When Lies Become Our Truth

When Trust Gets Broken

Trust is fragile. It takes months, even years, to build—and only moments to shatter.

Once lies touch us, they don’t just hurt in the moment. They change the way we see people, and sometimes even the way we see God.

The Enemy’s Native Language

Jesus gave us a chilling description of Satan:

“When he lies, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44, MEV)

Satan doesn’t just dabble in lies—lies are his native tongue. And his goal isn’t just to deceive us once, but to reshape how we view the world.

Here’s his tactic:

• If someone betrays you, he whispers, “See? Everyone is fake.”

• If someone fails you, he hisses, “No one can be trusted.”

• If you’ve been wounded deeply, he insists, “This is how life always will be.”

Over time, those lies solidify into what feels like truth. Suspicion becomes our reflex. Fear becomes our lens. And even when God offers His promises, we hesitate: “What if He lets me down too?”

Joseph’s Story: Betrayed but Not Broken

Few people understood betrayal like Joseph. His brothers sold him into slavery. Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him. The cupbearer he helped in prison forgot him for years. At every turn, people lied, broke trust, and abandoned him.

By the time Joseph stood as Pharaoh’s second-in-command, he had every reason to live suspicious and bitter. But when he finally faced his brothers again, his words revealed something remarkable:

“As for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive.” (Genesis 50:20, MEV)

Joseph didn’t deny the evil his brothers intended. But he refused to let their betrayal define his identity. Instead, he rested in a greater truth: God was still in control.

That’s the key. Betrayal doesn’t disappear, but it doesn’t have to become your truth. God’s sovereignty and love can redefine the story.

God’s Anchor When Lies Attack

When the enemy tempts us to believe that betrayal defines reality, God calls us to anchor our hearts in Him:

“So that we may boldly say, ‘The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:6, MEV)

Notice the shift: the focus is no longer on man—what people have done or might do—but on the Lord, our unshakable helper.

When trust in people fails, trust in God steadies. When human words crumble, His promises stand.

Practical Ways to Break Free from Suspicion

So how do we move from suspicion and fear back into freedom?

1. Name the Lie. Write it down if needed: “I’ve started believing no one can be trusted.” Naming the lie exposes it.

2. Trace the Source. Ask: “Who benefits if I believe this?” It’s not God. It’s not you. It’s the enemy, who wants you isolated.

3. Replace It with Scripture. For every lie, speak God’s truth. Example: “Everyone is out to hurt me” → “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear” (Hebrews 13:6).

4. Discern, Don’t Distrust. God doesn’t ask us to be naive. Jesus said, “Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves”(Matthew 10:16, MEV). That means exercising caution without sliding into paranoia.

5. Seek Safe Relationships. Healing happens in community. Ask God to provide trustworthy friends who can reflect His truth back to you.

   
   

A Modern Example

A woman I know had been betrayed by multiple close friends. One moved away and cut ties suddenly. Another shared her private struggles with others. Eventually, she decided: “I’ll never open up again.”

For years, she lived behind walls. But loneliness crept in. In time, God brought a new friend into her life—one who proved faithful, prayerful, and safe. Slowly, she risked vulnerability again.

The difference wasn’t that people had suddenly become flawless. It was that God showed her the lie she had been believing: “No one can be trusted.” He replaced it with a new truth: “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear.” That shift made all the difference.

Reflection Questions

• Where have lies or betrayal left you suspicious of others?

• Can you identify a specific lie the enemy has used to shape your outlook?

• How does Joseph’s story encourage you to see God’s hand even in painful betrayal?

  
  

A Closing Prayer

Lord, I confess that betrayal has left me fearful and suspicious. I’ve believed lies that no one can be trusted. But Your Word says You are my helper, and I will not fear. Help me to trust You first, and then to walk wisely with people. Redeem the pain of betrayal and turn it into testimony, like You did with Joseph. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Final Encouragement

Friend, the lies that have been spoken over you do not define you. The betrayals you’ve experienced are real, but they don’t have to become your truth.

The enemy wants to chain you to suspicion. But God invites you into freedom. He proved your worth at the cross and promises to never leave or forsake you.

Hold fast to that. People may fail you—but God never will.