Betrayal cuts deeper than any physical wound. It shatters our sense of safety in a relationship, leaves us reeling in anger and self–doubt, and makes us build walls around our hearts. In Tracy Wainwright’s Hearing Whispers, Sarah Booth endures a double blow: the devastating discovery of her father’s secret DNA test and, within hours, her fiancé’s infidelity. But rather than settling for irreversible brokenness, Sarah’s path reveals a brighter direction—one of raw honesty, authentic community, and ultimate forgiveness. Today, we’ll explore three important things that can lead us to forgiveness after we’ve experienced betrayal:

• the anatomy of betrayal,
• the power of sharing our pain,
• and the freedom that comes when we hand our deepest wounds to the Healer.

The Anatomy of Betrayal

Thirty days before her wedding, Sarah is on top of the world; twenty–four hours later, she’s fleeing her fiancé’s apartment in tears. Trust is the soul’s foundation; when it crumbles, the ground beneath our feet gives way. Sarah’s shock and rage mirror the universal horror of discovering someone we relied on has deceived us. When that happens, we often want to hide from the pain, ignore all the feelings of hurt and inadequacy. But the best way we can deal with the devastation of our broken hearts is to be honest with our emotions.

Emotional honesty

To start, Sarah’s grief isn’t neat or polite. Shock, denial, anger, relief and deep sorrow crash through her in a single day. She could have retreated. Instead she goes on a two-day purge—shredding wedding albums and screaming into pillows. This reaction was not a temper tantrum or a detour but rather a vital first step in the healing process. When we’re facing devastation, it’s imperative to be honest with our emotions, to give ourselves permission to heal.

Avoiding Isolation

The next thing we’re tempted to do is isolate ourselves. Sometimes for good reason: We don’t want to bring down everyone around us; or maybe we simply don’t want to appear weak and unable to cope. Maybe it’s a combination of both or something else entirely. But just as Galatians 6:2 tells us (Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ) we’re not meant to bear burdens alone. Sarah reaches out to her grandmother and her best friend Elysa. Their prayers, practical help and unwavering presence break Sarah’s isolation that deepens hurt.  The lesson for us here is to remember that when we’re walking through the fire, we must identify two or three faithful friends, a small group, or a trusted mentor who will listen, pray, and refuse to let us face betrayal alone.

A path to healing: lament and prayer

And then, let’s not forget the transformative power of lament and prayer. Turning pain into petition can help us to shift our perspective. Sarah learns that naming her wounds in prayer defangs their power. Her whispered plea (“God, I’m exhausted. I hand You every hurt”) became the first step toward peace.

Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you.” Lament isn’t about wallowing in our situation or in self-pity, but about transferring weight from our weak arms to His strong ones. When we cry out to Him, He heals us, redeems our brokenness.Just as Hannah, in the Bible, poured out her soul in anguish and received Samuel, Sarah’s open-hearted cries invite God to do a new work.  The result of Sarah’s plea is that from the ashes of her canceled wedding and the discovery of a sister she never knew she had, God writes a new story—one marked by healing, purpose, and unexpected grace.

An Extention of God’s Grace

And that extension of grace gives us the strength to choose forgiveness—to forgive both ourselves and the person who’s wronged us. Forgiveness is not the same as forgetting or condoning betrayal. It is, instead, a conscious choice to release the debt and refuse to let bitterness rule our hearts. Sarah, in her attempt at forgiveness, takes a radical step: She phones her ex–fiancé not to re-engage but to extend forgiveness, declaring, “I’m OK now, and I forgive you because God forgave me.”

When we forgive, there’s an inevitable ripple effect. We pave the way for our own healing and offer a powerful testimony of God’s mercy. In Sarah’s world, forgiveness re-opens the door to , new relationships, and the chance to walk unburdened into God’s calling.

If you are suffering from betrayal and haven’t been able to find healing, take the next crucial steps to the soul–deep healing and restoration you need:

• Embrace honesty: Acknowledge every raw emotion. Don’t rush to tidy up your feelings.
• Gather community: Identify safe listeners who will pray with you, not judge you.
• Practice lament: Write your pain on paper, name it out loud, and hand it over to God.
• Choose forgiveness: When you’re ready, speak or write a letter extending grace. Heaven’s door opens as we let go of heavy stones.

Betrayal may shatter our world, but through authentic connections, bold honesty, and God’s unending grace, our broken fragments become the building blocks of a new, resilient faith. Tracy Wainwright’s Hearing Whispers offers a gentle, hope-filled companion on this journey from bitterness to beauty. If you long for a story that captures the ache of betrayal and the joy of divine healing, dive into Sarah Booth’s life-transforming adventure. Allow this soul-stirring novel to guide you from the shadows of betrayal into the light of grace. Download your copy today and experience how God can piece together even the most shattered hearts.

Hearing Whispers

Secrets can damage everything, but love has restorative powers.

In her last semester of college, Sarah knows exactly what's next: marriage to the man of her dreams and working with young children. That is, until she discovers two secrets that throw her whole future into turmoil.

Determined to move past immeasurable pain and betrayal, and armed with newly discovered information, she embarks on a journey to discover who she really is and what' s really important in life. The last thing she needs is a man to distract her. The only hiccough? Warren Crysel.

Now Available at these places and more:

---

Amazon Book Preview

---

---

---