Why would someone so close to us ever have the intention of hurting or harming us?
Shouldn't someone that really cares for us ultimately want what's best for us? If the person truly cares, why would they choose to treat us so badly? How can it be that the very person we trusted could go and do something so hurtful?
These are the questions that kept running through my head in disbelief of what I had just discovered. I was so shocked that people I trusted had intentionally done something to hurt me. I had done nothing wrong and couldn't quite understand why they would do such a thing. I felt hurt, betrayed and struggled to come to terms with what I had learned.
Now that I knew their true intentions, how was I to face these people again? How could I ever trust them again? In my mind I knew that I needed to heal from this pain and the only place I could find this healing was in Jesus Christ. With tears running down my cheeks, I cried out to God in prayer and was reminded of the suffering His son Jesus went through.
Betrayed by His disciple
As I thought about the hurt I felt, I was drawn to Christ. I remembered that Jesus knows and deeply understands the hurt that we go through. He was betrayed, mocked, persecuted, beaten and flogged and ultimately gave His life for the very people that did Him wrong and for us all.
Just as I felt betrayed and hurt by those close to me, I remembered that even Jesus himself was betrayed by his own disciple, Judas Iscariot. Judas Iscariot had walked with Jesus, had seen Jesus perform many miracles, spoke and ate with Jesus. Yet he still betrayed Jesus for his own selfish gain [Matthew chapter 26 verse 14 to 16]? I can only imagine the pain Jesus went through [John chapter 13 verse 21].
Healing through Jesus Christ
As a Christian, I know that I am not immune to trials and sorrows. In this world, we will face issues like immorality, wickedness, grief, death, betrayal, disease or deceit. Jesus warned us that we would face such trials in our lives, but in Him we can find peace and encouragement because He has overcome the world [John chapter 16 verse 33].
I'm understanding more and more each day that God truly does love and care for his children. It gives me great comfort to know that God was always with Jesus. God is here to carry me through and will bring healing to my heart. He is the one that gives me the strength to persevere and the one that rescues me in times of trouble [Psalm 46 verse 1]. I know I can count on Him because his mercies never cease and He is forever faithful [Lamentations chapter 3 verse 22 to 23].
Will you forgive them just as God forgave you?
As I am going through this healing process, I begin to wonder if I will ever forgive the people that have hurt me. I must confess that right now, I find it quite hard to see how I will. But I know that God has asked me to forgive others, just as He has shown me His mercy and forgiven me of my wrong doing [Matthew chapter 18 verse 21 to 35]. So I pray that God will give me the grace to forgive them.
Dealing with the hurt in my life may not be easy, but I will continue to lean on the Lord for His ever present support. I know that the Lord is good to those who depend on him and seek him [Lamentations chapter 3 verse 25]. He is near to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit [Psalm 34 verse 18].
Kandima Awendila was born in ambique and lives and works as an IT Service Desk Engineer on the Gold Coast.
Kandima Awendila's archive of articles may be viewed at