How should I deal with my bitterness toward others? - Bitterness - TouchPoints

Mark 11:25“When you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

It’s tempting to cover anger or bitterness under a thin veneer of spirituality when we are seething inside. Jesus insists that we confront those feelings and deal with them through forgiveness before we spend time with God in worship and prayer.

Acts 8:22-23“Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.”

Our ongoing relationship with God will involve occasional mental and emotional housecleaning to remove accumulated sinful thinking. Sometimes other believers must intervene by pointing out what they see in our lives. Are you open to receiving corrective words from wise friends? How would you go about pointing out bitterness in someone else’s life?

2 Corinthians 2:7It is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement.

People’s responses to rebuke and correction shape the ongoing relationships they have with others. Paul was helping a church move on after dealing with an erring member. Paul realized they were at risk of developing settled bitterness and rejection toward him, so the apostle wisely informed them it was now time move toward reconciliation. If they refused to reconcile with their brother, the otherwise beneficial correction might discourage him and even threaten his faith.

Ephesians 4:31-32Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Forgiveness is the antidote to bitterness. It lifts burdens, cancels debts, and frees us from the chains of unresolved anger. If we want to take Christ’s example seriously and experience his forgiveness, it is necessary for us to forgive others.

Philippians 1:12-14I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.

Paul was traveling the world and sharing the good news about Jesus. Then he was thrown into prison for sharing his faith! That could have made him bitter. Instead, he was happy because he saw it as an opportunity. He knew that God takes even the worst situations and, if we allow him, brings good out of them. Paul couldn’t wait to see what good God would bring out of his time in prison. While in prison, Paul wrote many of the New Testament letters, which have brought countless millions to faith in Jesus. That’s a lot of good out of a bad situation! God is waiting for you to let him do the same in your difficult situations.