The Rat Poison

As we all know, life can get hard, from people not being nice to situations just not being great. We’ve all had those days/weeks/months maybe even years where we feel like the world is against us!

When this happens, we have to choose which way we are going to act and respond to the hurt, the disappointment and even the betrayal that life throws at us.

We can get angry and demand justice!!! Or we can forgive and move on!

This is a challenge that I faced last year: a lot of things happened one after another… and let’s just say I didn’t always immediately choose forgiveness.  I was angry and I wanted justice!

The only problem with this is that my anger and wanting justice turned into bitterness.

And I found myself thinking over and over about the situation all the time, so much so that it became the only thing I could talk about!

In the Go Church Bible reading plan this week, there is a verse that says this:

Revelation 8:10-11 NLT

“Then the third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch. It fell on one-third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star was Bitterness. It made one-third of the water bitter, and many people died from drinking the bitter water.”

Sometimes when things don’t go the way we planned or situations happen or even when people hurt us we can feel like a massive ‘great star’ has fallen from the sky and is blowing everything up!

In Proverbs 4:23 (AMP) it says “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” Our hearts are a source of life for us and for others around us.

And where does bitterness take root? In our hearts: the wellspring of life.  If we are not careful, the bitterness that we develop can destroy our wellspring of life!

I heard a quote the other day: bitterness is like drinking rat poison and thinking it will hurt and kill the other person!

Bitterness will only hurt and kill you!  And it is one of the most effective ways the enemy can attack us.  It keeps us thinking about the justice we deserve, about what others have done to us and about the situation that has happened!

If we fall into the trap of the enemy, he is sitting back with his feet up in his armchair, enjoying his newspaper and resting!  This is because we are destroying ourselves, our calling, our relationships and our hearts, out of which flows the wellspring of life.

If this sounds like you or you have felt like this in the past… know you’re not alone, so many people have felt like this.  But it’s not too late to uproot this root of bitterness!

A massive star might have fallen and destroyed something in your life… and yes, maybe you do deserve justice for what has happened.

But bitterness is not the answer: forgiveness is.

This week, follow these few steps to unroot bitterness:

1. Tell God how you feel.  Be honest. He cares for you.
2. Forgive those that have hurt you.
3. Get back into God’s word and pray with Him and let Him speak into the situation.
4. Let God heal you and move you forward in your walk with Him and in your life.

Bitterness won’t go overnight but it’s an ongoing process.  Each step of the way, each time you forgive, you start to receive your joy, life and strength back!

God has got a great future ahead for you!  Let’s keep looking forward, not back!

Prayer:

Father as I take these steps to uproot bitterness in my life, give me the grace and strength to move forward into Your freedom. Enable me to get into Your Word and let You speak into my life.  Amen