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

Bitterness involves a constant interplay between the hands and hte heart, or between the mouth and the heart. It should not surprise us that in one of the Bible’s most extended explanations about the power of the tongue, we find the subject of bitterness mixed into the discussion. James 3:10-11 says, “from the same mouth comes both blessings and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? James is saying, we must examine the source that is producing the bitter words.” What lies under the surface of our actions may be more dangerous and destructive than what we see on the surface. God told Cain as he struggled with his bitterness directed toward his brother Abel, “Sin lies at the door” (Genesis 4:7). Bitterness lies in our hearts like a cancer that eats at us, and makes us miserable. We need to be aware of our hearts and allow the Lord to help us overcome the battle within us. We must learn to allow the Lord to deal with the bitter circumstances and people who are around us. Do not choose to allow … READ MORE

Do you have any bitterness in your life? This is not the type of question that we normally ponder. Yet, the costs of not addressing this issue are high and varied. Bitterness is often connected to anxiety, worry, depression, and fear. Marriages often dissolve and families frequently disintegrate when bitterness is left unaddressed. The Bible wars against unrestrained bitterness, because the God of heaven does not want anyone to suffer these terrible effects. We are reminded in Hebrews 12:15 to be careful of a bitter lifestyle, where we read, “Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.” One of the dangers of bitterness is that while it destroys the vessel it is in, it also damages those vessels that they are around. To many people have allowed this characteristic to hinder their relationships, their effectiveness, and their joy, and in so doing they poison the people around them. Evaluate your heart today, and see if there is any root of bitterness growing in your soul. If so, weed it out, don’t attempt to bury it deeper, rather, pull out the root so … READ MORE