Good morning…
Okay, so Jesus and I are not the only ones who have experienced the cosmic sting of betrayal. I wrote the final line of yesterday’s post, She Doesn’t Like You, Sue. Then I climbed back into bed for my second sleep. By the time I woke again, my electronics were filled with stories shared from others who relate to the experience of feeling betrayed by a friend.
I ended our post with this question. “Might it be enough for me to be seen, understood, and led forward by the One who turned painful betrayal into an eternal blessing for all of us who hurt?”
All of us who hurt. There are so many of us who hurt. In my mind’s eye, the word hurt takes on a dynamic new dimension.
I realize the double meaning of the word. Jesus died to bring eternal life to all of us who hurt. Each of us hurt (experience pain) and all of us hurt (cause pain), so everyone of us live in deep need of healing. Whether we have pain, cause pain, or experience the double-edged nature of hurt, we need the resurrection power of Jesus flowing in our human veins. Our focus needs to stay on our connection with God, if our hurt is to be transformed. The issue is no longer about us and the offender; spiritual growth is about us and the holy healing of God.
Jesus says it this way in John 15:5 in the EASY translation. “I am the vine, and you are the branches. You must continue to live in me and I must continue to live in you. Only if you do that will you make plenty of fruit. That is because you can do nothing without me.”
Look at how Jesus dealt with his betrayal, by praying through every excruciating emotion and fully surrendering his own will to the greater will of our Father. Continuing to live in oneness with the Trinitarian presence in our daily lives, painful betrayal can become eternal blessing for all who experience the double-edged sword of hurt. If we disconnect from oneness with God and focus our attention on anything or anyone else when we hurt, we cut off from the resurrection power designed to course through our veins.
When we feel hurt and when we cause hurt, might we stay focused on Jesus, like a fruitful branch remains securely attached to the ancient vine?
…Sue…
