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The Poison of Bitterness

“Bitterness has consumed and contaminated me.” After some real, honest soul searching with the Lord, that was my gut-wrenching confession to God. It happened so subtly. A little irritation here and there, some large frustrations about things being unfair, and some rationalizations for why I had a right to hold a grudge (not that I called it that; I’m much too “spiritual” for that), and before long I found myself knee-deep in the mire of bitterness. Yuck!

After I confessed to God that I did indeed feel bitterness growing within me, I also admitted to Him that, though I was willing to change, I didn’t know how, nor did I feel capable of changing myself. Then I did a word study on bitterness, which in the Greek literally means “acridity (especially poison).”

Never forget, bitterness is a tool of Satan to sow poison in your spirit, which then poisons your thought life and all the relationships that flow from it—spouses, children, employers, coworkers, pastors, teachers, and the guy in front of you in traffic. Even your relationship with God Himself is affected. The Lord Jesus suffered grievous opposition and bitter hostility. How does that compare to my struggles or to yours? We are told to keep that comparison in mind so we won’t grow weary or become exhausted. And could we also perhaps fall prey to bitterness? I think so.

Prayer for the Day

Holy Father, please pull up the deep, entangled root of bitterness that I have allowed to grow and poison my thought life. Forgive me for wallowing in emotional pain rather than focusing on how You might possibly use this trial to conform and transform me into Your likeness. I am so grateful for Your loving-kindness toward me. In Jesus’s name, amen.