Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. —Ephesians 4:32 ESV
Bitterness robs us of joy. It makes us critical and irritated. It inevitably drives a wedge between us and the object of our frustration.
We water and feed our bitter roots, hoping that somehow we can hurt the person who has hurt us, but essentially we end up poisoning ourselves instead.
The more I study bitterness in the Bible, the less I can tolerate it in my own heart. I want no part of it. In fact, I’ve adopted a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to bitterness. That means:
- When my children complain about dinner, I choose to say a blessing to them.
- When old hurts bubble up to the surface, I refuse to nurture them and instead ask Jesus to empower me to forgive.
- When my friends are thoughtless or disengaged, I reach out instead of mentally placing the ball in their court.
Refuse to justify any amount of bitterness in your own heart. You will be amazed at what the Holy Spirit exposes and then lovingly helps you rid yourself of.
Make it Personal
What would a zero-tolerance policy against bitterness look like in your thoughts, words, and actions toward your family and friends?