My body mirrored the emotional suffering by contracting flues and infections. Sick in body and spirit, I rolled myself up in blankets on the couch, not letting even God comfort me. I asked God in anger, unwilling to listen to the answer. Betrayal is a form of death that can reach down and shake our hold on reality. We often respond to betrayal as we do to the death of a loved one, with shock and disbelief, tears and grieving, anger and despair.
Dangerous people arouse our suspicion.
We keep our vulnerabilities covered, our radar alert for warning signs, and make sure we know the location of the nearest exit door. But we do none of these things with someone we trust. That is the great thing about trusting someone - we don't have to be on our guard. So there we are, relaxed, at ease, and unprotected when the horrible surprise occurs. Betrayal is hurt that comes in many forms - a promise broken, a confidence violated, a boundary crossed, a lie exposed.