When a friend betrays us, it can be one of the most hurtful experiences we can endure. But what if we turned our attention away from our circumstances and asked the Lord to bring healing and good out of this situation? Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.[1] Bringing good out of betrayal is something only the Lord can accomplish. Because we live in a sinful world, you may have already experienced betrayal. Jesus is our Lord and Savior, yet He was not immune from betrayal.
Mark 14:41 The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!” 43 And immediately, even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders.
44 The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss. Then you can take him away under guard.” 45 As soon as they arrived, Judas walked up to Jesus. “Rabbi!” he exclaimed, and gave him the kiss. [2]
The Lord Helps Us Overcome Bitterness
The enemy often uses traps against us regarding betrayal. The first trap is to lead a person into sin by betraying you, and the second is to tempt you to become bitter. Bitterness is a deeper and more dangerous wound if it goes untreated. The treatment for bitterness is forgiving the person or persons who hurt you.
Forgiving those who have deeply hurt you often takes the Lord’s help. Philippians 4:13I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.[3] When the Lord frees us from bitterness, we can move forward in faith to be healed and regain our spiritual balance.
Love Your Betrayer
How can I love my betrayer? This type of love is not romantic love but a decision to love. Love happens when I forgive them and turn revenge over to God. Also, remember not to talk badly about them because our words are powerful. When we speak positively about people and pray for them, we begin to see how the Lord sees them. I know this sounds difficult, but we must rely on the Lord. With the Lord’s continued assistance and willingness to seek Him, we let the Lord fill us with His love versus falling into more traps of satan.
Let the Lord Heal You
The Lord desires to heal as you pray to Him after being betrayed. Ask the Lord to bring healing to your heart. As you forgive, the Lord can heal you and give you a glimpse of what He experiences daily regarding forgiveness. In Matthew 6:14, Jesus says, “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.[4]
To learn how to act when a friend betrays you, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/follow-denial
[1,2,4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.
[3] The New King James Version (Php 4:13). (1982). Thomas Nelson.