“I have experienced help from God to this day, and so I stand testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except what the prophets and Moses said was going to happen: that the Christ was to suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, to proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” – Acts 26:22-23

Paul is very clear in regards to who his Defender is and where his help comes from. The same God Paul credited for helping him is the same God that helped Jesus in the midst of His suffering. God has always looked out for our best interest (Rom 8:28). Can you recall a time when the help you needed, or the help you had desperately prayed for, showed up looking different than you had imagined?

During Paul’s imprisonment he did indeed receive help from God, even though it wasn’t being released from prison at that time. However, Paul was given opportunities to share who God is and what He had done in his life with the people around him. Paul saw miracles happen and chains break before his very eyes.

I’m not sure if there is anything worse than being betrayed by a friend. Betrayal is one of the most painful things to experience, especially when you have already been kicked to the curb, abandoned, or discarded. I’m speaking from personal experience here and I want to take this moment to say that I am so very sorry if you have ever found yourself in this place. It’s hurtful, I know.

Unfortunately, betrayal isn’t something new among friendships today. We see this throughout the Bible.

Jesus was very familiar with betrayal and pain. When He asked his closest friends to pray for Him, they fell asleep. Not once, not twice, but three separate times (Matthew 26:36-46). I can only imagine how His heart ached as He was already agonizing over His quickly approaching crucifixion. He had the weight of the world on His shoulders.

During Jesus’ own pain, He was committed to being obedient to His Father and to the plan, which would be the only way we could experience Eternal Life.

Jesus may not be doing exactly what we want Him to do, but that doesn’t mean that He is asleep at the wheel. He is alive, alert, and aware of all situations, all people, and all things. There are situations in our life that could be considered dead, but are now resurrected into new life only because of Jesus.

Even when life doesn’t look the way we thought it would, God is still good.

His Word is still true.

He will indeed turn your mess into a message.

Nothing is wasted.

When your ride or die betrays you and continues to hurt you over and over again, know that Jesus is still there, keeping watch over your life.

As I have lived out a decade of grief, death, disappointment, and betrayal I am writing to tell you today that God has always shown up for me. On those days that I thought my life was over I cranked up my favorite worship songs and I worshipped my way out of the pit. I dare you to do the same and to watch how God shows up and turns your test into a testimony to point others to Christ.

God is not only in the business of restoring, but He is our rescue and our resurrected King!

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