March 1, 2001
"But I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. "
Psalm 89:33-34
I was thinking about betrayal this morning and what an effect it has on our lives and on my life. It is hard to trust people on a deep level, to really trust - to give deeply of myself because of things that have hurt me. I have over the years constructed solid walls designed to keep people away from the more tender parts of my heart and life. I have learned to allow people near but not necessarily into my heart. The work to deconstruct those walls has been some of the most difficult I've ever attempted. All this has without a doubt, affected my relationship with God over times.. it's hard to trust God when some of your experiences with people aren't so good. Verses like the one above have really helped me by grounding me in the truth of God's character. People have and will fail me. Even friends that I am confident in their love and support will unintentionally fail me. But God will never betray his faithfulness or his word. I can always trust that he will be and do exactly what he says. He will not change or shift positions, he doesn't get moody. I can be completely confident that whatever goes on in my life is for the best... because he's promised that and he does not change!
"God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,
we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. "
Hebrews 6:17-19