Beyond the Hurt: When People Fail Us, God Remains Faithful | Day 1 | Broken by People, Held by God | Overcoming Betrayal and Broken Trust

Today, we begin a series that is near to my heart…literally. And I dare say that all of us have been affected and many of us are still being affected.

When we were created, God made us for relationship - with Him and with one another. 

However, because of sin, relationships became fragile. Trust can be broken, promises are sometimes not kept, and people can wound us deeply. 

And if we’re honest, there are also times when we’ve been the ones to cause the hurt.

This series, “Beyond the Hurt: When People Fail Us, God Remains Faithful,” is a journey of honesty, healing, and hope. 

We will look at the reality of human failure, the temptation toward vengeance, the pain of broken promises, and the freedom of forgiveness. 

But most importantly, and because we know that some people will remain stubborn and we cannot change that, we’ll see how God’s faithfulness never fails. We will see how we, me, you, us, can live in peace and expectation of Christ’s return, no matter what man does to us.

Now, we all know the pain of being let down. 

Sometimes it comes through broken vows in marriage, failed business partnerships, betrayal in friendships, or division in churches. And if we are honest, we have also failed others. 

Human relationships can fracture because of jealousy, pride, greed, or anger. But there is good news: even when people fail us, God never abandons us.

Let’s look at some accounts in the Bible:

Miriam and Aaron turned against their brother Moses, criticising his leadership (Numbers 12:1–2, NKJV). 

Imagine how painful that must have been. Family turned their backs on him, but God defended him. The Lord reminded them in Numbers 12:8 & 9, NKJV: “I speak to him face to face, clearly, and not in riddles! He sees the Lord as he is. So why were you not afraid to criticize my servant Moses? So the anger of the Lord was aroused against them, and He departed.”

So Moses did not need to retaliate—God stood for him.

Ok so your family is good. No problems there. Hmmmm.

So let’s look at those who may be going through struggles in their businesses or on the job as an employee.

In business, Jacob worked faithfully for Laban. Remember that story in Genesis 31?

However, Jacob was cheated and deceived over and over again. 

Instead of taking vengeance, Jacob trusted God’s justice: “If the God of my father had not been on my side, you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen your heartless abuse and my hard work” (Genesis 31:42, NLT).

Let’s get more personal, Family. Real issues. Real life. Real God.

Even close friends can wound us deeply. 

David lamented: “It was not an enemy who taunted me…I could have hidden from them. Instead, it was you—my equal, my companion and close friend” Psalm 55:12–13, NLT. 

Do we know who David was referring to? I had to do some further research to get this friend’s name. David was speaking of Ahi tho phel.

Ahithophel was David’s trusted adviser. Have you ever had such a person in your life? 

Anyway, let’s focus on the Word…because we are learning, correct?

In 2 Samuel 15, we read that Ahi tho phel was David’s trusted adviser, but guess what? He betrayed David and sided with Absalom during the rebellion. 

Remember now, Absalom was King David’s son who rebelled against him and tried to take his throne, and he roped in Ahithophel to support him. Listen! 

When the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 1:9 there is nothing new under the sun, this is for real, you know! I don’t know how many of us have experienced this, but I have been at both ends of the stick. Thank God for Jesus.

Friendship betrayal cuts the deepest, I think, but I am learning from David.

David ultimately placed his trust in God and encourages us in Psalm 55:22, AMP: “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you”.

And who can forget Peter? Peter boldly promised Jesus, “Even if all fall away, I will not” (Mark 14:29, NIV).

But before the night ended, he denied Jesus three times. 

Yet Christ restored him, showing us that broken promises don’t have the last word when forgiveness is extended. 

I want to take a moment to read this passage of scripture, John 21:15-17, MSG: “After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? “Yes, Master, you know I love you”. Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” He then asked a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Master, you know I love you.” Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.” Then he said it a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, “Do you love me?” so he answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”

The truth is this: we hurt one another, but vengeance is not the answer. And Christians of all people should know this. Many of us would have done tit for tat and hurt somebody like they hurt us, but there’s this saying: when you know better, do better. Amen.

Romans 12:19, NKJV says “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord”.

Family, God is inviting us today to forgiveness. 

Jesus declared, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37, NLT). 

Forgiveness frees us, allowing us to move forward in peace. 

We don’t literally forget the hurt, because memories often remain. But forgiveness means we choose not to keep rehearsing the wrong or holding it against the other person.

God Himself models this for us: “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Hebrews 8:12, NIV). 

That doesn’t mean God loses His memory; it means He chooses not to hold our sins against us. 

Can we get there, Family? It’s one of the areas that I struggle with, and I can imagine some of you do too. For those who have gone past that phase, God bless you.

But in the same way, when we forgive, we release others from the debt they owe us. We may still remember what happened, but we refuse to live chained to the offense. 

As Paul said, “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on” (Philippians 3:13–14, NLT). 

The focus isn’t on erasing memory but on refusing to let the past control our present or our future.

I’ve said it on here before: “forgive and forget.” You may disagree or debate, but the heart of it is true — it’s about forgiving fully and choosing to let go, not keeping a record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5, AMP). 

That’s the kind of forgiveness that sets us free and mirrors God’s grace to us. Not digging up the past to create confusion. God forbid!

So Family, as we begin this journey, let us release past offenses—whether in marriages, businesses, friendships, or the church. 

Let us ask God for forgiveness where we have failed, extend forgiveness where we’ve been wronged, and move forward with hope, In Jesus’ Name. 

Why? Because man’s failures are temporary, but God’s faithfulness is eternal. 

And soon, as Revelation 21:4, NKJV says: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 

Hallelujah!