Imprisoned by Bitterness!

 

Quotation

 

Where does bitterness come from? It usually starts out small. But like the proverbial snowball rolling down the hill it increases until it causes an avalanche in one’s life.

 

Barry Denzil Haney

 

Verse

 

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

 

Ephesians 4:31-32

 

Reflection

 

Bitterness is defined as anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly; resentment. For many, bitterness becomes a way of life. Their worldview is characterized by chronic resentment as they ruminate over how they’ve been victimized. This way of thinking can have severe harmful effects on the psyche such as prolonging mental and emotional pain, lead to long-lasting anxiety and depression, precipitate vengeful acts, create or deepen an attitude of distrust, and undermine your physical health. (Seltzer)

 

What does God think about bitterness?

 

According to Michael Linn, the key elements of bitterness are unresolved anger, the inability to grieve, and a lack of control. In order for us to let go of bitterness we have to accept and forgive. (Linn)

 

In Romans 12:19, Paul is telling us God does not want us to take revenge for perceived wrongs against us, but to show restraint and be peaceable:

 

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

 

We need to eliminate bitterness from our heart. Hatefulness and holiness cannot exist in the same heart. Hebrews 12:14 tells us we cannot have a relationship with God if bitterness is in our heart:

 

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

 

Illustration

 

Leonard Holt was a paragon of respectability. He was a middle-aged, hard-working lab technician who had worked at the same Pennsylvania paper mill for nineteen years. Having been a Boy Scout leader, an affectionate father, a member of the local fire brigade, and a regular church attender, he was admired as a model in his community. Until that image exploded in a well-planned hour of bloodshed one brisk October morning.

 

A proficient marksman, Leonard Holt stuffed two pistols in his coat pockets and drove to the mill. He stalked slowly into his shop and began shooting with calculated frenzy. He filled several co-workers with two or three bullets apiece, firing more than thirty shots, killing some men he had known for more than fifteen years. When the posse found him standing defiantly in his doorway, he snarled, “Come and get me, you….I’m not taking any more of your….!” Bewilderment swept the community.

 

Puzzled policemen and friends finally found a train of logic behind his brief reign of terror. Down deep within the heart of Leonard Holt rumbled the giant of resentment. His monk-like exterior concealed the seething hatred within. The investigation yielded the following facts. Several victims had been promoted over him while he remained in the same position. More than one in Holt’s carpool had quit riding with him due to his reckless driving. The man was brimming with resentment—rage that could be held no longer. Beneath his picture in Time, the caption told the story: “Responsible, Respectable, and Resentful.”

 

 

Prayer

 

Our Heavenly Father,

 

Help me rid myself of bitterness! Help me to

not be resentful of others because of perceived

injustices. Help me to instead see them as Your

creation and strife to love them as You love me!

 

Rid my heart of bitterness and replace it with Your

holiness. Help me accept and forgive. By doing this,

I can bridge the gulf separating me from You and

begin an eternal loving relationship with You!

 

In the precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior,

 

Amen!

 

Worship

 

Heal My Broken Heart by Patty Felker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=845hdo6RALM

 

God Bless You,

Barry

 

Seltzer, Leon F. “Don't Let Your Anger ‘Mature’ Into Bitterness.” Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers, January 14, 2015. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evolution-the-self/201501/don-t-let-your-anger-mature-bitterness. 

Green, Michael P. 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000. Print.