{"id":34914,"date":"2023-01-22T03:30:08","date_gmt":"2023-01-22T11:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=34914"},"modified":"2023-01-20T17:42:54","modified_gmt":"2023-01-21T01:42:54","slug":"january-22-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2023\/01\/22\/january-22-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"January 22, 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Even My Best Friend<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/em>\u201cEven my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.\u201d <\/em>Psalm 41:9 NLT<\/p>\n

One day, I discovered that my closest friend had been telling lies about me. My so-called perfect world was turned upside down. I tried to make sense of it, but didn\u2019t know what to do with this strange, painful, sickening feeling. It threw me into a spin. I experienced anger, bitterness, resentment, grief, and depression. The pain was almost too much to bear.<\/p>\n

My healing process was not overnight. The wounds were deep and I felt the pain for many years. I began reviewing Bible verses I had learned in Sunday school as a child. \u201cBut to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.\u201d <\/em>(Luke 6:27-28 NLT). I wondered how these familiar verses would apply to what I was now feeling: betrayal.<\/p>\n

The hurt and bitterness made me feel like I didn\u2019t belong. I didn\u2019t feel like myself\u2026so alone, even in the midst of a crowd. I quickly discovered who truly cared for me. While reading the Bible and staying close to friends and family, God gave me a heart to love and forgive. The once overwhelming feelings were, in time, replaced with love, understanding, freedom, and victory. I came to realize that people who hurt us have been hurt themselves and have not fully faced their own pain.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, just as God through Christ has forgiven you\u201d<\/em> (Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT).<\/p>\n

Facing pain is never easy. What my experience taught me is that the reward of healing through God is awesome beyond words. I have become a much stronger person because of this journey and, for that, I am so thankful. Betrayals have since occurred in my life, and each time it has happened, God has reminded me how much I have grown. I do not need to be concerned about defending myself. God will vindicate me in His time\u2014and He has.<\/p>\n

I can sleep at night knowing God is in control and He will take care of the injured and the injurious. I am still learning how to separate the sin from the sinner. \u201cAnd when my heart is right, then you will rejoice in the good that I do…\u201d<\/em>\u00a0(Psalm 51:19 TLB). In my experience, it is God that heals, but is our choice to acknowledge our pain and allow Him to restore us.<\/p>\n

Lord, we thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your healing power today. Help us acknowledge our pain and face it boldly. We ask that You guide us in making the right choices when we find ourselves in unbearable circumstances. Help us to move on, to become stronger, and to love the unlovely, so that we may help others with broken hearts. In Jesus\u2019 name. Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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