TODAY’S MEDITATION – when you feel betrayed, carry on like Jesus did (psalm 41:9)

Betrayal is one of the hardest things a person deals with. It hurts… deeply. My brother, my sister, has someone who was close to you, who shared your bread and who you trusted walked away… and they did not do it silently: they left making a lot of noise, doing things to shame you or saying things about you that simply were not true? The funny thing about betrayal is that it mostly often comes from someone you did not expect could do such things to you. My friends, Jesus said “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Yes, it is not an easy task because of the deep wound betrayal brings about. Besides, when betrayal comes from loved ones, that’s the time you really start wondering whether or not it is worth it to keep running the race. My friends, those who betray you are on the yoke of the enemy, and it does not have to do with their status, age or anything else. The most important thing you can do is to move on to what God has called you to. Just set your eyes on the way Jesus handled His betrayal: Judas was one of the twelve… he was close to Jesus, he heard His words, witnessed His miracles and still chose to walk away! And how did Jesus respond? He moved on! He didn’t allow the betrayal of Judas to sideline His ministry. Just think one minute: without Judas’ betrayal there would have been no crucifixion, and without the crucifixion there would be no resurrection! Remember Joseph abandoned by his brothers who did not know the plan of God for him. Yes, God can use something that the enemy meant to use to destroy us for His glory and our good. So tell your betrayer this today: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20) and remember that “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28) and in response to betrayal if God is for you, who can be against you?(Romans 8:31). The same, the Apostle Paul had a friend named Demas (Colossians 4:14, Philemon 1:24) who abandoned him because of “his love for the world” (2 Timothy 4:10) and yet Paul still finished well (2 Timothy 4:6-8) and trusted the Lord when everything else seemed to be going crazy (2 Timothy 4:16-18). The truth is that the believer who betrays you has already slipped back into the world or things if the world (Judas loved money and he sold Jesus for money!). My friend, if you feel betrayed today, wipe your tears. Betrayal will only distract you, but it does not have to destroy you! Yes, Pour out your heart to God, tell Him exactly how you feel, be completely honest like David was in so many of the Psalms and ask Him to make things right in His eyes and in His time…and then get back to work. My friend, everything that happens to you is allowed by God. If He brought you to this situation then He will lead you through it (Philippians 1:6) Don’t give up on The Lord because someone was used by the enemy to betray you ! Stay the course, life is too short and hell is too hot to allow the discouragement that comes with betrayal to turn into a defeat in your life. Stay blessed in Jesus’ name. [facebook] [retweet]