Bitterness, The Drink That Poisons Us

By Paula Williamson, guest writer

Bitterness should be on the list of fatal toxins. When we hold on to the offense others have done to us, it is like drinking poison and expecting them to die. Bitterness eats away at us, the person we were created to be. It robs us of our God-given destiny and sours every part of our lives and relationships. It is like toxic gas that everyone around us can smell. The beginning of freedom is forgiving others, ourselves, and God.

It Is Written

EPHESIANS 4: 31 -32 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]. 32 Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.

Forgiveness The Antidote

Forgiveness is confusing to many. It has nothing to do with whether the offender deserves it or with our feelings. It is simply a choice that frees us from the harm an offender has caused. Unforgiveness does not keep the offender in jail; it keeps us there. Once we choose to forgive, the prison door opens for us, and we are free. The offender no longer has a hold on us. None of us deserve forgiveness, yet we are to forgive just as Christ forgave us.

Prayer

Lord, You set us free for freedom. Help us let go of bitterness, anger, clamor, resentment, strife, fault-finding, slander, malice, spite, and all the ugliness that steals the abundant life You died to give us. Grant us the grace to let it go and release it to You. 

Takeaway

The antidote to bitterness and the path to freedom is simply the words, “I forgive them.”