Has God Betrayed Us?

Sweet mom, are you tempted to feel betrayed by God due to your extreme suffering? Are you tempted to feel like He betrayed you to this enemy of death and pain? Think about this: when Jesus was betrayed by Judas, He knew He had not been betrayed by the Father. For Jesus knew the Father’s purpose and plans in sending Him. Like Jesus, when being betrayed to death by Judas, we can look to God’s plan. Like Jesus, we can have poignant perspective and peace from the Scriptures, perspective that directs our hearts toward God.

The Gospel of John records in detail the words that Jesus spoke to His disciples prior to being betrayed. So we know exactly what was on Jesus’ agenda to share with His disciples in His last hours before crucifixion. His words give us an outline for understanding our present suffering.

•  Jesus speaks to the disciples as friends, telling them future plans for the world.

Jesus called the disciples close like the nearest of friends and have significant understanding about His plans for this world.

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his Master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15

In 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, His ordered plans are further detailed for us:

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at His coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

• He does not leave us alone, but gives us the Helper.

Presently, the risen Christ is at the right hand of the Father while He awaits returning, with praiseworthy patience (considering the manifold evil in this world, the hardships His people are enduring, and the abuse brought daily to His holy name!). He is waiting to return so that those who do not yet believe in Him have opportunity for repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). But He says that while we believers wait for His coming, we are not alone. The apostles’ teachings recorded in the Scriptures that we have read (above) were guided by the Holy Spirit (John 16:13a). And we believers also receive the Helper, the Holy Spirit.

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

• He says that tribulation will occur in a fallen world, but that He has overcome.

Prior to being betrayed, Jesus speaks about the tribulation that the disciples will have because of this fallen world. He speaks of the persecution they will experience because they no longer follow the ways of the world (John 15:18). Yet, He promises that He has overcome the system of the world, meaning He will, with certainty, complete His plans.

“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

• He indicates purposes in His people remaining on earth.

Jesus next implies that instead of taking believers to heaven the moment we place our faith in Him, we stay with purpose in this world to testify to Him for the remainder of our God-appointed earthly lives. Yet, while we live here, we have the assurance that we can no longer belong to the evil one. And we have the Scriptures as our tremendously peace-giving defense system in this world. Jesus prays to the Father about purpose and protection:

“I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” John 17:15-18

Lianna is author of Made for a Different Land: Eternal Hope for Baby Loss (Hope Mommies, 2019). More of her writing can be found at her website.

We would be honored to share your story as a Hope Mom on our blog. On Saturdays we feature Hope Moms’ stories in order to showcase God’s faithfulness even in the midst of such deep sorrow. If you would like to have your story shared on our blog for this purpose, learn more and submit here.