We live in a culture that encourages us to bury failure and pain. It’s a social media society where escape into the latest, shiny thing along with a desperation for likes and followers is the norm. Pitfalls such as depression and trauma need to be avoided at all costs, even though we’ve all been there at one point or another. But what if the very things we run away from, the raw hurt and pain, could produce in our lives true purpose and identity?This week at VOUS Church we had the special honor of hearing from the Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist, Lecrae. He dove deep into the idea that joy and pain go hand-in-hand by giving a glimpse into his own story of hardship. In Hebrews 12:2, we also see how Jesus was able to see past the sorrow of the cross, to joy at the right hand of the Father. Through Jesus’ example, we are invited to look at our own pain, hard as it may be, and find joy on the other side.  To find joy, we first need to identify the past hurts, mistakes or failures we've been stuffing away and struggling with internally.  Then we can face the pain head-on, let go of striving and allow the experience to mold us into new creations. God doesn’t call us to hide our wounds. Like Lecrae, there may be a point in our lives where we must face the music and deal with the darkness in our lives. But embracing the process, rather than running from it, is just the radical step needed to create lasting joy in our lives. God can turn the bleakest moment into a story of triumph if we are willing to let him use it. Our scars can testify to healing only if we show them.