Crafty liars can cause significant damage, especially if they are close to you. When these liars happen to be family members, the consequences can be immense. The closer the liar is to you, the greater the damage can be done. Loyalty often blinds us to the possibility of our loved ones taking advantage of us or intentionally damaging our marriages. However, family members can be the most damaging liars due to their knowledge of our vulnerabilities and their willingness to exploit them.
I have personally witnessed the devastating impact of a family member’s lies on someone they claim to love. In my case, it was my own mother-in-law who was the deceitful individual. The bonds of family can blind us not only to these crafty liars but also to friends and close colleagues who may possess the same traits.
In my situation, I wanted to believe the best about my family members, which prevented me from seeing how they were undermining my marriage. It took me months to realize the negative impact they were having. This family member, my wife’s mother and confidante, used their relationship to spread rumors and plant seeds of doubt, causing significant pain and mistrust in my marriage. She intentionally asked suggestive questions anytime I was running late from the office inferring that it was due to an affair.
Every opportunity this crafty liar had to twist an event and make it appear as if I had an affair or was disloyal, they exploited it. This resulted in constant accusations whenever I was late or meeting with a female peer. The focus was on creating doubt, as their lies did not have to be believable, only influential enough to raise suspicions.
If you find yourself unfortunate enough to have a crafty liar close to you, exercise extreme caution. Do not accept anything they say at face value. Verify the facts and gather other people’s opinions before making any decisions. Most importantly, if possible, keep your distance.
Besides accusing me of having an affair, this family member’s lies extended to accusations of watching pornography or engaging in virtual sexual relations whenever I was working on the computer. Over time, their accusations became increasingly outrageous. They understood that believability was not necessary; all they needed was to sow doubt.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t be at home all the time to address their accusations, rumors, and slander. While at work, I was vulnerable to their lies. Going through this experience taught me valuable lessons about the tactics of crafty liars, the damage they can inflict, and how they manipulate your thoughts. I also learned effective ways to counter their actions.
Preventing crafty liars from spreading slander and rumors may be impossible, but you can strengthen your marriage to the point where these lies do not stick. However, dealing with these individuals requires experience. With just a few well-placed lies, they can make you doubt and question yourself.
In my video on “How Can I Trust You Again?”, I share a trust formula that provides the necessary tools to resist the influence of crafty liars. Although the title focuses on trust, the information is highly beneficial in dealing with these deceitful individuals. Crafty liars destroy trust, whether in your marriage, workplace, or church community, and they rely on fear and peer pressure to exert control. When trust is shattered, they exploit the damage. Learning how to build trust is essential in safeguarding your marriage from the harm these individuals can cause.
Take action today and click to download your copy. Within minutes, you can protect yourself and your marriage from the threat of crafty liars.
Keeping It Real,
Jeff
