Everybody meets with betrayal at some point in their life… many more than once. How you deal with betrayal is vital to your growth in God. The enemy wants to keep you ensnared in offense, hurts, wounds, bitterness and unforgiveness. But you don’t have to allow betrayal to make you bitter. You can use it as a launching pad in the spirit to make you better. Where do you go from here?
1. Let God deal with the betrayer.
We don’t need to open our mouths, defend ourselves or lash out. There are consequences for betrayers who don’t repent.
Proverbs 19:5
A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape. (NLT)
Jeremiah 12:6
Your relatives, members of your own family—even they have betrayed you; they have raised a loud cry against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you. (NIV)
Deuteronomy 32:35 It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.
Genesis 12:13 “I will bless them who bless you and curse him who curses you, and in you all families of the earth will be blessed.”
2. You Must Forgive Forgiveness is a command not a suggestion. The faster you forgive, the faster you can start healing.
Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive men for their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men for their sins, neither will your Father forgive your sins.
Mark 11:25
Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. (NASB)
Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. (NASB)
Matthew 7:12
Therefore, everything you would like men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 Be strong and of a good courage. Fear not, nor be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, it is He who goes with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you.” The Lord, He goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you. Do not fear, nor be dismayed.”
3. Let the Holy Spirit Strengthen You You can feel weak when people close to you betray you—too weak to fight, to weak to forgive. Ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen you.
Philippians 4:13
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (NLT)
Psalm 37:9 “But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in time of trouble.”
Psalm 138:3 “In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.”
Matthew 19:26 “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”
4. Remember Psalm 55 Psalm 55 is a must-read for anyone who has been betrayed. Remember, it’s not flesh and blood you are wrestling with, not really. Betrayers are motivated by the wicked one, just as Judas was.
Psalm 55 reads: Give ear to my prayer, O God, and do not hide Yourself from my supplication. Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint, and I murmur, because of the voice of the enemy, because of the pressure of the wicked, for they cause trouble to drop on me, and in wrath they have animosity against me.
My heart is in pain within me, and the terrors of death have fallen on me. Fear and trembling come into me, and horror has overwhelmed me. I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
For then I would fly away and be at rest. Indeed, then I would wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
Confuse, O Lord, divide their tongues, for I have seen violence and strife in the city. Day and night they go around it on its walls; trouble and sorrow are in its midst. Destruction is in its midst; oppression and treachery do not depart from its streets.
For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; then I could hide from him. But it was you, my peer, my guide, and my acquaintance. We took pleasant counsel together, and walked to the house of God in company.
May death surprise them, and may their lives go down to Sheol, for wickedness is in their dwellings and among them. As for me, I will call on God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon, I will make my complaint and murmur, and He will hear my voice.
He has ransomed my life in peace from the battle against me, for there were many against me. God will hear and afflict them, even He who sits enthroned from of old. Selah. Because they do not change, therefore they do not fear God.
My friend has set his hands against those at peace with him; he has violated his covenant. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but battle was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be moved. But You, O God, will cast the wicked down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and deceitful men will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.
Thank You for being the instrument used by God at this perfect God appointed moment.
Thank you, Jennifer, for sending the Word to answer my prayer on some days when I get weary in this situation…….and Praise God that He gives me ‘calm in the midst of chaos’…….(and encourages me to put spiritual “Duct Tape” on my mouth when my flesh wants to reply.)
Thank you Jennifer for reminding/teaching us to let God deal with the betrayer and allowing Holy Spirit to do the work and not my flesh!
Big THANKS, Jennifer !
Shalom please pray for Stacy and I.
That never the less not our will but THINE be done in JESUS Mighty Name Amen