This article first appeared in the September 2018 edition of “Food For Thought” Newsletter.
In the August 2018 Edition of “Food For Thought” Newsletter, I concluded the series, “How to be Victorious in a Spiritual Battle.” The emphasis of the last three articles in that series focused on anger. I shared my personal battle with anger, and some Scripture, through which, the Lord had ministered to me.
As my articles about anger were about to come to an end, I began to consider that there are other issues that can impact a person’s life – if those issues are not dealt with.
Anger was my issue, but for other people it can be something else entirely that can produce a seed of bitterness, which over time, can take root and become destructive.
Is there anything in your life that is causing you to feel hurt? Stealing your joy and your peace? Causing you to feel alienated from, or abandoned by God?
If so, I suggest that you ask the Lord to show you anything in your life that may be at causing you to feel that way. When any bitterness is revealed to you, I suggest that you confess it to Him, repent of those feelings, and ask Him to help you to forgive – the person, yourself, or even God.
When you are willing to live in forgiveness – that paves the way for you to be free from the burden that bitterness causes, and it enables you to live in peace.
A Scripture that has a lot to say about this, which I will focus on today is Hebrews 12:14-17 (NRSV), which says,
“Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled. See to it that no one becomes like Esau, an immoral and godless person, who sold his birthright for a single meal. You know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent even though he sought the blessing with tears.”
Bitterness can be the result, when something or someone causes you to feel like a victim, and as though you have been treated unfairly or abused in some way. Feeling powerless to change the negative conditions in your life can also lead to bitterness. It can be the result of not trusting in God’s protection, His provision, His desire/ability to bless you, or, simply, His goodness.
Bitterness typically begins with some type of hurt or offense. Left to fester, it can become resentment and anger. Over time, it may become evident through the bitter person shouting heatedly (clamor) at the person they perceive has wronged them. The soil in which a seed of bitterness takes root, is someone who entertains hostility toward God or others. Bitterness is often subtle, or even hidden, and therefore, not readily visible. (See Prov. 26:23-26)
Bitterness comes from things like jealousy, a cheating spouse/betrayal of a trusted person, lack (real or perceived), financial struggle, addictions, or fear. As I researched this topic, I even read that it can come from pornography. Anything that causes you to feel as though God is holding out on you, not giving you the “best” of something, or withholding something from you that you feel you deserve, or, that you have no control over a particular situation in your life can cause bitterness to take root.
A bitter person is open to the enemy’s (Satan’s) deception, and can’t see things clearly, including the reality of Ephesians 2:8-9, which says, “ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Bitterness has been a problem as far back as the Garden of Eden, when Eve was deceived by the serpent into thinking that God was holding out on them, by not allowing them to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Oftentimes, a person entangled by bitterness will be very sensitive, show little or no gratitude, be known as a complainer & a critical person, inclined to hold grudges, and prone to moodiness.
Over time, bitterness can affect a person physically, spiritually and emotionally. When bitterness is a factor in a person’s life, it prevents them from fully seeing or accepting that Isaiah 53:5 (NRSV) is for them. That Scripture says, “But he [Jesus] was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.”
A hazard of allowing bitterness to remain in one’s heart is revealed to us in our focal Scripture. Esau is described as “an immoral and godless person.”
Mark 7:21-23 says, “For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
In order to overcome the issue of bitterness in our lives, and thus, not allow it to take root, we should pursue peace with God, and with other people. We should pursue holiness.
We sometimes think that being holy is all about living a moral life, and living by certain rules of conduct. It is so much more than that though.
We should be devoted to God in all we say and do, and live in such a way as His Word reveals is pleasing to Him. He doesn’t just know our outward behaviors that are visible to others. He knows our hearts and our thoughts as well. Nothing is hidden from Him.
We should seek to honor Him, and live in obedience to Him, in all we say, think, or do.
As Ephesians 4: 29-32 says…”Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
As 1 Peter 2:1-5 says, “Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Dear gracious and loving heavenly Father,
We thank You and praise You for who You are, and all that You have given to us. Please search our hearts, and show us if there is any bitterness in us. If there is, we confess it to you. We acknowledge that it is sin, and we repent of it. We confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and He is our healer of any sin that ensnares us. Please heal any sickness in us; physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually. Please enable us to live in peace with You, and everyone in our lives. Please help us to live in such a way as is pleasing to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
