It hurts a lot when someone you like betrays your trust with ugly gossip. And you know what? God cares about your feelings! He invites you to tell Him all about your sadness. Steps to Christ, p. 100. He understands about your heartache and He wants to heal it (Psalm 147:3).

Sometimes it takes time to heal a sad heart.

Here are some ideas for you to consider while your heart is in healing-mode:

Ask God to give you the right words to say, and ask your gossiping friend if there was something you did to offend him or her. If so, tell your friend you are sorry. Be honest with your own feelings, and tell your friend “I feel sad that you said _____ about me.” Do this one-on-one.

After you have spoken with your friends who have hurt you, don’t mope around in self-pity.

There are plenty of other persons who need friends. Your own pain will ease when you comfort one of them, or spend time with someone who might be lonely.

Ask God to help you forgive the person who hurt you. (Eph 4:31-32). If you’re praying for someone, it’s hard to stay angry or upset about that person.

Remind yourself that the person you care about the most may betray you, but the Lord never will. Those nail scars in His hands are “your initials,” carved there forever. He’s paid too dearly for you to ever desert you. So image God walking beside you, being your Best Friend, giving you courage to face every new day, and helping you be kind to others, regardless of how they treat you!