From Bitterness to Forgiveness

Bitterness is not something that surfaces overnight. It haunts you for days. Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, and months can turn into years. Pretty soon, you can’t pinpoint where the root of bitterness began. All you know is that it has begun to consume your heart and life. Although there is no excuse for it, we are imperfect creatures and it is inevitable that we will become angry toward each other. Sometimes you don’t realize how hurt you are until you think about it constantly. You slowly become consumed by bitterness. It pulls your heart away from God and often causes you to doubt His goodness. We all have a choice: we can either allow bitterness to consume us or we can choose to forgive. Roots dig deep and once you allow bitterness to take hold of you, it becomes harder and harder to get free.

Forgiveness is not the path of least resistance. It's seeking compromise in the midst of hard times. It's forgiving even if there is no apology given. It's your confession of past regrets. It's never an easy task-showing kindness through your hidden mask of brokenness and pain. In the Bible, we are taught we need to forgive. Jesus was a prime example of this. That doesn't make it any easier. Bitterness can be turned into forgiveness when you allow God to speak to you. You may have to ask God to forgive you for harboring bitterness first before you can forgive others. Roots of bitterness can bury deep, but God's forgiveness is deeper still.

When I first experienced church hurt, it felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. I never thought I would be hurt in this way. After I began attending a different church, I did some soul-searching. I struggled trying to figure out who I was, because I wasn't who I wanted to be. As the years passed, I realized I wasn't in the same place and God was working on me. Although it took time, I began to forgive. It wasn't something that happened overnight and it is a continual process. God had to dig up the roots of bitterness and betrayal that had buried themselves deep in my heart. He turned it around for His good and glory. God used my past church hurt to foster my present spiritual growth. I'm NOT the same person I used to be and thank God for it! He changed my life from the inside out. It all began with surrender to God-releasing bitterness and choosing forgiveness with His help.

Within the past 5 or 6 years of my life, there is one fundamental truth: I AM CHANGED. Not because of what I've done, but because of what He's done in me. He took what was broken and turned it into something beautiful. God pulled up the roots of bitterness that had begun to fester inside. He was there for me in every moment-through the hurt, tears, questions, confusion, and even anger at times. He didn't have to do it, yet here I stand. I could've been the lost cause. I could have left the church, driven by bitterness and pushed away like so many others. Thank God that wasn't my story. Although I lost faith in many people, I never lost my faith in God. I have learned to trust God more than I ever did before. I have learned not to put my faith in people, but in Christ alone. I was in a rough place before God gave me peace and a newfound confidence in Him. My hope and prayer is that He will do the same for you. Don't lose heart if you're currently in a situation that you feel like God can't change. I'm living proof He can and will!