When your friend betrays you

 

 

A prayer taken from Psalm 55.

Oh, Lord,

I am so dismayed and hurt.

I’m filled with grief.

You know that a friend(s) has/have betrayed me.

Left me.

Ignored me.

Talked about me to others.

Spread lies.

They made this tragedy about what I “did to them” instead of what it really was–

what they did to me.

I am innocent and trustworthy.

Why would they misunderstand me?

Misrepresent me?

Dump me?

I know you understand what this is like because the whole world has done it to you.

Peter did it.

Judas did it.

All Christians do it.

I cannot compare how I feel to how you must have felt (or still do),

but I need to lament this grief to you.

You understand.

I know you hear me.

I know you love me.

I know you’re with me.

Heal my heart.

Vindicate me in my righteousness.

Restore me to living, instead of hurting.

Repair this friendship or punish the wrongdoers

so that your name will have honor and glory,

rather than dishonor and shame.

Christians should love one another.

We should not hold grudges or gossip.

We should forgive.

Oh, Lord, help me to forgive those who have sinned against me instead of hoping for their punishment to be swift and harsh.

Thank you for hearing my prayer.

I trust in you.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

“It is not an enemy who taunts me–I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me–I could have hidden from them. Instead it is you–my equal, my companion and close friend. What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God….Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice.” (Psalm 55:12-14, 17)