A couple of weeks ago I was up late and started thinking about the woman with the alabaster box who was referenced in the book of Mark. I thought about the cost of the ointment in her box and how she was criticized because she took her most prized possession, broke it, and poured it on Jesus.
"And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. " Mark 14:3-6
Isn't it interesting what others said was a waste, Jesus actually said it was good. It was good for her to break open her prized possession before Christ. I think as women we have taken our prized possessions (i.e. our life, our heart, our dreams, etc.), and at times laid them in the presence of the wrong people and walked away feeling used, hurt and broken. We have cast our pearls in unsafe environments in exchange for shelter and safety from some of the harsh elements of life.
Your life is your alabaster box, and until we remove the veil that is covering the innermost parts of our being in His presence, we will never fully experience true freedom. There's something about being in the presence of Jesus that brings healing, refreshing, and deliverance. When we come into the presence of Christ something miraculous happens and breaks forth.
I've learned a valuable lesson that what we conceal will never heal. When I was a little girl, it wasn't unusual for me to scrape my knees and elbows playing outside. I've had some pretty bad cuts and bruises, and to ensure healing I would have to reveal the wound to my Mom so we could assess the damage and treat it. I had to reveal the pain so my Mom could help me heal. I remember when my sister got cut by glass, and her finger was sliced open. I can still recall looking at her wound and seeing down to her bone. We rushed her to the hospital, and she had to get stitches. It's the same way spiritually. There are some things we've encountered in life that have caused light bruises and cuts while others were much deeper.
I wonder how many of us as women are still bleeding out from accidents and hurtful things we've encountered in this journey called life. Some of us haven't stopped long enough to get still and come in His presence so He can help us assess the damage. It's dangerous to continue driving down the road when you know you have hit a pothole and there's clanking and smoke coming from under the hood of your car.
Wherever you may find yourself today, I want you to know that Jesus is waiting. He's ready to heal, redeem and restore you. His Word brings healing, and His presence will transform you from the inside out. I've been broken in many places in my life, but every time I have found my way to Him and His Word, He has restored me. I want you to know that He is ready to restore you and make you whole. He's ready to show you how to navigate in life to avoid the pitfalls of the enemy.
He's waiting for you to break open your alabaster box...