Finding Peace After Betrayal

Many years ago, my husband and I were involved in a ministry where we became close friends with the pastor and her husband. We loved the people, the work, and the sense of calling we felt in serving alongside them. But after a couple of years, something shifted. The pastor suddenly accused me—without warning—of trying to take over her ministry. I was blindsided. Instead of coming to me directly, she spoke to other leaders about her concerns, and they quietly began to distance themselves from me. The grief was overwhelming. I was so trusting at the time that I came to believe that I was the problem, and for a long while, I stopped going to church altogether.

Betrayal can pierce deeper than almost any other wound. Whether it comes from a spouse, a friend, a parent, or even someone in the church, it can leave us feeling lost, angry, and unsure of who we can trust again. If you’ve been betrayed, you’re not alone—and more importantly, God has not left your side.

Jesus Himself was betrayed. He was abandoned by His closest friends and handed over by someone He loved (Luke 22:48). So when we turn to Him in our pain, we’re turning to someone who understands betrayal fully. That doesn’t make the hurt disappear, but it means we don’t have to carry it alone.

Healing after betrayal is not about “getting over it.” It’s about finding peace in the presence of God while He tends to the wounds others have left behind. The journey may feel slow and uncertain, but Psalm 34:18 reminds us: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” That’s a promise. Not a possibility. A promise.

There were moments when I questioned everything—my motives, my identity, even my worth. The pain ran so deep that I couldn’t imagine trusting again, especially women in leadership. And I’ll be honest, forgiveness felt impossible. The thought of “letting it go” seemed like letting this pastor off the hook. But forgiveness in God’s hands is never about excusing what was done—it’s about handing the pain over to the One who can carry it. It’s releasing the weight that’s too heavy for us and choosing, little by little, to walk in freedom.

Ephesians 4:31–32 encourages us to “get rid of all bitterness… and be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” But that doesn’t happen in a day. God never rushes our healing. He walks with us, step by step—often carrying us when we feel we have nothing left.

It was through heart healing ministry that my heart eventually began to heal. Slowly, gently, God began uncovering the roots of my pain. I began to see more clearly—not just what had been done to me, but what I had come to believe about myself because of it. The lies, the shame, the isolation... God was not afraid of any of it. He met me there. And piece by piece, He began putting things back together in my wounded heart.

Here at Elijah House, we’ve seen—and experienced personally—how prayer, pastoral care, and heart healing tools can help uncover the roots of our pain so that God can begin restoring what was lost. Many who have walked this path found that betrayal, as painful as it is, became the doorway to peace and a deeper relationship with the Lord. A place where trust is rebuilt—not with people at first, but with God.

Peace after betrayal may not come all at once—but it can come. As God gently restores what’s been broken, He leads us into a deeper trust in Him and a new kind of wholeness. Betrayal doesn't get the final say. God does. And in His hands, even the most painful chapters can lead to healing, redemption, and peace that holds—no matter what.