Roots of Bitterness

 

There is a topic that I have been thinking on for some time. Every so often God would remind me or prompt me on this but it isn’t an easy subject so I would often brush it off…until the next time! However, it is something that I began to see so often that I began to think on it, ponder on it and wonder why there seems to be so much of it around…the thing I have been seeing in so many places, both in the church and the world is bitterness.

Hebrews 12:15 in the passion translation says;

What I sense in the spirit I have been seeing is roots of bitterness taking hold in the lives of Christians and non-Christians alike. I have seen people bitter towards

·       People who have hurt them

·       People who have been hurt

·       People who try to love them

·       People with differing opinions to them.

It has broken my heart to see people using public platforms like social media in order to voice their feelings of bitterness and I have seen these roots become established and grow.

I have recently been reading a series of books called the Sensible shoes series by Sharon Garlough Brown and a quote from the first series that has stuck with me is this:

Taking a leaf out of the character Charissa’s book, I spent some time lingering in the bitterness that has provoked me and tried to work out why was this upsetting me so much?

I spent some time looking to what the bible says about bitterness…that’s always the best place to start! I also started to ask myself the question: Do I have roots of bitterness in my own life?                                    

After holding a mirror up to my own life I started to think about how I can pull up any roots of bitterness before they become a tree. After considering once again what the bible says on the matter this is what I found

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When we feel the roots of bitterness begin to sprout, we must come to God and ask for forgiveness. We must admit our part in the situation and ask God to cleanse us.

This is key to living a life without bitterness – by freely forgiving those who hurt you. It might not always seem easy, but it is always worth it.

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We have to choose what words we will use, they have power – the power to kill bitterness or power to make it grow and flourish.

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Colossians 3:12-14

This underlines that we should forgive each other quickly, but also tells us the clothing of Christ that we should be wearing. Qualities like compassion, kindness and humility make sure bitterness can never take root.

   

We must strive to live a life of peace, that means a life without bitterness

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One of the best things you can do in any situation, but particularly in this area is to pray! Pray for the person you are feeling bitter towards, pray for yourself that you wont feel bitterness, pray for those who are bitter against others…it is the most powerful thing you can do!

As I continue this journey rooting out weeds of bitterness in my life, I encourage you to do the same, Look to his word and live a life free from bitterness...