Uprooting Bitterness

Love my enemies? "Yeah, right," you may be thinking. "You don't know what they did! You don't know how many times they repeated it!" Very few believers understand the thief that unforgiveness is–stealing the fullness of all the Lord has for us.

No one wakes up one day and decides to be bitter. It’s often a years-long process. Bitterness starts as a seed planted on fertile soil. It is the seed rooted in broken promises, betrayal, rejection, and lies. The fertile soil is often the heart with years of pain left unaddressed, coupled with an endless checklist of offenders who were never forgiven. That unforgiveness creates fertile ground for bitterness to take root, be watered, and grow into an entire grove! Before you know it, you are the mom who constantly barks orders at your kids in anger, complains to all your friends, and endlessly talks about your ex-husband’s new wife. How did you get here? Unforgiveness.

When left unchecked, unforgiveness turns into a seed of bitterness that produces much fruit. In fact, I'd say it's one of the fastest-growing fruits known to man! And the fruit bitterness produces, none of us want! Bitterness causes us to be isolated from friends, emotionally closed off, and unwilling to engage in new friendships. It often causes us to be self-focused instead of others focused.

The weight of unfair pain can often grow heavy, and it's tempting to demand repayment for the hurt. But forgiveness isn't about letting the other person off the hook; it's about setting yourself free from the possibility of bitterness.

In the Lord’s Prayer, found in Matthew 6, Jesus teaches us the necessity of forgiving others. (See Matt. 6:12 NLT). This isn’t a suggestion. It’s a Kingdom principle. As a Kingdom citizen, we must heed Jesus’ warning. Look at Matt. 6: 14-15 NLT. “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Whoa. That's a big deal. We want the Lord to forgive us when we fail, but we must choose also to forgive others. Obedience to God often means choosing forgiveness, even when emotions scream otherwise. Why? Because forgiveness is obedience, and it brings freedom. Holding onto unforgiveness gives the enemy a foothold—fueling fear, anxiety, anger, depression, and bitterness. The longer it stays, the deeper it digs.

Forgiveness isn’t always instant. It’s a process—sometimes daily. But with each act of surrender, God begins to heal what’s broken. Don’t let bitterness steal your peace. Choose forgiveness. Choose freedom. Let God transform your heart and restore your life.

Points to Ponder:

• What unforgiveness are you holding onto that may be hindering your spiritual growth? Is there someone you need to forgive today, even if they haven’t apologized?
• How has unforgiveness affected your peace and emotional health?