When Your Speech Betrays You
I was talking to someone very dear to me yesterday. She told me that all her life, she felt like she had to look out for herself — that no one was ever really there to help her. I gently reminded her, “You had God too.” Sometimes before we know He’s there, it feels like it’s just us doing everything alone. But truthfully, we’ve never walked alone — even when we didn’t recognize His presence.
Even Jesus needed someone. He needed twelve disciples — not perfect men, but men perfectly chosen for their assignments. Jesus was God in the flesh, yet He still surrounded Himself with people. Apostles are sent ones, pioneers who establish new blueprints and uproot old systems. They build what has never been built before — often through pain. Jesus’ twelve apostles walked with Him, learned from Him, and even though one was a devil, He needed all of them to fulfill His destiny.
Yes — Jesus needed both Peter and Judas.
We love Peter’s loyalty and despise Judas’ betrayal, but both were instrumental in the unfolding of salvation’s plan. Peter represented the one who would deny Him under pressure, and Judas the one who would betray Him to His cross. But both were necessary. Heaven was betting on both of them — and so was Jesus.
Who has God shown you is irreplaceable in your story?
Who has hurt you deeply, but was still necessary for your destiny to unfold?
When I share my own story, people often ask, “Why didn’t you leave sooner?” Truth is, I couldn’t. God had me interceding when I wanted to walk away. I remember being 20 years old, pregnant, and on my washroom floor in a fetal position crying out to God with everything in me. Out of that broken place came a prayer I didn’t even understand. I asked God to give me a husband who would love me like Jacob loved Rachel. Then I said something that surprised even me: “But Lord, let him wait until I can get myself together.”
Heaven bowed down that day to listen.
Almost ten years later, I was pregnant again, broken, and my late ex-husband told me the only reason he didn’t leave sooner was because I was pregnant. Later, the Lord reminded me of that prayer — the one where I asked Him to make my husband wait until I could get myself together. It was then that I realized: my late ex-husband was my Judas. He brought me to my cross and into my purpose.
God used betrayal to birth destiny in me.
Jesus knew Peter would deny Him and Judas would betray Him. Yet He loved them both. The word says, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34) Peter didn’t even know what was inside of him until the pressure revealed it. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Only God can.
When Peter denied Jesus three times, his speech betrayed him. But Jesus had already prayed for him — that his faith would not fail. Maybe your words have betrayed your heart too. Maybe offense has revealed something painful inside of you. There’s still redemption for you, just like there was for Peter.
Peter was restored by love and given an assignment: “When you are converted, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22:32)
That’s our call too — to turn our betrayals into blueprints for healing.
If you’re a man under pressure preparing for your future spouse, don’t let your speech betray your purpose. Communicate. Get understanding. Don’t let offense destroy destiny.
If you’re a woman healing from trauma, remember to cover your spouse like Jesus covered Peter. Compassion restores what offense tries to destroy.
There is nothing Jesus cannot heal. Every Peter can rise again. Every Judas can point you toward your cross — and your purpose.
So guard your heart, watch your words, and let God use even your betrayal for His glory.
Because after betrayal — there is restoration.