This past week I woke up from three dreams stating phrases that I believe are on the Lord’s heart. They were, “Know who your friends are,” “Be prepared for battle” and thirdly, “Have child like faith.”
Interestingly during the week I attended a friend’s family gathering where everything looked lovely on the outside, yet there had been terrible betrayal behind the scenes from many different parties. Everyone smiled as if all was fine, but below the surface were gaping wounds.
As I considered my dreams, I reflected on the phrase that suggested being aware of faithful relationships, contrary to the attributes resident at the gathering I attended. I reflected upon the Lord’s own betrayal, Jesus being the only one in existence who is truly a flawless friend in every way, yet He Himself was betrayed. If Jesus was not exempt from betrayal, (even with foreknowledge) it would be ridiculous to think that we could be without risk of being betrayed ourselves.
Since that was obviously not the point the Lord was making, I looked deeper at the characteristics of Jesus, the perfect friend, spotless lamb, who willingly laid down His life for slaughter, the One we can count on at all times. How would He prepare for battle? What exactly were His battle tactics?
Jesus greatest strategy in the battle over darkness was to act in the opposite spirit of those who attacked Him. Rather than taking up arms against His accusers, He laid down His life, displaying humility and forgiveness toward those that betrayed Him.
The third phrase in my dream, “Have child like faith” is key for possessing what it takes to walk this out amidst the pain we suffer in this life. If we are able to maintain a child like heart, rather than allowing bitterness to harden us, we will be like Joseph, who endured betrayal by the hands of his brothers and ultimately emerged as a free man having been tried and brought forth as gold. The childlike heart he demonstrated as a young dreamer was the seed that pierced through the hard soil of his circumstances and manifested in his reality. As a result Joseph’s perspective changed, making him able to say, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20)
The keys for overcoming betrayal begin through friendship with the perfect Lamb of God who is always just, and whose strategy for overcoming darkness was demonstrated in laying down His life. Childlike faith that believes in the unseen realm is necessary to be those who overcome the devastation of betrayal and come forth into newness of life, as Christ demonstrated. Through child like faith we are able to walk in His redemptive power.
