**This is the first Devotional in a series on deeply rooted hurt**
There is a unique kind of pain that comes from betrayal—not by an enemy, but by a friend. When someone you trusted, someone you shared life with, turns against you, the wound is deeper than words can express. It is not the attack of a stranger that breaks you, but the hand of a companion, someone who once called you “brother” or “sister.”
Betrayal isn’t just a moment of wrongdoing; it is the breaking of something sacred—trust, history, shared experiences, and deep conversations. It is the realization that the one who walked beside you, who knew your heart, used that very knowledge against you. When betrayal comes from within, it doesn’t just shake your present—it uproots your past and casts a shadow on the future.
How do we move forward when the betrayal wasn’t just an action, but a deep, personal wound? When the one who hurt us sat beside us in worship, prayed with us, and spoke words of encouragement, only to turn and cut us down?
This is where we turn to Psalm 55—a cry of the heart from someone who knows this pain intimately.
Scripture Readings:
Psalm 55:12-14
“For it is not an enemy who taunts me—then I could bear it;
it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me—then I could hide from him.
But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.
We used to take sweet counsel together;
within God’s house we walked in the throng.”
Psalm 55:20-21
“My companion attacks his friends;
he violates his covenant.
His speech is smooth as butter,
yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,
yet they are drawn swords.”
Ephesians 4:31-32
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Reflection:
I have wrestled with the weight of betrayal for a long time. It wasn’t a stranger who hurt me—it was a trusted friend. A brother in Christ. Someone I stood beside in ministry, someone I confided in, someone who shared in my joys and struggles.
One day, I was walking side by side with this person in faith. The next, I was discarded. Not just abandoned, but betrayed. The whispers behind my back, the twisting of words, the manipulation of truth—it was a calculated unraveling of the trust we had built. When I sought answers, I was met with silence. When I asked for honesty, I was given excuses.
And the hardest part? They still carried themselves as if they had done nothing wrong. Their words remained “smooth as butter” yet empty and disingenuous. Their demeanor remained composed, their hands remained raised in worship. I knew the truth.
David, the psalmist, knew this pain well. His words in Psalm 55 resonate deeply because he wasn’t crying out against a known enemy—he was mourning the betrayal of a friend. “But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.” This was not a faceless adversary; it was someone he loved and trusted.
If you’ve been there, you know that betrayal isn’t just painful—it is isolating. It makes you question yourself. It makes you question God. It leaves you angry, not just at the betrayer, but at the injustice of it all. How could they walk away so easily? How could they hurt me and still claim righteousness?
For a long time, (four years to be exact) I harbored anger. And if I’m honest, I felt justified in it. They were wrong. They hurt me. They never even apologized. But here’s what I’ve learned: holding onto anger kept me bound to them. It didn’t bring justice. It didn’t restore what was lost. It only kept me tethered to the pain.
Even Jesus experienced betrayal—Judas, one of His own, sold Him for thirty pieces of silver. But Jesus, knowing full well what was coming, did not let bitterness define Him. He entrusted judgment to God.
Betrayal does not define you. Your response to it does.
Application:
1. Acknowledge the Pain – Don’t suppress it. Betrayal is not just an offense; it is a wound. And wounds need tending. Take time to grieve what was lost. Speak it aloud. Write it down. Bring it to God in raw honesty.
2. Recognize That Some Questions Will Never Be Answered – One of the hardest things about betrayal is the lack of closure. You may never get the explanation, the apology, or the acknowledgment you long for. You have to make peace with the fact that healing will come without their validation.
3. Set Boundaries – It is not bitterness to protect yourself. You do not have to keep the door open to someone who has proven they will harm you. Forgiveness and reconciliation are not the same thing. You can release someone from your anger without welcoming them back into your trust.
4. Entrust Justice to God – Psalm 55 does not call us to seek revenge, but to cast our burdens on the Lord. “But you, O God, will cast them down…” (Psalm 55:23). It is not our job to make them see the error of their ways. It is God’s. And He will.
5. Move Toward Healing in Your Own Time – Healing is not instant. Forgiveness is not instant. If it took David time to process his pain, it will take time for you too. But each step forward—each prayer, each surrender, each choice to let go—weakens the grip of anger and strengthens the peace of God within you.
Closing Prayer:
Father, You see my heart. You see the wound that betrayal has left, the anger that lingers, and the desire for justice. You know how deeply I was hurt, how I trusted and was cast aside. I do not want to carry this burden forever. Help me to process this pain, to grieve what was lost, and to move forward with You. Teach me to set boundaries where I need them, to seek healing rather than revenge, and to trust You with the justice that my heart craves. In Your time, give me the strength to release this anger—not for their sake, but for mine. I place this burden in Your hands. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Next in the Series:
• Acknowledging the Hurt – Not dismissing pain but allowing it to be processed properly.
• Setting Boundaries on Bitterness and Communication – Understanding that it’s okay to limit access to those who caused harm.
• Seeking the Heart of God in the Midst of the Hurt – Trusting that God is patient and present even when faith is shaken.
• Seeking Wisdom from Others Who Have Been There – Finding guidance from those who have walked a similar path.
• Forgiveness in Your Own Time – Understanding that true forgiveness happens in God’s timing, not ours.
Betrayal cuts deep, but it does not have to hold you captive forever. Psalm 55 reminds us that God sees, God knows, and God will not let injustice go unanswered. Let that truth bring you comfort as you move forward—one step at a time.
The Engrafted life 
Leave a comment