Healing from Betrayal Trauma

Part of healing from betrayal trauma is forgiving yourself.

I have been thinking on the verses from 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!” NET

What exactly is the ministry of reconciliation? It think it can take on many forms. It is for sure showing someone their need for the Messiah. I think it can also be to offer forgiveness. Forgiveness to someone else for their actions towards you. Forgiveness to yourself for your actions, words, thoughts and motives.

The ministry of reconciliation applies yourself, too.

If you have moved away from Yahweh during this season of intense pain and hurt ... Let this post be a witness that it is time to move in closer to Him.

As I read these verses in church a few weeks ago, I had this thought; forgiving myself for staying in the abusive marriage where he was also cheating is reconciling with Yahweh.

How is it reconciling with Him? Forgiving myself and asking His forgiveness for the pain my children now carry, for the example of marriage that they had, for the example of what it is to be a man, for the example of sacrifice taken so far that I lost myself, is reconciling with Him. Unforgiveness breeds bitterness. Bitterness moves us away from Him not closer, simply by being bitter we push ourselves away because there is no bitterness in Him. The same applies to pain we carry from things others have done to us. If we do not allow that pain to come out, it turns to anger and anger to hardness of our heart, which then moves us away from Him. To forgive is to reconcile to Him.

What do you need to do to reconcile with Him? How can you move closer to Him, to be comforted, to feel His love and to have His peace?

It is time to apply the ministry of reconciliation to yourself.