A Bitterness Checklist
Look over the following list, check all that apply to you and evaluate your level of bitterness. Then take steps towards your recovery.
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; Hebrews 12:15
Bitterness Checkup
Do you often see the negative side of people and events, expecting the worst outcomes?
Do you hold on to past hurts and still have deep feelings of anger or hatred towards anyone?
Do you have a general doubt or skepticism towards others, their intentions or their actions?
Have you began isolating yourself from social events and find it hard to connect with others?
Do you struggle trying to empathize with others, their feelings, perspectives, and point of view?
Would admit or recognize that you are struggling to forgive people who have hurt you or those you love? Are you still holding on to grudges?
Do you often consider yourself a victim? Something happened you had no control over and it makes you angry so you blame others or externals for your unhappiness?
Have you become the sarcastic, passive aggressive person that makes others uncomfortable?
Do you find it difficult to get on with your life, to find peace or happiness now because you so dwell on the past and what happened?
Are you resentful towards others because of their success or happiness and feel like it is unfair that things are going well for them?
Have you become a complainer, a critic, defensive, or even hostile in how you deal with others?
Are you becoming hypersensitive to what others are doing or saying?
Are you finding it difficult to trust others because of the hurt your experienced?
If you answered yes to nine or more questions you might recognize that you have a problem. You do not want to live in bitterness. You want to experience victory because otherwise your bitterness springs up and contaminates others. It will hurt your family, your loved ones, your friends, and anyone that comes in touch with you.
To overcome bitterness here some steps that have the potential to give you the freedom you need.
Be honest with yourself about the problem. you cannot and will not get help if you refuse to acknowledge the problem.
Recognize how God has forgiven you and think about the Biblical truths involved in your forgiveness.
realize and believe that you are to forgive others as Christ has forgiven you. That means you put into place the same forgiveness that you enjoy.
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32
Know that Jesus instructed us to forgive over and over again. We live a life of forgiveness.
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21-22
Forgiveness means dismissing or releasing someone or something from a place or one’s presence. You dismiss their sin, release them from the penalty they owe, and abandon the hate you feel.
Trust that God will use whatever has happened and turn it for good. Know that what happens to you is 10% of the problem and 90% is what you do with it. Everything that happens in the believer’s life is God approved, God filtered, and God allowed.
Focus on filling your heart with Biblical truth.
Practice gratitude. Thank God because you know that He loves you and takes care of you and all those that you love.
Work at trusting others and building healthy relationships again.
Get up every day and keep working the process till you experience freedom and joy again.
Announcement
New book coming very soon.
The Ultimate Guide to Building a Healthy and Fulfilling Marriage : Strategies for Forgiveness, Love, and Grace.
It should be available on Amazon Kindle in about four days.
Hear Bridgette Young share her testimony
in our third and last discussion. Sign up on Apple Podcast or Spotify to get each week’s episode.
When tragedy strikes, the journey through grief can feel like an endless night with no dawn in sight. But within the darkest times, stories of hope and healing can become guiding lights. Such is the story of Bridgette Young, a missionary whose narrative unfolds in the latest episode of our podcast, revealing the depths of grief and the heights of healing that can follow.
Wonderful help indeed