Overcoming Bitterness

I heard it once said, “bitterness is the poison you swallow, while hoping the other person dies.” Bitterness can be very destructive; harmful physically, emotionally, and even spiritually.  We must deal with it, conquer it, and get victory over it, or it will destroy us. A lot of things happen to us inside our bodies when bitterness is allowed to set up in our soul.  Job expressed bitterness of soul as he tried to cope with all that he was experiencing (Job 7:11, 10:1).  Carrying around bitterness, anger, and frustration can leave us an emotional wreck.  Spiritually, it can ruin our walk with God and affect other relationships in our life.  No wonder Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:31, “let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you”.

 I have watched many people through the years be overcome with bitterness.  It’s sad.  Disappointments can be hard to overcome.  We’ve all had to face disappointments in life, but disappointment can grow. It can lead to bitterness.  We must recognize bitterness as a tool of the enemy used to destroy us.  Disappointments can be borne from a wound, a hurt, a perceived injustice, a loss, or an offence.  If we don’t deal with these things, a root of bitterness can develop (Hebrews 12:15).  We all know that a root can be difficult to pull up.

 The word bitterness comes from the Greek word – pikros; from a bitter taste as from a wild berry.  The opposite Greek word is glukos; meaning sweet.  It’s the word glucose in English from which we get the word for sugar.

 Perhaps the best way to overcome bitterness is with sweetness, be kind, forgive.  Allow the joy of the Lord to override your disappointments.  Show compassion and mercy to those who hurt you.  Don’t swallow the pill of bitterness.  You’ll be glad you didn’t – and so will everyone else.

  

ThePastor’s Pocket

Pastor Bruce Freeman


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