Don’t Let the Bitter Root Get You - Encouragement Café - May 30, 2017
Don’t Let The Bitter Root Get You
By Jamy Whitaker
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21 NIV
A start to a great day. The kids are off to school. You sit down at the computer with a cup of coffee. You open your email to see what needs to be taken care of and then you spot an email from a dear friend. This day just keeps getting better, as you click to read the message.
And then it hits you right between the eyes, harsh words sent from a friend. What is going on? Your mind can’t comprehend what you just read.
In this moment, you have a decision to make, will you let these hurt feelings lodge inside your heart and turn into anger and bitterness and watch the friendship unravel right before your eyes or will you choose to forgive and move on?
I don’t know about you, but I’ve thought several times,
Yeah, that’s easy for you to say, you have no idea what she said or did to me.
Well, I get that because I have been there. I have sat down at the computer and was hit with harsh words and criticism from a friend. It hurts. And my first instinct was to build a wall around myself so I wouldn’t get hurt again and just let that friendship go.
I mean, I wasn’t the one who did anything wrong. However, I was the one locked in the chains of bitterness and unforgiveness.
I had to remind myself what the Bible says about forgiveness and what happens if we leave these issues unresolved. We are told in Romans not to take matters into our own hands when we are hurt.
Forgiveness is the only way to break the cycle of retaliation and the chains of bitterness. In Hebrews we are warned against the danger of bitterness,
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble. Hebrews 12:15 NIV
If bitterness is allowed to grow, it will turn into resentment, jealousy and dissension. Let the Holy Spirit fill you and heal the hurt that has been caused.
I am not going to tell you that it is always easy, but I speak from experience when I say that forgiveness is the only way to set the prisoner free. And the prisoner is you.
Do not let those seeds of bitterness take root in your life and grow up around your heart. With God’s help, you have the keys to walking in the freedom of forgiveness.
I challenge you to spend some time with God and have Him show you if there are areas of unforgiveness in your life. If there are take the time to forgive and stop carrying around the baggage of bitterness.
I would like to leave you with Matthew West’s song Forgiveness. Let the words wash over you today and give you the strength to forgive.
Heavenly Father, thank You that You give us the strength that we need to forgive. Grant us wisdom and discernment and courage as we climb into Your lap for comfort from the hurt of others and strengthen us to forgive as You command us to in Your Word. We love You Father. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
© 2017 by Jamy Whitaker. All rights reserved.
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