a time in my life where I had come under attack for a long period of time by another pastor. He lied about me, hurt my family deeply and damaged relationships I had with people with his lies and innuendoes targeting me. This was a long and deep valley for my wife and I and I was baffled at why the Lord had not done something or allowed it to continue. It was a deep and bitter wound as this man was once my close friend. There was a day when I had prayed and for the umpteenth time asked God why He allowed Him to get away with it and I heard that voice inside of my head and heart say; “I didn’t, I’ve heard and seen everything He did.” I share this with you for this reason. This is what we are after when someone who should be a trusted Christian leader hurts us, or anyone hurts us for that matter, recognition. Acknowledgement that a wrong has been committed against us and for that to be recognized by others. God is saying to you who have experienced Fractured Fellowship caused by a church leader, I saw it all and I recognize it hurt you. I have to say that those words truly set me free from the wounds I received from this man and allowed them to become scars. No more prayers for justice, no more longing for someone to come to me and say; I knew what was said was not true. To remember that God hears and sees all and I matter and He cares about me is what I really needed. The damage this man has done has impacted relationships I once enjoyed to this day and these are the scars that I now live with. I do not know if there will ever be reconciliation or ownership on his part, but that’s between Him and the Lord. I’m free!" #dancingwiththescars