BETRAYAL AND BITTERNESS

Betrayal is what people do to you, while bitterness is what you do to yourself.

People will betray you in life—especially if you are a minister of the gospel. Ministry and betrayal often go hand in hand.

Some of the very people you love unconditionally, sacrifice for, and labour over in teaching, prayer, nurturing, helping, and even financing, may rise against you. They may lie, speak ill, attack, fight you, and even influence other innocent people to turn against you.

Why? Because the devil rarely comes directly. He often works through the weak, immature, and gullible hearts of those around you—hearts that have opened up to deception.

Still, as painful as it is to watch a friend become an enemy… as heartbreaking as it is to see a brother or sister turn against you… as wounding as it is to witness a spiritual son or daughter rise up in opposition… and as shocking as it is to hear the things people say about you—leaving you asking, “Am I really the one Brother or Sister XYZ is talking about? When did I ever collaborate with the devil to do all that?”—I assure you, it is deeply, deeply painful. And I speak from personal experience—again and again.

BUT in all of this, you must trust God to obtain mercy and find grace to help you.

One vital decision you must make—though difficult due to the emotional weight—is this:
Decide not to be bitter.
Because bitterness, not betrayal, is what limits you.

Don’t relocate to the prison just because other people are there.

Betrayal is external. Bitterness is internal.
What comes from outside you does not define your future like what is within you.
Internal diseases kill faster than external wounds. External bleeding can be treated; internal bleeding can be deadly.

Betrayal may contribute to your growth, but bitterness will subtract from your life. Its goal is to drain and deflate you.

Betrayal may make them happy—but bitterness will make you sick:
It will leave you weak, powerless, angry, sad, hurting, hating, unloving, unforgiving, aggressive, nervous, fearful, overly cautious, burnt out, and even depressed.
And if not dealt with, it can lead to hypertension, stroke, or cardiac arrest.

So realize this: Whoever the devil uses to betray you is ultimately aiming to destroy you—but the question is: Will you let it destroy you?

Bitterness puts your life under the control of your betrayers.

You should always expect betrayal. It comes with the call.
But for your spiritual health and destiny preservation, you must not give bitterness any space.

Bitterness will never make your life better.

Forgiveness is the key to healthy living.
You don’t forgive for the offender’s sake—but for your own.

Forgiveness doesn’t justify the offender—it liberates the offended.

But bitterness will imprison your destiny.

Again I say: Don’t relocate to the prison just because people are there.

Ephesians 4:30–32 (God’s Word Translation):
Don’t give God’s Holy Spirit any reason to be upset with you. He has put his seal on you for the day you will be set free from the world of sin.
Get rid of your bitterness, hot tempers, anger, loud quarreling, cursing, and hatred.
Be kind to each other, sympathetic, forgiving each other as God has forgiven you through Christ.

I am praying and preparing—under the strict supervision of the Holy Spirit—to teach, as He releases me, on how to manage betrayal, disappointment, and rejection in life and ministry.

And as He leads, I will be combining the forces of revelation, observation, and experience to deliver the teaching.

I am excited in my spirit about the depth, alignment, healing, and restoration that will flow from it.

But for now…

I_SAY_NO_TO_BITTERNESS

From,
Rev’d Goodluck Akovie

First posted 01-07-20, revised 10-07-25.