It is important to know how to overcome bitterness biblically. Bitterness can spring up in all sorts of situations, but it’s something that must be dealt with on a daily basis. How do you deal with bitterness biblically? How do you get rid of bitterness biblically? How does the Bible describe the dangers, causes, and consequences of bitterness?
What is bitterness and why does it happen to us
Bitterness is a condition of the soul that causes someone to be angry, resentful, or vindictive. It can also cause one to become unkind and unsympathetic. How does this happen? How do we get bitterness in our lives? How do we overcome it biblically? These are all good questions, but before you can figure out how to deal with bitterness biblically, you need to know what the Bible says about it!
We live in a world where bitterness is everywhere. How do you overcome bitterness? How does one deal with it? How can we get rid of this awful emotion that has the potential to destroy our lives and relationships? I’ve spent my life trying to find answers to these questions, but I have found hope in the Bible.
These are some questions I will answer for you in this post!
How to overcome Bitterness Biblically.
There are a few Biblical steps to take if you are trying to overcome this awful emotion. How can we get rid of bitterness biblically? It’s not an easy task, but the steps I will list below might help you!
1. Ask God for Wisdom and Understanding – James 1:5
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5 (ESV).
First, ask God for wisdom and understanding about what He wants from your life. How do we know to ask God for wisdom and understanding? How does asking God help us get rid of our bitterness biblically?
By asking for wisdom, God will give us His perspective on the situation. God has a plan for our lives, but it is up to us to listen and follow what he says.
You need wisdom and understanding to overcome bitterness according to the will of God by knowing what He wants from your life.
Proverbs 2:6 (NIV) “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
You can ask God for wisdom by praying the following:
Lord, I want to live life according to Your will. How can I do that? Please give me guidance on what You want from my life so I can learn how to overcome bitterness and live a just life.
2. Trusting God while using the situation for good – Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 2:28 (NIV).
When dealing with bitterness, we believe that God uses every event in our lives for His greater purposes and that He will use what we are going through for our good.
In James, God tells us that whenever we have a trial of any kind—a difficulty or an emotional struggle—He will give us the strength needed to handle it and ultimately bring about His glory.
God is in control of your life and all the things you are going through.
By trusting God, we will be able to overcome bitterness by knowing His purposes for the situation or problem at hand. Trusting God while using a difficult situation for good can help us begin believing again.
3. Concentrate on the good in your life – Philippians 4:8
“Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8 (CSB)
The good in your life includes your relationship with God, your new growth in Him, and the people who love you. Dwelling on these things will help heal bitterness.
Concentrating on the good in your life, your relationship with God, and your loved ones by remembering that God is always with you and wants the best for you will help to heal bitterness.
Avoid those things that bring bitterness while concentrating on the good in your life.
4. We should pray for those who have hurt us – Romans 12:14-21
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone” Romans 12:17 (NIV)
When you have unproductive thoughts like bitterness, try praying for the person who hurt you.
Jesus teaches us to pray for our enemies in the parable of the tares among the wheat. In this story, Jesus says at first He instructed His servants not to pull up weeds because you don’t know who they are until harvest time.
If God prompts you to bless the person who hurt you, try to do it in a way that is not obvious. You might send them an anonymous card or note of encouragement, or bake their favorite brownies and slip the container anonymously on their porch with no one else around.
5. Learn for Forgive at all Times – Ephesians 4:32
“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)
When being kind, we should make room in your heart to love again. We have all been wronged by someone at some point, but we should not let that experience define us or stop us from being kind.
The importance of forgiving, even when the other person doesn’t apologize or change their behavior towards us.
We can learn to overcome bitterness biblically by practicing the following: be kind, forgive at all times and give others a second chance when they have wronged you. This will go a long way in our relationships with other people.
When we seek revenge or hold on to past hurts that others have inflicted upon us, it affects us and those around us. We should forgive others as we want to be forgiven by God.
As Christians, our primary focus is on the Gospel of Jesus Christ all other things are secondary in comparison. How can we love if there’s hate? How can we show kindness when bitterness abounds?
See my recent post on Bitterness and Unforgiveness.
6. Resist Satan’s false accusations – 1 Peter 5:8-9
“Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:9 (NIV)
Resisting Satan and his false accusations in our lives means that we should ask God to help us resist and overcome the lies of Satan. We need to pray for His will to be done instead of ours, it is through prayer that we can find strength.
Satan will always accuse us, he will try to make us feel that we are not good enough or worthy of God’s love. The first step to resisting Satan is knowing the truth and standing firm on it.
Remembering the lies of Satan brings anger so what should be done instead is pray for knowledge from God about His promises in your life.
7. We must repent when bitterness takes over – Psalm 92:12-15
“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;” Psalm 92:12 (NIV).
Repenting your sins (bitterness) can lead to joy and peace in your life. You can repent by confessing your sins and meditating on God’s goodness and favor in your life.
When we focus on our own sin, Satan can use it to make us bitter towards others or ourselves. How does this happen? We compare ourselves to other people reminding us of the sins that they have committed against us personally which leads to bitterness.
But focus carefully on God’s conviction, and sincerely repent of any sinful attitudes or behaviors you may have, no matter how little in comparison to your offender.
8. Release The Power of Bitterness with the help of The Holy Spirit – Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13 (KJV)
The Spirit of God can help you release all bitterness because you cannot do it on your own and have peace and joy in your life. How does The Holy Spirit help you release the power of bitterness?
The Holy Spirit will help you release the power of bitterness when you sincerely repent of any sins and ask for forgiveness.
How does a Christian overcome bitter feelings?
A Christian knows how to deal with feeling bitter by praying through them asking God to help release your anger, pain, shame, and guilt from past hurts so that you can forgive others completely. How do Christians know if they
When we let go, God can begin to heal our hurts which allows us to forgive others for their actions towards us. It is only when we truly repent that forgiveness from other people comes about as well.
9. Reflect on God’s goodness and love for you – Exodus 33:19
“And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” Exodus 33:19 (ESV)
Reflecting on God’s goodness and love for you will remind you that He is all-knowing and sees everything.
Remember God’s Faithfulness Psalm 33:18
“When I said, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love held me up.” Psalm 94:18 (ESV)
The Lord has been faithful to us throughout our lives and will continue to be. He is holding us up even when we feel like we are slipping and falling apart. So when fighting bitterness, we can be confident that the Lord is with us, will never leave us, and always love us.
Remember How God has Blessed You Psalm 34:19-20
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Proverbs 12:21 (ESV)
10. Pray to God about your Bitterness and ask for help – John 14:13-14
“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:13-14 (ESV)
Pray to God about your bitterness and ask Him to help you fight bitterness and overcome it.
Prayer is a great way to start fighting your bitterness and overcome it as well by talking to God about all of the things that make you bitter, asking Him for forgiveness, and then thanking him for everything good in your life. It’s also important to reflect on these gratitude lists or moments from your life when you were happy so that you can remember all of the good things in your life.
Reflecting on gratitude lists and happy moments is a great way to overcome bitterness biblically because it helps us realize just how much we have to be grateful for – which makes us less likely to wallow in self-pity, frustration, or anger.
Lastly, you can overcome bitterness biblically by surrounding yourself with positive influences and helping others who are less fortunate than you. This will help change your perspective on life for the better, which in turn could prevent future feelings of resentment towards other people.
Other ways to fight bitterness
- Write down all of the things that make you grateful, such as people who care about you or good moments in your life, and reflect on them to help you fight bitterness.
- Spend time talking with friends and family members to remind yourself how much they love you.
- Think about what blessings have come into your life because of other people – even if they hurt you at first or didn’t do exactly what was expected of them.
Conclusion.
The Bible is full of wisdom about how to deal with the bitterness that everyone experiences in life. If you are struggling with this emotion, check out these verses and do your best to apply them in your daily life. They might help you get through what seems like an impossible situation!
What do you think about the article? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Do you have any unanswered questions or want to share how this post has impacted you personally?
Feel free to ask questions if something isn’t clear or make a comment below for more information on any verse. We’re here to answer anything we can!
1 comment
I have struggled with bitterness and resentment for years because of what seemed like cruel comments and ridicule from others. Also from broken heart after rejection causing me to feel broken and worthless. Even emasculated as a man.
It gives me hope that I may gradually find strength to forgive others and be forgiven because of God’s abundant grace; to find and experience peace finally from the mental anguish caused by bitterness.
Thanks for your article. God bless.