Dear Betrayed,

First of all, we should never use any kind of social media to vent anything. I am not a social media person. Can it be useful? Yes, at times, but it is so abused. I do believe this modern invention is sucking up our time, distracting us from more important things such as time with the Lord, and is addicting our children and youth.

Second, because you feel hurt and betrayed, you have to be careful not to fall into the enemy’s trap of vengeance. The Apostle Paul had many opportunities to be vengeful, but instead, he told us in Romans 12:19,21: “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. ... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

This is not easy because we want to avenge ourselves. We want the world to know what they have done and how they hurt us! When we are a follower of Christ, we just have to follow Christ’s lead! He tells His followers in Matthew 5:44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” Here Jesus speaks to us concerning many different situations but the first thing He says in this verse is to LOVE! That is an act of our will, and we are commanded to do that. Is it easy? NO! But through Christ we can do what He commands.

This person who betrayed you and hurt you deliberately has become hostile toward you which is what the enemy wants. We are going to have people in our lives who speak bad about us, who hate us, who spitefully use us, and who persecute us. But I am not to retaliate by doing the same to them. When I pray and do good, it will always conquer evil. I can then forgive and be forgiven.

Is this easy? NO WAY but when I do what Jesus commanded and leave the actions of others to the Lord, I will become the Victor and not the Victim. That is a choice we get to make.