Written by Corina Diaz, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Argentina 
It has happened to all of us: we have high expectations about a relationship with something or someone, and then we realize that the reality is completely different than what we expected.
Even Jesus, when realizing that He would be betrayed, kept in His heart the desire to pass that cup. “After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, ‘Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me’” (John 13:21 NIV).
Jesus knew that it was not Judas himself who initiated the betrayal, but He recognized that sinful action stems from an external influence. “Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve” (Luke 22:3). “As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him” (John 13:27a). It is very important to recognize that Satan is actively working to bring about betrayal in our relationships.
Dealing with these situations on a personal level can cause us anguish, and will affect how we deal with the reality of what has happened.
Jesus' outline was simple—only three steps:
- Accept the situation.
- Pray to the Father to process the feelings.
- Keep the heart open to give love.
It seems quite simple—and I assure you that it is not—but I also assure you that lowering expectations and accepting what comes, while cultivating a pure heart will make the path more bearable!