Betrayed By A Loved One

Betrayed By A Loved One

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Have you ever been betrayed by a loved one? How about your best friend? When you are betrayed by a loved one, it is excruciating because this is supposed to be shared in confidence, for nobody else to know.

Family is who you are supposed to rely upon, right? You should be able to tell them anything and trust it will not be repeated. Has this ever happened to you? I’m willing to bet that it has and many times we don’t even know about it until much later when somebody else “spills the beans”.

Have you ever betrayed someone’s confidence?

I think most of us have at some point and I’m not talking about keeping a secret here. It is too easy to talk about other people in everyday conversations: “Have you seen so and so lately?” And it goes on from there and before you know it you are a participant of idle gossip; whether you discuss the new outfit or who they may be dating…

Where To Draw The Line

When having a discussion in passing, keeping the conversation light really isn’t that difficult. For instance:

• KitKat: “Hi skeeter! I haven’t seen you for so long, how’s it been going? Oh by the way, have you heard about Bob losing his job?”
• Skeeter: “I’ve been keeping pretty busy. I haven’t heard about Bob, but I will be sure to ask him about it the next time I see him.”

See how this idle gossip has been cut short? The best way to diffuse these situations is not to feed into them. If you make it known right away that you really aren’t interested in second-hand knowledge this person will stop trying to feed it to you.

If You Want To Know How Somebody Is, Ask Them, Not Somebody Else

It is easy to respond to questions about yourself. It is even easier to keep yourself out of the gossip loop by using one simple response to questions about others:

• KitKat: “Hey Skeeter, how’s Charley doing? You live next door to him.”
• Skeeter: ” He’s doing well. Stop by there sometime.”

What About Viscious Gossip And Straight Out Lies

People will make up lies about others in order to cause them humiliation. This can harm a reputation, cause the loss of a job, or worse. One thing I have learned is even if something is true it is better off being kept to yourself unless withholding information could cause harm to somebody else, as in having knowledge about a burglary or know for a fact (first hand) that a person should not be trusted alone in somebody’s home.

Betrayal At It’s Worst

When something bad happened and you need to talk to somebody about it, who do you trust? Ask yourself that before placing your confidence in anyone. I am an incest survivor who was called a liar. It wasn’t until a year before my father’s death that he apologized and asked forgiveness. Some of his friends were guilty also.

Years later I was taken advantage of sexually by a family member while under the influence of alcohol. I am quite sure there was also a drug involved. The one person I thought I could trust betrayed me and now this is a joke among other family members to who I am estranged.

The Ultimate Betrayal

Matthew 26: 1,2 & 14-16

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,

² Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

¹⁴ Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

¹⁵ And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

¹⁶ And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Do you know this story of how Jesus was betrayed by a kiss?

Jesus forgave Judas Iscariot but he could not forgive himself for his betrayal and it did not end well, did it? Are you familiar with those who betray others as being called a Judas? That is where it comes from.

Do We Have To Forgive?

Let’s see what The Lord has to say about this subject:

• Mark 11:25 – And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
• Matthew 6:15 – But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
• James 5:16 – Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
• Matthew 18:21²¹ Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?²² Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Yes, it is good to forgive. It is better for ourselves to forgive because holding onto a grudge only makes us ill and the person you hold that grudge against probably hasn’t given you a thought. Do you agree? Forgive and move on. It doesn’t mean that you have to continue a confiding friendship with this person. The same is true with family members. If there can be no reconciliation, forgiveness is all that can be offered.

Live And Learn

One rule of thumb: If you do not want anyone to know, trust nobody but The Lord! He is always there to listen and will always forgive when asked. He will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen.

Learn More About How To Understand Your Bible

Wonder about your devotional life? Read Are we Christians or Hypocrites

Until next time, make each and every day count for something!