If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend. - Psalm 55:12-13
Betrayal is nothing new. In most cases, our deepest pains and heartaches come from those closest to us and often times from other believers. I have discovered that my expectations are higher for those in the church. As the expectations are higher, so are the disappointments. Lowering expectations and assuming the worst does sound extreme, but surprisingly yields the most happiness. Expecting others to fail us can be a source of great comfort when dealing with difficult people or circumstances. Leadership takes guts and along with leadership comes hardship, hurts, and discouragement, but if you are focused on serving and pleasing the only one that matters, true joy can result. If you are going to focus on things you can't control (other people or what they say behind your back) you are inviting pain and suffering. In the end, the only thing that really matters is what God thinks, not others. Betrayals are difficult, however, Jesus was betrayed and so were Joseph and David. The people closest to them were the ones that turned their backs on them. Modeling their reactions to horrible situations can take your spirituality to a whole new level. None of us are perfect. If we are able to move to a place of forgiveness in our hearts despite what others say or do, it is a freedom that transcends all understanding but a great source of comfort during trials. The vindicator will come to judge the quick and the dead and eventually make all things right.
