Spotting Betrayal Ahead of Time

September 18th, 2011

Written by Anita Carman

Dear Faithful One,

When someone betrays you, have you ever found yourself thinking, “I saw that coming.” Yet, considering you saw it coming, why are you still devastated by it? Let’s look at how Jesus handled betrayal.

Jesus spotted Simon Peter’s betrayal before it happened.  He told Peter in Luke 22:31-32, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

What I learned from Jesus was how his focus was on Peter, not on how Peter’s betrayal would impact Him personally. Instead of feeling abandoned, Jesus prayed for Peter. Jesus did not want Peter to miss the blessing of serving God. So He prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail. Jesus also looked past the betrayal to what He wanted Peter to become. He did not relate to Peter as the person who betrayed Him but as the one who would one day encourage others with his faith.

In relating to the person who betrayed you, are you more focused on the pain they caused you as compared to the blessing they missed out on by their abandonment? Is it time to redirect your focus and pray for your betrayer?

When God appoints servants for His mission, their lack of maturity will not disqualify them. God already knew their short comings before He called them. So let us align our prayers with God’s will for the person He called. Let us pray for the one who betrayed us to rise to the occasion and become the person to fulfill God’s calling. Is it time to pray and to trust in God’s appointments?

I pray this devotion encourages you in a special way. When I pray for you I hear a victory song. I believe in you because I believe in the power of God’s Word in you as you put His Word into action.

Love, Anita