Member-only story
How We Can Overcome Bitterness
Why Christians need to recognize and overcome bitterness.
I look back at my long life and see there are many reasons why I could become bitter. I grew up in a dysfunctional family with physical and emotional abuse. I was bullied in school and the workplace. Sometimes I was rejected and depressed. Other times I struggled with feeling stuck and like I was a failure. Despite these challenges, however, God has enabled me to fight off the bitterness that threatened to engulf me.
When the trials of life challenge us, we may descend into anger, pain, unforgiveness, a desire for revenge, and eventually, bitterness. These feelings can make our lives miserable and negatively impact the people around us. We can fight bitterness by applying Christian principles to our lives such as forgiveness, loving others, and giving up a desire for revenge.
Reasons Why We Feel Bitter
There are several reasons why we come to this fork in the road of life such as:
- Being hurt by the words or actions of other people
- Receiving harsh or destructive criticism
- betrayal of trust, especially if it is a spouse or close friend
- Rejection
- Being the victim of unfair treatment and injustice
