Psalm 55

“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.” (Psalm 55:12–13, NLT)

This is the second psalm that David wrote about the pain of betrayal. (The first was Psalm 41.) Although David does not specifically mention it, most commentators believe that these psalms were inspired by David’s son Absalom forming a conspiracy against him and persuading David’s trusted counselor Ahithophel to join the revolt. David experienced the bitterness of betrayal when his familiar friend lifted his heel against him (Psalm 41:9). It is true that those who are closest to us can hurt us the most.

Once while speaking at a leadership conference, our son Justin shared a time in his life when he was depressed. It was when we suffered through a church split and many of his friends left him and would have nothing more to do with him. This sent him into a tailspin for at least a year. This could have been the end of the line for him regarding ministry. Most certainly that is what Satan intended. Instead, Justin persevered. He left Bible college early to be by our side and to take over our youth ministry. There is nothing more painful than betrayal, and yet those who persevere through it find blessings and fruitfulness on the other side.

This is certainly one of the major tests in becoming like Christ. Even while I was going through it myself, the Holy Spirit was reminding me that in some small way I was tasting the fellowship of Christ’s suffering. Betrayal was unavoidable.

At one point I reached out to an older pastor who had served faithfully in the Treasure Valley for many years. He offered to take me out to lunch. He listened to my story, and then he referred to the divisions that existed in the Corinthian church:

“For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.” (1 Corinthians 11:19, NKJV)

How this comforted me! What we were experiencing was inevitable and part of God’s plan to reveal who truly stood with us. As painful as this “pruning” was, in retrospect I would not trade it for anything, for our church emerged from this crisis stronger and more unified.

All this to say that God will use even the hardest things in life for His glory and for our ultimate good. We must just “hang in there”. As Warren Wiersbe says, “It is always too early to quit.”

But while we are suffering pain, whatever it is, we can meditate on these precious words of David:

“Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” (Psalm 55:22, NLT)