I believe God wants us to experience secure, fulfilling, and lasting relationships.
However, because of sin relationships are damaged and destroyed.
I’m always amazed at how devastating relational trauma can be for a person. Some of the most intense pain is not broken bones or physical pain at all, but emotional pain caused by fractured relationships.
Sadly, this terrible pain is all too commonly compounded by a response of rebellion, bitterness or unforgiveness.
Many situations involving offense and bitterness remind me of those commercials advertising pharmaceuticals that show peaceful scenery and smiling people and promise to help with one issue but may cause “caughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, diarrhea, depression …. etc.” (all in the fine print at the bottom of the screen.)
Bitterness and unforgiveness are like that. They seem promising, even attractive in our hurt but in the end they are even more devastating than the initial offense.
Hebrews 12:15 says “see to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many”.
Bitterness not only hurts you, it can cause serious pain trouble in the lives of those around you.
Jesus is the key to healing our relational issues with people and with God. Through him our relationship with God can be restored. As we receive God’s love, we are then able to forgive and love others.
Don’t allow bitterness to poison you any more. Choose to forgive. Let go of your bitterness. You’ll be glad you did.