Bitterness

I’m Not Bitter….Really

          “Hello, I’m Kathryn and I’m bitter.” Can you imagine introducing yourself in this way? Never! I don’t believe bitter would even be on a self-description list for most people. However, if one looked beyond their own surface layer, I believe they would find a root of bitterness lying dormant.

Bitterness encapsulates itself in many forms, shapes and sizes. A plethora of definitions exist for this powerful word. A web definition is resentment: a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill will. A Christian counseling website provided a concrete picture of bitterness, “Bitterness is loss frozen in resentment.” A further search leads to Webster’s definition, saying bitterness is marked by intensity or severity. Extremely harsh or cruel. Finally, the bible defines it in both the New and Old Testaments. Mar, the Old Testament Hebrew word means angry, chafed, discontented, great, heavy, grieved, and vexed. 1 Samuel 1:10, and Job 7:11 are examples of bitterness being defined as angry, discontented, grieved and heavy. Pikria, the New Testament Greek word means sharp, acridity, and acrid. Act 8:23 spews the toxicity of bitterness.

The Bible is not in favor of bitterness. Ephesians 4:31 warns against manifesting bitterness. Wise, Biblical counsel is given regarding the danger of maintaining bitter thoughts and attitudes (James 3:14). The toxic effects of bitterness on the body is cautioned of in Hebrews 12:15. Some of the documented, toxic, even life-threatening effects are a complaining spirit, grouchiness, headaches, fatigue, ulcers, fear, tension, anxiety, and depression.

          Mercifully, bitterness is not a permanent condition. There is a cure for a bitter spirit. Forgiveness. Forgiveness is a process, a journey. It is not often done in one step, or one day. Forgiveness takes time, sometimes days, weeks or even years. However, if we desire to heal bitterness, the only way we can do it is by enacting forgiveness.

          Forgiveness involves three steps:  First, identify our hurt and pain. Second, confess our bitterness to God and ask His forgiveness. Finally, begin to respect as God’s creation the one who hurt us, and forgive them.

We have a choice to make when we encounter bitterness: revel in it, or give it to God. Will you choose to have a complaining spirit, fatigue and headaches? Or will you choose freedom in the form of forgiveness?