God Works Magazine - May-June 2024 - Flipbook - Page 19
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Consistent follow-through on promises. If the person who betrayed you says they will do something,
it's crucial they reliably follow through, even with
small commitments. Keeping one's word rebuilds
credibility.
Radical transparency. The betrayed person may
need the other party to be an open book - sharing
location, messages, calls, financial records etc. until
trust can be re-established.
Entering counseling. Committing to individual
and/or couple's therapy demonstrates a willingness
to investigate personal issues and develop healthy
patterns.
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Cutting off the source of betrayal. If the breach involved infidelity, substance abuse, illegal activities
etc., the person must verifiably remove those unhealthy influences.
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Accepting accountability. The person should own
up to their actions without minimizing, denial or
blame-shifting. Sincere remorse and taking responsibility is key.
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Restitution when appropriate. Depending on the
betrayal, tangible making amends through compensation, changed living situations, or other forms of
restitution may be needed.
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Voluntarily sharing information. Rather than reacting defensively, voluntarily offering information
about whereabouts, activities and interactions can
rebuild comfort.
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Adherence to established boundaries. Respecting re
-negotiated boundaries around money, privacy, sexual intimacy and other sensitive areas is crucial.
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Changing unhealthy patterns. If vices like anger,
workaholism or addictive behaviors enabled the
betrayal, demonstrating new sustainable coping
strategies is important.
The overall theme is that the person who broke trust
must be proactive, consistent and willing to make
sustained sacrifices to verify trustworthiness through
their actions over time. Words alone are insufficient
after deep betrayal.
May/June 2024 | God Works Magazine | 19
