We
can learn a lot about how to deal with conflicts and issues in our lives
through the Word. I took note of this
revelation back during the Lent season and I realized that this might be helpful
to someone holding on to hurt that’s blocking his or her blessings.
After
Jesus washed the disciples feet in John 12:12-17 and explained the
humbleness He expected of his disciples, He then predicted His betrayal in
versus 18-20. This must have hurt Jesus
deeply because verse 21 says “When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in
spirit…”
Jesus
had just washed his betrayer’s feet and speaking of the betrayal that was soon
to come, had to be troubling. Can you
imagine? I’m sure you have been in the
position where someone that you would have bent over backwards for, turned his
or her back on you or betrayed your trust.
How do you deal with such a
level of betrayal or anything that troubles your spirit? First, acknowledge the hurt you feel. You cannot deal with anything if you don’t
first address it. The person that may
have offended you, intentional or not, may not want to face it but you
must.
Secondly if you can address
the person, you should address them privately.
Although Jesus announced that He will be betrayed and even addressed his
betrayer directly, those in the same room didn’t know what was going on (verse
28). Resolution doesn’t come with public
scrutiny. It is difficult to resolve an
issue with too many opinions and perspectives.
Thirdly, and most importantly,
Jesus understood that the offense was part of a larger plan (verse 18 ‘…but that
the scripture may be fulfilled…’). And
this is the approach you must take when an offense is committed against
you. God will use what was intended for
evil for good (Genesis 50:20). The
betrayal just set in motion what needed to be done. So your hurt is not the end of the story,
there is something good that can and will come of it… if you just let God use
it. Let your test be a testimony for
God.
