So I recently had a rather heated discussion with my son about a situation that created some tension around the Rod household. Ok, it was less a discussion and more of an argument. Not one of my proudest moments as a parent for multiple reasons. Far from perfect remember?

Now let me stop here for just a moment. My son, who recently turned 14, is a really awesome kid. Not a perfect kid, but I shouldn’t expect him to be. He knows how to work hard, he is good with money, and he has a likable personality. His wisdom and insight into real life situations often takes me by surprise. He is learning to become a Godly man despite having received part of his genetic makeup from me. And it seems often I complicate rather than assist in his transition to full blown Manhood. -Sigh- Thankfully the grace and mercy of God is much larger and stronger than my foolish stumbling about. 

Anyway, during this argument, we came upon the subject of bitterness. Ok, I admit, I was the one who brought it up. Now, I am not going to go into all the details of the conversation, but it ended with a really bad reference to “Frozen”. Yes, the Disney movie that dads with little girls have had to endure for the last couple of years. “Let it go!” I said a little too loudly. “Let it go! Don’t hold it back anymore!” Cue laughter. Corny, I know, but it helped break the tension. He despises the movie as much as I do. (Did I mention he has nine sisters?)

Since then, I have been thinking more deeply about bitterness.  What a nasty, deceptive beast it is. Bitterness never leaps around a corner, rears it ugly head in a fierce tribal screech then clamps its lion-like jaws around you as it devours you whole. If it did, we could easily side-step the monster and flee to safety. No, bitterness starts as a teeny tiny almost imperceptible sniffle. A sniffle from a small wound or tender bruise.  “That hurt really bad.” It whispers soothingly. The small sniffle slowly morphs into a subtle misting over of the eyes. “They hurt you so bad. You don’t deserve this”. Bitterness is oh so clever and it loves to masquerade in its many disguises.  “Hurt feelings” and “Wounded heart” are two of its more common facades. One of its favorites is “Poor baby”. Poor wounded baby.

With a gentle allure, it invites you to cuddle against its soft downy fur. So warm, so comforting. “No one understands what you have been through. No one knows how you feel.” It drones on in your ear. “No one loves you. No one cares about you. They all want to hurt you.” The more it speaks, the more you believe what it says, and the further you burrow into its soothing, affectionate embrace. All the while, like the vilest of venom, its poison of self pity is so stealthily released throughout your veins you never even notice it is there.

But it is. And it is affecting you. Blinding your eyes to true love. Clamping shut your ears to truth. Shuttering your heart and mind to those that want to reach out to you, help you, rescue you…but they can’t. Because bitterness won’t allow you another partner.

Though totally controlling and fiercely demanding, Bitterness is very patient and methodical. Bit by bit, it will invade and occupy every part of your being, every corner of your soul. And once it has full control, it’s grip is nearly impossible to escape. Its steely choke hold will not be released until it squeezes every drop of love, joy, and peace from your heart. It will not be truly satisfied until it destroys your relationships, your family, and ultimately your entire life. It will not stop until you are shaking your gnarled fist at your Creator as you blame Him for every injustice and unfair circumstance of your wretched hate-filled existence.

And it all started with a small insignificant hurt that you refused to let go.

Let it go.

Think about it. We will all experience injustice in one form or another. We are all going to be hurt and experience pain. Life is filled with pain.

But we have to let it go.

The Apostle Paul spoke about letting go in his first letter to the Corinthian Christians. Listen to his solution to defeating bitterness before it destroys you and those around you,1 Cor 6:7 NKJV “Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?” Another portion of Scripture reminds us vengeance is in the hands of the Lord and not our own.

In other words, just “Let It Go”. Forgive those that have wronged you and go of your hurt feelings.Refuse to allow any injustice/offense/pain, big or small, to rule you, your life, and your future.

I know this isn’t always easy. Fortunately, you have all the resources of our Heavenly Father at your disposal if you will just ask. And He isn’t in the business of letting you down.