In the Old Testament we are given an example of one who became better in the midst of difficult circumstances. Genesis 37-41 tells of the life of Joseph and how he goes from being sold into slavery by his own brothers, to being accused of Rape and put in prison, to his rise to become the “Prime Minister” of Egypt. Jacob characterizes his life as one who the “archers bitterly attacked him” in Genesis 49. Yet through all that he endured, there is no hint in Scripture that Joseph was in any way a sinfully bitter man. Joseph faced the bitter circumstances of his life and grew and in and through them. Joseph’s choice was made because he understood something very important, which we see in Genesis 50:19-20 as he addresses the fears of his brothers after his father’s death. “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? … you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” In the midst of our bitter circumstances, we have to remember that God has a plan and purpose for allowing … READ MORE

One of our battles with life is that we often categorize our lives based on what we believe is in our best interests. We need to understand that life is hard, and we learn much from the test of life. While we do not like those tests, they are often the motivation we need to learn. God says in Isaiah 55:8-9, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways,” … “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” God has a plan and purpose for the events He allows in our lives, and we need to learn to trust Him because He understands the goal of those events. many of us have been so conditioned by a watered down, “just be joyful” version of Christianity that we are practically incapable of acknowledging aspects of our lives that are being played out in the minor key. Scripture uses the word “Bitter” to describe some of our past or present circumstances so we can face them head-on before we cross the line into sinful bitterness of heart and life. Reminding ourselves that every … READ MORE

People and life in general can treat us in all sorts of ways that the Bible would call bitter. Yet, the Word of God has a very rich and robust theology of suffering to help us respond well to bitter circumstances. Often, we are told, by well-meaning people, to simply apply the words of Philippians 4:4 (“Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice”) to those things, and move one with our lives. The problem is that this ignores the great portions of Scripture that help us process pain and hurt. Being unable or unwilling to speak in the right way, at the right time, to the right people about the bitter circumstances of life is not an antidote but an accelerant to gaining a bitter heart and life. How we handle bitter circumstances will either lead to or prevent a bitter response in both the inner and outer person. If we simply ignore, hurt, pain, or disappointment, we may not see the visible logjam of bitter words and actions. That unaddressed sadness, hurt, and grief will be like a silt that builds up over time. We must find a way to dig down and dredge out that … READ MORE