{"id":3947,"date":"2024-04-03T20:19:25","date_gmt":"2024-04-04T00:19:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/thegatheringplace\/?p=3947"},"modified":"2025-02-24T08:59:24","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T13:59:24","slug":"the-pain-of-betrayal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/thegatheringplace\/2024\/04\/the-pain-of-betrayal\/","title":{"rendered":"The Pain of Betrayal!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

<\/h2>\n Image Credit: Roshni Mathew\/New City Church Mumbai<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u201cThe pain of betrayal\u201d is just another phrase until it happens to you. When it occurs, you no longer think of the word\u2019s meaning, you think about how it feels to be:<\/p>\n \nDouble-crossed<\/em><\/li>\nStabbed in the back<\/em><\/li>\nSold out<\/em><\/li>\nTwo-timed<\/em><\/li>\nRatted on<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n**\u201cBeing Double-Crossed is a Common Experience\u201d<\/h2>\n** The words in that list have teeth<\/em>. They bite and leave marks on the soul. An article by Daniel McCoy titled \u201cTop 10 Betrayals in the Bible,\u201d<\/a> shows that betrayal is a universal and traumatic experience<\/a>. Here is McCoy\u2019s list:<\/p>\n \nSatan and Eve \u2013 Genesis 3<\/li>\nCain and Abel \u2013 Genesis 4<\/li>\nJoseph and his brothers \u2013 Genesis 37<\/li>\nSamson and Delilah \u2013 Judges 16<\/li>\nSaul and David \u2013 I Samuel 18-26<\/li>\nDavid and Uriah \u2013 II Samuel 11-12<\/li>\nAhab betrays Micaiah (1 Kings 22)<\/li>\nJoash betrays Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24)<\/li>\nJudas betrays Jesus (Luke 22:47-48)<\/li>\n\u00a0God\u2019s people betray God (Ezekiel 16)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nWhy Do We Betray Others?<\/h2>\n**** What is it about the human soul that makes the idea of double-crossing another person appealing?\u00a0 The website \u201cThe Learning Mind\u201d features an October 2022 article by Janey Davies titled. \u201c7 Psychological Reasons for Betrayal & How to Recognize the Signs.\u201d<\/a> Ms. Davies suggests that people cause the pain of betrayal because they might believe that the rules don\u2019t apply<\/strong> to them.\u00a0<\/em>More obvious reasons are a lack of integrity or <\/strong><\/em>selfishness and greed<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/em>Sometimes the betrayer doesn\u2019t want to face the consequences<\/strong> of their actions<\/em> so they shift the blame to another. One of the most emotionally painful reasons is realizing that you simply aren\u2019t as important<\/strong> to them as you thought.<\/em> Usually, the betrayer is insecure<\/strong> about their identity\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0jealous<\/strong> of you.<\/em><\/p>\n Image By pxhere.com at GoodNews.Love<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n In Psalm 55 we are permitted to eavesdrop on King David\u2019s prayer about being betrayed. We can\u2019t know for sure who betrayed David, but Dave Reid of GrowingChristians.org<\/a> suggests that it might have been David\u2019s advisor Ahithophe<\/strong>l. He writes, \u201cAhithophel abandoned the king and joined forces with David\u2019s selfish son, Absalom.\u00a0\u00a0He actually helped Absalom create a strategy to defeat David and usurp the throne!\u201d Consider this possibility as you read what David wrote: \u201cIt is not an enemy who taunts me\u2014I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me\u2014I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you\u2014my equal, my companion and close friend. What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God<\/em>\u201d (Psalm 55:12-14, New Living Translation).<\/p>\n \u201cSevere betrayal\u2026often causes bitterness\u201d<\/h2>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n********* ** *********As the King continued his psalm, it was clear that he was bitter. Listen to David\u2019s heart as you read verses 20-21: \u201cAs for my companion, he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises. His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers!<\/em>\u201d\u00a0 Severe betrayal by a friend often causes bitterness that is hard to heal. Listen once again as David closes this Psalm: \u201cGive your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. But you, O God, will send the wicked down to the pit of destruction. Murderers and liars will die young, but I am trusting you to save me\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(vv. 22-23).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cFinding Forgiveness\u201d Image by Trent Janisch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nFinding Forgiveness<\/h2>\n********* ** *********The message of Jesus is one of forgiveness, but the desire and the will to forgive may not come quickly. That\u2019s why reading stories like David\u2019s helps us see that no one is exempt from the pain of betrayal or rejection. So then, how can we find forgiveness? There are no quick answers to that question. It takes time, honesty in prayer, trying your best to win back the betrayer, and grace; lots of grace. If you have been betrayed by someone that you trusted to be your friend, don\u2019t try to shut off your feelings. Pray from the core of your emotional pain. Hebrews 4:15-16 reminds us, \u201cThis High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most\u201d <\/em>(New Living Translation.).<\/p>\n \u00a0Thank You!<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE & GET THE LATEST FROM <\/a><\/strong><\/div>\n THE GATHERING PLACE<\/strong><\/div>\n \u00a0by <\/strong><\/div>\n Ken Shelton<\/strong><\/div>\n Click HERE to purchase my book \u201cCovenant Talk \u2013 Words That Set Us Free\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u201dClick HERE To listen to my award-winning music, including my latest album \u201cLegacy \u2013 Songs For My Family\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n*********** ** \n ** \n ** \n ** \n ** <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ** ***********\u201cThe pain of betrayal\u201d is just another phrase until it happens to you. When it occurs, you no longer think of the word\u2019s meaning, you think about how it feels to be: Double-crossed Stabbed in the back Sold out Two-timed Ratted on \u201cBeing Double-Crossed is a Common Experience\u201d The words in that list have teeth. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4929,"featured_media":3953,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[986,380,723,605,614,753,425,888,542,744,563,837,153,756,1],"tags":[995,989,992,506,78,998],"class_list":["post-3947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-betrayal","category-bible-stories","category-church","category-counseling","category-depression","category-discouragement","category-healthy-relationships","category-humanity","category-overcoming","category-prayer","category-spiritual-life","category-spirituality","category-trauma","category-trials","category-uncategorized","tag-back-stabber","tag-betrayal","tag-double-crossed","tag-forgiveness","tag-friend","tag-rejection"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Pain of Betrayal!<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\""The pain of betrayal" is just another phrase until it happens to you. 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