We've all been betrayed by someone at some point in our lives. Any time we hand over something close to our heart to be observed by anyone else, we risk that hurt.
A few weeks ago, I was betrayed in just this way. I met this person about four months ago. Immediately, there was a bond; a kindred spirit between us. Even though our childhoods were distinctly different, and have lived completely opposite lives thus far, we have a lot in common in who we are as women, based on how we grew up.
Over the past few weeks, we have shared a lot of spiritual knowledge that had been given to us by the Lord down through the years. Then, one day about three weeks ago, while in the midst of one of these conversations, she used something against me that I had told her about when we first met. (a dream I had when I was 19, and I'm 46 now)
She then proceeded to judge me my whole life since on that one thing. I carried on with the task at hand but, inside I was reeling with shock. The Lord had revealed to us that we could begin a shared ministry, but something in me that day died.
The day before this happened, the Lord had led me to the scripture in Luke 19, where Jesus was coming to the city of Jerusalem. He stopped and wept over it. Expressing himself in utter heartbreak, Jesus said (paraphrasing) 'If you would have only seen the peace that I bring, you could have had it all. The days will come when your enemies will overtake you, because you didn't realize it was me visiting you.' Later that night, I cried over this woman's religious stance for over two hours. God let me experience a snippet of what Jesus felt looking down at Jerusalem, knowing they had sealed their fate in their unbelief.
Just that morning we had talked about leading a women's bible study group for about 10 women. That night, as I wept, God took the burden from me and directed it into another area. Within a few days, I began a women's group online and, at last count, has 40 members. I feel so blessed at the response so far. As in the case of Jesus, the rejection of a few became the acceptance of many.
I spent Christmas with this woman. All was well~God took my hurt away during the shed tears. She's still in her place of condemnation; that's her choice. God will deal with that. Upon arrival, she hugged me, and gave me a peck on the cheek-a normal greeting for her. When I woke up this morning, the scripture of Jesus in the garden came into my mind. We are told that Jesus was in all ways tempted like we are, and was also hurt like we are. Being betrayed was one of those. He was betrayed, as Peter put it, by one who 'was numbered with us.' He knows what it feels like, and can comfort us when these things happen.
If we give him out hurt, our pain, our disappointments, unburdening ourselves from the guilt and condemnation that others 'that have walked with us' try to heap on us, then he will move us along into something that is satisfying to us and glorifying to him.
In the background, the originator of the hurt will wonder why, suddenly, their life takes a dive (Acts 1:18), but those who prayerfully seek him will receive the power from on high to keep going. (Acts 2:2) Jesus said it is necessary that offences come, but woe to those through which they come. I sincerely pray that I am never one of those people.
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