In need of encouragement. Looking for fellowship and being nudged in the right direction.
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I am sorry to hear that.
It won't be much consolation right now, but the sting of betrayal and abandonment is what led me to seek the intervention of God as an unbeliever.
When we are rejected, despised and betrayed, we are uniquely positioned to share in an intimate part of God's character. I would urge you to lay the burden of your heart at the feet of the Lord.
Welcome.
K
keepingthingsreal
Guest
K
keepingthingsreal
Guest
Is it safe to assume that you mean by a person or persons, and not by God?
Whatever the case may be, my whole life has been one of constant betrayal, so I could probably give you some good counsel as to how to overcome it.
His compassionate nature.
That part of God which has been grieved when His people chose to break faith with Him, can commune and empathise with us when we are are betrayed. He's been acquainted with grief, so in turn, can wholly relate to our own suffering.
John 11:35 plus Isaiah 53:3a ~ Jesus wept. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.
I understand what you are saying I do in a way, however,
I am thinking God did not need to experience betrayal/grief in order to be compassionate towards us, I think it is what allows us to relate to Him more intimately.
I agree with your assessment, compassion is inherent to God. But in having suffered Himself, nobody can say that God hasn't walked a mile in the same shoes.
K
keepingthingsreal
Guest
I am not seeking to put words in anybody else's mouth, but here is my response to that question. For many years, I have been trying to get believers to seriously consider the following.
1Pe 2:18
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
1Pe 2:19
For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1Pe 2:20
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
1Pe 2:21
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1Pe 2:22
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1Pe 2:23
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Whether any of us like it or not, there are going to be many times in our Christian lives when we are going to suffer wrongfully. In fact, as Christians, and as we just read, this is part of our callings (vs. 21). How we respond in such situations has a lot to do with our characters. What we are supposed to do is endure grief, and take wrongful buffeting patiently, with a conscience towards God, and while looking to Jesus as our example. In other words, our focus needs to be on what God thinks during such times of suffering, and not on what we or any other human being might think. If we are honest with ourselves, then we are prone to defending ourselves. Why? Because, whether consciously or unconsciously, we often give men/women a godlike status in our lives or we elevate their opinions of us way beyond what we ought to.
When Jesus was reviled, he reviled not again.
When Jesus suffered, he threatened not.
Why not?
What was his secret which helped him to show such character in the midst of persecutions, betrayals, and abandonments beyond anything that most of us will ever endure ourselves?
He simply looked up to God, the righteous Judge, and got his assessment of the situation.
God's assessment of Jesus was always "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased," so what men or women said about him to the contrary did not shake or move him in the least. This is how we need to train ourselves to think and behave as well. When people slander, persecute, betray, mock, or abandon us, we need to look up to God, the righteous Judge, and get his assessment of the situation. If his assessment is that we are righteous in his eyes, then who cares what men and women think to the contrary? If, however, his assessment is that we are unrighteous in any given situation, then we need to humbly repent before him and the offended party.
Do you have any idea how many times I have been slandered and betrayed in my life? If I let it get to me, then I would have blown my brains out a long time ago. Instead, I just pray for my betrayers and false accusers while continuing on with my walk with the Lord.
Anyhow, to me, the types of things that I just described have a lot to do with our character.
P.S.
So as not to possibly sound "holier than thou," there were many years, before I figured this out for myself, that I was basically rendered useless because I was allowing the faulty opinions or judgments of others to render me totally ineffective. Those years are gone because I learned how to put in practice what I just spoke about.
CC Precious @ATSTD, I will pray for you - please Be Very Richly Encouraged And Edified
In Christ, and In His Precious Word Of Truth!:
God's Grace Word for our infirmities!
Amen.
K
keepingthingsreal
Guest
This helps him in his role as our faithful and merciful high priest.
Heb 2:17
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18
For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.