Get rid of bitterness
2020-12-16Ephesians 4:31 NLT
The words ‘get rid of all bitterness’ might make us think of a doctor thoroughly cleaning a wound to prevent infection. Another translation, ‘Looking carefully…lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble’ (Hebrews 12:15 NKJV), commands us to be vigilant in case a tiny seed of bitterness takes root inside us and causes problems.
Bitterness has many sources: someone who has hurt us; a nasty relationship breakup; the careless words of a friend who’s not even aware of their effect; a work colleague who doesn’t appreciate what we do.
The way to get rid of bitterness is for us to forgive, before the problem becomes embedded in our emotions and starts feeding off our memories. The Message paraphrases Paul’s words: ‘Make a clean break…Forgive one another as quickly…as…Christ forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:31-32 MSG). Harbouring bitterness won’t change the other person, but it will change us – and not for the better. What happens is this: Satan enters the picture and persuades us that it’s okay to harbour resentment, usually by convincing us that we’re just protecting ourselves from getting hurt again. We justify our position, and get comfortable living with resentment and bitterness.
When we don’t tackle these feelings, they can turn into a grudge, where we refuse to let go of the hurt and desire revenge instead of forgiveness. But that doesn’t have to happen to us, because there’s no negative emotion so deeply rooted in us that God’s grace can’t reach down and remove it.
So let’s draw close to God and ask Him to help us forgive, and exchange our revenge for His justice.