It has been said that bitterness is the only acid that destroys
its own container and how true it is! Bitterness, once it takes ahold of the
human spirit, will grow like a cancer cell. It may start off small, with some
perceived slight or wrong. It may have greater beginnings, like a truly great
tragedy or betrayal. Regardless of how it starts, the results are the same.
Once it takes hold it will not just go away. It takes the hand of a skillful
surgeon to remove it from our hearts.
Like cancer, bitterness will move from tissue to organ
within the human spirit. Sometimes chemotherapy will treat it well, sometimes
not. Radiation may also be required. Other times it takes a radical surgery to
get to the root of the problem and remove the cancer cells. If the entire root
is not removed the cancer almost always returns. Many times the extent of the
cancer depends on how long the person waited before admitting he was sick and
going to the doctor.
We can compare this process to remove cancer cells to
bitterness in the spirit. If caught at the beginning, bitterness can be taken
care of with a quick prayer of forgiveness. A perceived slight or wrongdoing
can be stopped from taking hold in the spirit by an apology or a handshake. If
left unchecked, however, it will continue to grow. The longer this cancer
called bitterness is allowed to grow, the greater the surgery and recovery time
will be once it is treated. If left untreated, bitterness will cause spiritual
death as assuredly as an untreated cancer will cause physical death.
It is easy for someone to deny they are sick. Perhaps they
are just tired. They’ve been working long hours. Nothing a few days of rest
will not cure. Bitterness grows the same way. We are not bitter we often say.
Someone’s words just made us angry for a moment but no need to worry about it.
We will get over it. How surprised we are when those feelings crop back up
again in a few days, weeks or months. Where did that come from we are tempted
to ask. I thought I dealt with that issue years ago. But like the physical
cancer that invades the body, this spiritual cancer of bitterness went
undetected until the symptoms were out of hand and it had to be dealt with.
What are the symptoms of bitterness? They are fairly easy to
detect if one knows the signs. A feeling of anger when someone’s name is
mentioned is a good sign that bitterness has invaded the spirit. The need to
defend oneself when a particular situation is mentioned is another. Feelings of
revenge are signs that anger has gone beyond the initial stages and the
bitterness has taken over several organs. At that stage it is time to do some
serious heart searching and unload some things from our spirits.
Cancer is a multi-billion dollar industry. The finest
doctors all over the world spend entire lifetimes experimenting with treatments
that will help the next victim. Although we can speculate about unhealthy
foods, toxins in the water, and other things, no one really knows why cancer
starts in some individuals and others escape it. Much of this nasty thing
called cancer is still a mystery.
Bitterness is another matter. We know what causes it and it
can be stopped very easily. It is always caused by unforgiveness gone
undetected. Hebrews 12:5 tells us that bitterness is a failure to apply the
grace of God every situation. Instead of releasing an offense at the very
beginning by realizing that everyone is human we dwell on it and allow it take
hold in the spirit. Once this happens there is only one treatment that never
fails. Forgiveness and release of the offense will deal with the problem 100%
of the time.
Jesus said that if we forgive others, then our heavenly
Father would forgive us. If we will not forgive others, then he will not
forgive us (Matthew 6:14). When we recognize that this ugly cancer of
bitterness has grown into our spirit there is only one way to deal with the
problem. We must confess to God that there is bitterness within. We must ask
him to forgive us of being bitter. We must tell him that we are willing to
forgive the offense and ask him for help in doing so. We then ask God not hold
the other person accountable for their sin against us. It may seem like an
impossible situation to forgive, but once we are willing to pray this prayer,
God will reach into our spirits and pull out the unforgiveness replacing it
will his love.
Bitterness is like a heavy weight that many carry around
their necks. It affects us not only spiritually but physically as well. Once removed,
everything about our lives is better. The heaviness is replaced by a lightheartedness
of spirit that gives new pleasure to everyday. You’ll find yourself able to
enjoy life so much better than before. You’ll find yourself praying for a
former enemy instead of complaining or cursing when that person’s name is
mentioned. And best of all, you’ll be free from the evil disease that has
ravaged your mind and spirit. If bitterness is the only acid that destroys its
own container, then love is the only healing balm that will cure it. If you are
struggling with bitterness today, why not give it to God? You’ll be so glad you
did.
Trusting in Jesus,
Sullivan Jones