I am an excessive picker with the scars to prove it.

And as I currently battle with myself to restrain from getting involved in the process of healing and restoration, God reminds me of something.

Healing only happens when there is a covering.

Healing and restoration only happens when it is in the right environment; underneath a cover.

Even as I write this, I struggle to still my hand from trying to poke itself into something it shouldn’t.

Healing doesn’t happen when the cover is ripped off. In fact, the cover needs to be rebuilt again, from scratch.

When I pull off the covering, underneath is now exposed. No longer is it sheltered or protected. No longer can it reach its full potential.

But it’s raw and open and vulnerable to infection.

I believe God has woven into us a multitude examples of his awesome ways.

The need for his covering. The need for his shelter. The need for his protection, all for the benefit of what is hidden, of what should be hidden to process the healing inside.

A shelter and covering on the vulnerable, until it is finished and ready to be in the open again.

I have to think of Adam and Eve, who only needed to be covered once they became aware. They only needed to be sheltered with a cover of clothing once their hearts were fractured and broken. Once the relationship between themselves and their creator had become cracked.

I look down at my ankle peeking out between my cargo trousers and my trainer socks and I wonder, is this natural instinct to cover our vulnerability because we realise on a much deeper level that we have much to be ashamed for.

Just like Adam and Eve, we realise that in our current state of a decaying human body that we have much to cover.

How does one stand before an almighty holy God who is so much more wonderful and beautiful in love and kindness than we could ever comprehend.

Do we still wear clothes in an attempt to cover what we cannot cover.

The embarrassing and messy arrangement of a sin stricken body and soul.

If I stood before you naked, you would see every piece of me that I despise.

You would see every angle of vulnerability.

And I would be ashamed.

Ashamed because sin has caused my body to clock. 🕰️ Passed the point of perfection that God designed and goes from ripe to rotten.

Ashamed because it does not line up with the original design of a holy beauty that God created.

You see, this dress has spot and wrinkle.

I do wonder, 💭 if at that moment of sin and realisation of evil. Did their soul’s crack. Did the first wrinkle appear on the inside of them, before it would slowly make its way out.

And likewise, now, if you are like me, if you are saved only by the blood of Jesus and his sacrifice. My soul is now whole. Gone is its crack. And soon my wrinkles and spots will also dissolve. Because what is on the inside, will come out.

The bride without wrinkle or blemish.

The bride who can boldly stand before her husband in glory.

Unashamed beauty.

Glorious renewal.

But in the middle of that story, is were she is covered. In the middle is where she is covered while the healing is going on underneath.

Come and cover yourself with Jesus.

The great protector.

The almighty shelter.

His hand of healing ❤️‍🩹 will set upon you. And you will be whole again.

Soon we will stand again before him.

Keep on the covering of his hand, and let him heal what is beneath.

Psalm 5:11

¹¹ But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
    let them sing joyful praises forever.
Spread your protection over them,
    that all who love your name may be filled with joy.