When things aren’t going our way, and we’re praying for God to come through for us … and He doesn’t, it’s tempting to doubt His goodness, to question His justice, to become resentful and angry. It’s called a root of bitterness. [simple_tooltip content=’Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.’](He 12:15)[/simple_tooltip]
Giving in to bitterness is accusing God of being unfaithful, unjust, missing a precious opportunity to glorify Him in faith when all seems lost. It’s presuming that we’re being treated unfairly, but how do we know what’s fair? Isn’t this raw presumption and pride? Why is this so tempting for us? What good ever comes of it?
No suffering is easy, but sinning in our pain always makes it worse. Bitterness steals our joy and hope; it can spread quickly into others suffering with us.
We’re saved by hope, so when we’re seeing rock bottom let’s do as David did: “But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” [simple_tooltip content=’And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.’](1Sa 30:6)[/simple_tooltip] Let’s humble ourselves, remember what we deserve, and be thankful in everything.
Nothing’s too hard for Jehovah; every promise He’s ever made He’ll keep. He is perfectly just; He only allows evil in order to glorify Himself, and He will right all wrongs. [simple_tooltip content=’Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: dnd the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.’](Is 4:4-5)[/simple_tooltip] Let’s count on His faithfulness and rejoice in Him, especially when it looks hopeless … that’s His specialty.
The source of bitterness is pride; thus the antidote to bitterness is humility, which leads to thankfulness. Bitterness presumes we’re not being treated as well as we deserve, which is pride; humility remembers that we deserve everlasting punishment and is thankful unto joy, at the very least, for the mercy of God in salvation. Bitterness cannot coexist with humility and thankfulness. It is a sin to be bitter because it is a sin to be proud and unthankful.