³¹ Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. (Ephesians 4:31 CSB)

Why do we foster bitterness?

Let’s begin by considering that a bitterness we have fostered is justified. We have been wronged and we have a righteous anger around it. It is something that, no matter how you look at it, it ticks all the boxes on the “we are right, they are wrong” scale.

But we are the only ones who are troubled by it. No one else seems to notice or care. How frustrating!….and our bitterness deepens.

Now, go get a hammer, put your hand on a counter and slam the hammer down on your hand.

Not really, please do not go do that. But the effect is the same. Bitterness can be a thing we foster and hold on to when no one else notices or cares, and the bitterness grows. In the end, just like with the hammer, it is only we who are being hurt by our act of holding on to this bitterness. It is a contaminated well we choose to drink from over and over again and the sickness we end up having from it is of our own making.

But it is their fault, you scream!

Maybe, but it is we who allow it. It is we who give others power over us by allowing our bitterness to grow due to their acts. When we begin to take back that power and simply smile inwardly at ourselves, letting go of the situation, and placing it in Christ hands we can begin to feel at peace.

The world can be a bitter place. But we can choose our response to it.