Recovering From Deep Hurt & Betrayal
In life you will have troubles. No one is immune to this. Followers of Christ are not guaranteed to be exempt from hurt and betrayal. In fact, as they proclaim their faith and live for the Lord, they seem to, often times. face more than someone living in sin.
If anyone knows deep hurt and betrayal, it’s Jesus Christ.
If you have ever been on the receiving end of harsh judgment with false narratives about you floating around, it adds another layer of trauma when it’s from fellow Christians. Have you ever been spoken to so hatefully as you stood up for yourself, and it seemed as if they thought they could silence you as they continued to spew evilness? You are within your rights to use your voice to speak up against the powers of darkness disguised as Christians. While you cannot control other people’s opinions of you, just know that you will never “get through” to someone who has been taking anything you said or did out of context. Understanding will never come from people set on misunderstanding you and your intentions.
Imagine someone painting an inaccurate picture of you, recruiting others to side with them, or having others in the group coming alongside to support the false narratives because they want to fit in with the rest of the group. No matter how true and genuine your heart truly is, no one that is against you will ever see you for the person with a heart of gold you truly are to this world. Haters are going to hate, and it often times happens to truly good people just looking to express love to this hurting world.
They may hide in a back room while attempting to humiliate you in front of a select few, just know that GOD sees ALL. The entire staff at your workplace or the entire congregation at your “church” will never know the truth of what really happened, but GOD DOES. They may paint you in the absolute worst light possible to try to justify their ill treatment of you, but God will not overlook this no matter what “status” they think they have and what right they feel they have to do this.
“You are the God who sees me.” Genesis 16:13
Let this reassure you if someone tries to make you feel small. While you’re rightly traumatized by the events and mistreatment, you are NOT alone even though you may feel like you are alone in the wilderness just as Hagar in the Bible. If other members of the team don’t come to rally around you and speak truth instead of believing false narratives, GOD is on your side.
” … the Lord has heard your cry of distress” Genesis 16:11
God came in and surrounded Hagar with His love. He drew near to her, treating her with dignity, affirming her worth and value. He provided HOPE for her because that is the heart of GOD! He won’t get angry when you express your hurt and how the actions of the evil ones are attempting to drive you into a deep depression.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
God sees it all, every single part that we try to hide from others so they won’t realize how damaged we feel at the hands of the evil ones. He is right there with you bottling up the tears that you have cried.
“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalm 56:8
God is right there walking alongside you as you’re recovering from deep hurt & betrayal.
He Calls Me Daughter
I just watched the faith-based documentary He Calls Me Daughter through Angel, and my heart was breaking as these women shared their real life stories about their own fathers. It’s obvious that our parents influence a lot in our lives, but it became even more apparent how a father’s presence, or lack thereof, affects their children, specifically little girls.
When there is a father wound, there is intense pain left behind by an unmet need for love, safety, and also much needed affirmations from a father. This father wound can shape how we see ourselves and also how we relate to God as our Heavenly Father.
As I watched this documentary, my heart ached for women everywhere who are suffering from not having what they should have had through their own fathers. I have always been a “Daddy’s Girl,” and my father is so very important to me. He’s always been my rock, the one I know I can count on to be there no matter what. If I ever need a word of encouragement, I turn to my father. If I’m troubled, I know I can always call my father. He may not always have the answer or be able to solve the problem, but he’s always a listening ear and shoulder to cry on if needed. He makes me feel seen, heard, understood, and valued. There’s comfort in knowing he will be there when I call on him – day or night. He’s one of my biggest fans and will cheer the loudest for me on my accomplishments. When I see him in person, he wraps his loving arms around me and tells me he loves me. There’s such comfort in his presence. Everyone should have this type of father in their life.
Fathers play such a critical role in shaping their daughters’ sense of worth and security. Fathers have the distinct power to shape, protect, and affirm their daughters. If there are any fathers reading this now and you find you’ve fallen short, this is your wake-up call and invitation to change it now! Start showing up for your daughters! Love them deeply and SHOW them! Mend the relationship. While you cannot make up for lost time in the past, you can attempt to restore and right the wrongs! You are still able to right this ship, if you choose to do so. Every daughter needs her father!
To know there are girls growing up without the type of father I had breaks my heart. It weighs so heavy on my heart knowing there are grown women asking “What is so wrong with me that my own father doesn’t want a relationship with me” or “Why am I not valuable enough to him to even try to save the relationship?” For a little girl to grown up thinking she’s not worthy enough to be treated better by her own father shatters pieces of my heart. I’ve had two young ladies very close to me just sob uncontrollably as they spoke of their own fathers placing a step-mom, multiple girlfriends, or anyone and everyone else in front of their own daughter. They ask questions I cannot answer like, “Why didn’t he protect me from my step-mom? Why did he allow abuse at her hands? Why did he not take up for me, his own flesh and blood?”
I’ve seen lives go down the wrong path due to the relationship young ladies have with their fathers. They long for a connection they did not have growing up, and they turn to emotionally unavailable men as they grow to become young women. They involve themselves with men who continue to mistreat and abuse them, who constantly have them questioning their worth and value. They lower their standards and become objects to men just because of their desire to be loved.
What wrecks me is the thoughts women have of their earthly fathers compared to our Heavenly Father. Some don’t want to give God a second thought because they fear He must be just like their earthly fathers. Their wounds are so deep they need therapy to heal from years at the hands of their earthly fathers. When we try to talk to them about God, they turn a deaf ear. They don’t want to face fear or rejection from another “fatherly” figure. It’s hard to convince them of our Heavenly Father’s love.
The Bible tells us:
DISCLOSURE: Many thanks to Angel for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.
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Holy Week
Yesterday, Palm Sunday, started the beginning of Holy Week. Sunday was the day Jesus humbled Himself and rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. (Matthew 21:1-11). The King of Kings rode in on a donkey as people gathered and shouted, “Hosanna!”
Monday, Jesus cleanses the temple by overturning the tables and driving out corruption. (Matthew 21:12-17)
Tuesday, Jesus is teaching in the temple and speaking in parables, which is backed up by scripture. (Matthew 21:23 and 22:46)
By Wednesday, Judas agrees to betray Jesus for silver. (Matthew 26:14-16)
Maundy Thursday, love is displayed through acts of service as Jesus shares the Last Supper and washes His disciples’ feet. (Matthew 26:17-30)
Friday. Oh dear God. Friday is good for all who believe and accept Christ into their hearts, but it was an agonizing day for our Lord, Jesus, as He was crucified, died, and was buried. He died for you and I, so our sins would be wiped clean by His blood. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice. (Matthew 27:32-61)
BUT the story does NOT end there!
Saturday is still and silent, as Jesus lays resting in the tomb. (Matthew 27:62-66)
Then … oh thank you, Dear God … SUNDAY … EASTER SUNDAY … The victory has been won as Jesus Christ has risen … the tomb is empty, Praise The Lord! Our Savior LIVES!!!! (Matthew 28:1-10)
A lot can happen in a week’s time, and that week changed EVERYTHING!
If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, allow Him to make you new in Him TODAY! Accept Him into your heart, believe in Him, confess your sins and turn from them. Be SAVED by the blood of the Lamb!
Thank you, Jesus, for paying the price for all of our sins by laying down YOUR life for us. You love us so much You gave Your life for us. You were beaten and bruised, mocked and humiliated. You hung from the cross with nails piercing Your hands and feet struggling until Your very last breath when you exclaimed, “Forgive them, Father. They know not what they do.”
“IT IS FINISHED!”
Arise, My Love. Arise, My Love.
The grave no longer has a hold on You.
No more death sting.
No more suffering!!
Arise … Arise, My Love!
Death could NOT hold our King! Three days later, that tomb was empty!
WE SERVE A RISEN SAVIOR!
Hallelujah! Thank you, Jesus!
Please remember what this Holy Week means and allow God into your heart and life. Accept the gift He has given to you. As our pastor has said so many times, “If God never does anything else for you in your life, He has done the ultimate by giving His son, Jesus.”
Thank you, God. Thank you, Jesus.
