Recently, my concern and prayer for those who are bitter in spirit has increased. The Lord continues to put these people in my path, so I'd like to take a few moments to speak to it.
Naomi was bitter in spirit because life had been hard. Her husband and two sons had died (think: family, strength, support, and safety gone). Job, too, was bitter in spirit because he had lost all of his children, all of his belongings, and was beset with the worst kind of affliction imaginable. The Israelites were bitter in spirit because of the oppressive lives they were forced to live. Moses had words of comfort and encouragement directly from God for the people, "but they did not listen to him because of their broken spirit and hard labor." (Ex. 6:9) A person's spirit can become bitter through excruciating pain and in devastating loss.
A person can be crushed or broken in spirit, even bitter for a time, bitter about life. Jeremiah experienced this, because of the devastation he had see before him.
But what about us, as Christ followers? Is there solid encouragement for those experiencing 'a bitter pill' in their life? How do we protect ourselves from a bitter root, which grows up and defiles many?
A bitter root has to have time to grow. Bitterness nurses unbelief and hopelessness that anything can change - or that God somehow is vengeful or unfaithful, and cannot be trusted. Bitterness holds a grudge against people or against God. In either case, if the grudge has been watered and fed by complaint, murmuring, and accusation, it will grow deeper.
Bitterness also can be deep seated resentment for things done to the innocent party, when there is no remorse on the part of the offender. The Christ follower must take steps to bless the offender, to choose with the will to forgive, even when feelings are contrary. The Christ follower can ask Jesus for help, grace, wisdom, strength in the process of forgiving, which sometimes comes in layers.
The Psalms provide us help. David cried out in despair and distress many times! He sang laments. He cried in anguish. Here is the key though: HE STAYED CONNECTED TO GOD. He did not break the communication. He cried out in his despair, told God everything, including his sometimes unwise conclusions about himself, others, and God. Through many Psalms we see David start in one place, and end up in another place, because his complaint ends in praise and even in revelation from God Himself. I have seen that in my own life, during deep times of pain and distress. When I hang in there and keep talking to God and asking Him for help and to speak, there has always been breakthrough. And it is the same for you.
Bitter life experiences test us. They test our obedience to the truth, and our faith. They are trials we all experience, in one form or another. We can find comfort in God in those times, for sometimes people do not comfort well, though they may try!
Let your heart soften and not harden in bitter life experiences, and you will find that the Lord will provide you all you need to get through it. If you allow your heart to harden, then the only way He can get to the wounds of your heart later is for that hard shell first to be broken.
Let God into the pain. Let God into the sad and lonely places. He is present. He cares. He is not distant. Know His love has not changed, and His faithfulness remains. These are eternal truths that you can firmly plant your life upon.
Naomi was bitter in spirit because life had been hard. Her husband and two sons had died (think: family, strength, support, and safety gone). Job, too, was bitter in spirit because he had lost all of his children, all of his belongings, and was beset with the worst kind of affliction imaginable. The Israelites were bitter in spirit because of the oppressive lives they were forced to live. Moses had words of comfort and encouragement directly from God for the people, "but they did not listen to him because of their broken spirit and hard labor." (Ex. 6:9) A person's spirit can become bitter through excruciating pain and in devastating loss.
A person can be crushed or broken in spirit, even bitter for a time, bitter about life. Jeremiah experienced this, because of the devastation he had see before him.
But what about us, as Christ followers? Is there solid encouragement for those experiencing 'a bitter pill' in their life? How do we protect ourselves from a bitter root, which grows up and defiles many?
A bitter root has to have time to grow. Bitterness nurses unbelief and hopelessness that anything can change - or that God somehow is vengeful or unfaithful, and cannot be trusted. Bitterness holds a grudge against people or against God. In either case, if the grudge has been watered and fed by complaint, murmuring, and accusation, it will grow deeper.
Bitterness also can be deep seated resentment for things done to the innocent party, when there is no remorse on the part of the offender. The Christ follower must take steps to bless the offender, to choose with the will to forgive, even when feelings are contrary. The Christ follower can ask Jesus for help, grace, wisdom, strength in the process of forgiving, which sometimes comes in layers.
The Psalms provide us help. David cried out in despair and distress many times! He sang laments. He cried in anguish. Here is the key though: HE STAYED CONNECTED TO GOD. He did not break the communication. He cried out in his despair, told God everything, including his sometimes unwise conclusions about himself, others, and God. Through many Psalms we see David start in one place, and end up in another place, because his complaint ends in praise and even in revelation from God Himself. I have seen that in my own life, during deep times of pain and distress. When I hang in there and keep talking to God and asking Him for help and to speak, there has always been breakthrough. And it is the same for you.
Bitter life experiences test us. They test our obedience to the truth, and our faith. They are trials we all experience, in one form or another. We can find comfort in God in those times, for sometimes people do not comfort well, though they may try!
Let your heart soften and not harden in bitter life experiences, and you will find that the Lord will provide you all you need to get through it. If you allow your heart to harden, then the only way He can get to the wounds of your heart later is for that hard shell first to be broken.
Let God into the pain. Let God into the sad and lonely places. He is present. He cares. He is not distant. Know His love has not changed, and His faithfulness remains. These are eternal truths that you can firmly plant your life upon.
