Conquering the Pain of Betrayal

I started working on this devotional over a year ago, but found myself unable to complete it. I really didn’t know how to proceed as our family has been through so much betrayal over the last few years, and I was still grappling with dealing with it. I knew the Lord wanted me to get the victory over it, so I was hoping that by studying the issue, the healing that only the Lord can bring would finally bring peace. Yet, as it often is with the Lord, the answer was very simple. Most of the peace I so desperately needed was found in a wrestling match as described in a recently finished devotional: Wresting With God.

To summarize and word it a bit differently, I had to face the question: Who am I serving and why?

Serving Myself?

If I’m serving myself, then there is no way to conquer the issue because it’s all about me, our family, what was done to “us”, “me”. There’s no way out and no way to let go.

It is my choice to allow the enemy – this betrayal – to be exalted (to have control) over me or not.

“How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?” Psalm 13:2

It is my choice to have a merry heart or a broken spirit:

“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” Proverbs 15:13

Serving the Lord?

If the answer is God, then I have different, healing choices that must be made:

I must choose to let it all go and let God take care of the situation and of me because:

“… we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

I must choose to stop trying to figure it all out by leaning on my own limited knowledge base, but rather let my all-knowing God take care of it!

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Pro 3:5-6

It must choose to live my life verses and focus on my Jesus:

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

This day, I chose the good part: to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His words:

“And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:39, 41-42

Published November 26, 2012 | By Angela Trenholm