Holding a grudge is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. But what does the Word tell us about bitterness? What the Creator of the universe has been urging us to do from Genesis to Revelation: love, forgive, let go, and most importantly, let God. This plan examines the Bible’s view on bitterness to help you overcome unforgiveness.Free Indeed Through Christ
Day 1
Scriptures: Hebrews 12:14-15, Colossians 3:8, Colossians 3:13
The Danger of Bitterness
Being betrayed, undermined or downright abandoned is going to hurt. But trying to take matters into your own hands will not bring about the results you desire. That’s why when someone has wronged you it’s important to bring every hurt or pain you feel to the Father.
The Great Physician is the only one who can heal your wounds of rejection and cleanse you from the infection of bitterness. Not to mention, Jehovah Nissi –the Lord our Banner– is the ultimate judge and avenger who will protect and defend you from those who have harmed you. In essence, this means there is no need to hurt yourself trying to get even.
The Bible tells us we are to “make every effort to live in peace with all men and be holy,” because “without holiness, we will not see the Lord.”
Effort requires intention. This means in order to live in harmony with other people, we have to make the conscious choice to avoid taking offense every time an individual does something we do not like.
Remember, to be holy is to be consecrated and set apart to God. That is why the apostle James tells us quite plainly, if we can’t live in peace among each other, we will not be able to dwell in God’s presence.
I’d like to think this is because God’s very nature is love and He simply will not abide where malice, strife and contention run rampant.
Not to mention, if we allow these toxic emotions to consume us, we can no longer be considered sanctified or sacred, since unforgiveness hinders the grace we receive through Christ.
Day 2
Scriptures: Hebrews 12:15, Mark 11:25, James 1:19-20
The Consequences of Bitterness
I don’t know about you, but for me, mulling over any type of offense made against me is not worth losing the privilege of dwelling in God’s presence now or in the future –especially since we have open access to Him through Jesus.
In the book of Hebrews, the apostle Paul admonishes us to ensure “no one falls short of the grace of God” to prevent a bitter root from “sprouting up, causing trouble and defiling many.”
Clearly, bitterness not only destroys relationships, but it also contaminates the heart, which is arguably the most important organ since it ensures the rest of the body’s faculties function properly. On a spiritual level, the heart is also the core of a person’s make-up that influences what they think and how they act.
The word defile can be defined as the “act of destroying the purity or appearance of a person or object.” The term is also used to describe the desecration of something sacred. This is why harboring hatred and malevolence (which are always stored in the heart) always causes trouble.
Quite often, someone who is consumed with bitter indignation may be tempted to gossip or spread slander about the one who they felt has wronged them. In a group setting or even among close family members, one-sided rumors can spread like deadly cancer and destroy reputations or relationships.
On the other hand, if the wronged individual chooses to suppress their resentment and animosity, all of the harsh emotions they are internalizing will eventually attack their own body and make them sick –both spiritually and physiologically.
In the end, both the bitter and offending parties are defiled.
Day 3
Scriptures: Ephesians 4:31-32, Matthew 6:14-15, Proverbs 10:12
The Cure for Bitterness
Studies prove that incessant bitterness can make a person physically ill because holding onto malice can affect a person’s metabolism, immune response and organ functioning. Fortunately, God, the Great Physician, has shared the most efficient remedy to bitterness: forgiveness.
In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul encouraged members of the early church to “get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger,” in addition to “brawling and every form of malice.” The New International Version cites the same scripture using the words “wrath, clamor and slander.”
Though the words may vary, the consensus remains the same: Someone who wants to experience peace and healing must make the conscious decision to resist getting bitter.
How is this done successfully? By getting rid of all possible offenses. Because we live in an imperfect world, the relationships we have with our family, partners, and friends will not always be perfect.
This means conflict is inevitable. Nonetheless, it is how we choose to respond to these offenses when such occasions arise, that will determine what state we will come out in on the other side.
The key to resisting bitterness and overlooking offenses is remembering God has forgiven us for all our sins through Christ, so we must also choose to forgive others who have transgressed against us.
Think about it. Jesus chose us in Him from the beginning of the world and died a brutal death so His Father could forgive our sins.
Now, if God through His Son could choose to overlook our wrongdoings before we even made them, we, who are created in His likeness and image, should also resolve to pardon those who have wronged us.