Feelings of betrayal cut deep to the core, there’s no question about it. Whether the hurt came from your husband, special person in your life, friend, or your own child, the hurt can be devastating; all you think about is the pain. Usually, this emotional tornado is brought about by an event or action that the person you love has taken. It’s something that you perceive as having been done against you, and it’s probably because the person you care about acted without regard for your feelings and well-being. They did something that you believe totally devalued the worth of your love. It’s as if they took your investment of emotions, time, resources, and energy, and threw it in the garbage. You can’t help but feel betrayed.

Our emotions and feelings aid us. Through them we can understand the depth of God’s love. They also help us to comprehend on some level His displeasure of the things that do not please and honor Him. Because of the hurt of betrayal, we can understand to a degree what God felt when Adam and Eve betrayed His Word and bowed to the devil. We can have compassion and empathy for how alone and betrayed Jesus felt when they hung him on the cross. He didn’t deserve any of the bad treatment he received, yet he endured it for our sakes. Because of our emotions, we not only understand what he sacrificed and suffered, but we can appreciate it.

So emotions are beyond extremely helpful. They add to us in amazing ways, but we must also understand that emotions can get us into serious trouble, especially when we’re responding to a hurtful situation. I recently heard about a set of circumstances between a very dutiful mother and her 18-year-old daughter. The mother has worked hard to provide for her three children, and in her mind and heart, her daughter has done something so hurtful and disrespectful to their relationship, that she has disowned her.

We can become so revved up emotionally that we can hardly see straight. We must remember that every time we allow our emotions to become our master, we diminish the intervention of the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NLT) tells us, “For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Regardless of the situation or circumstance, Christ is Lord! He is master. He has set us free from being governed by anything other than the goodness of God. Galatians 5:1(NLT) tells us, “Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.”

To be enslaved to a situation is to respond to it with anything other than the confidence of God and the authority of Christ. All of us are not there in our spiritual walks, but we must always remind ourselves that this is the goal—the goal to have forgiveness, love, patience, and compassion in our hearts and to allow these spiritual goodies to reign and shine forth in all instances.

Jesus told us in Matthew 18:18(NKJV), “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” He’s instructing us regarding our authority here. You and I have been given this authority by him. If we bind a thing on earth, we cement it spiritually as well. So let’s make sure that we’re never so revved up and hurt by anyone’s betrayal that we seal negativity in our hearts. Let’s walk in the liberty of the love of Christ and recognize that he heals all wounds, and keeps us responding to God with joy in our hearts.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Revved Up Emotions Can Be Costly”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2018.  All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.