Today's lesson really, really applied to me. But before I go any farther, can I just say how much I love the way Beth Moore continually shows us how the Old Testament is constantly pointing to Jesus? That even as far back as the beginning of time, God's plan to bring us a Savior was being worked out! The way the Old and the New Testaments interconnect and weave together so seamlessly the story of salvation for God's children never ceases to amaze and thrill me!
OK! Back to today's lesson. Bitterness is something that seems to come so easily to me as I walk through life - definitely not an aspect of my character of which I'm proud. I tend to be introverted and shy and extremely passive-aggressive, and I usually view problems in a slightly negative light. It's so easy for me to feel wronged by others and to hold on to that wrong (classic grudge holder right here!) forever.
When I came to this in our reading, it brought tears to my eyes:
OK! Back to today's lesson. Bitterness is something that seems to come so easily to me as I walk through life - definitely not an aspect of my character of which I'm proud. I tend to be introverted and shy and extremely passive-aggressive, and I usually view problems in a slightly negative light. It's so easy for me to feel wronged by others and to hold on to that wrong (classic grudge holder right here!) forever.
When I came to this in our reading, it brought tears to my eyes:
"Why wait any longer? We are here for such a brief time. In order to heal, you may need to start by forgiving. Yet you may fear as I did, 'If I forgive, that will make it all right, and it's not all right.' Let God whisper into your ear what He whispered to me: 'No, My child; forgiving will make you all right.'" (Beth Moore, 2007)
How I pray to be able to let go of the bitterness in my life and forgive so that I can experience my own Elim!
What about you?
Has God ever led you to taste your own bitterness? If so, what was the occasion, and how have you allowed Him to sweeten your bitter water?
What about you?
Has God ever led you to taste your own bitterness? If so, what was the occasion, and how have you allowed Him to sweeten your bitter water?
8 comments:
Forgiveness is actually one of the few areas in life I don't struggle with ... really not sure why as my mother has major problems in this area. Maybe it is because I have seen that and know how much turmoil it has caused her ... probably much more than the people she didn't forgive, which totally echos the posting of "forgiving will make YOU all right".
While I may not have difficulties forgiving people, I have found, as I have also seen in my mother, that with the bad things that people do to me comes more and more cynicism. I want so badly to have a childlike view of the world and the people in it ..... I can only hope God keeps my heart & mind open to the goodness out there.
One of my favorite quotes is from Ronald Reagan as he said "I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will always eventually triumph. And there is purpose and worth to each and every life". May that quote help to remind us that people do little out of spite and really are good...deep down....thus helping to better handle the forgiveness and bitterness issues we all must face.
PS - miss you too Meghan ... hope to see you soon!
Sorry just thought of something funny to add ... that definitely applies to the question of the day.
Have I ever tasted my own bitterness and how did God help me to sweeten the bitter water?
Just a few weeks ago, I was quite bothered by the heavy-footed guy that lives above me ... as much as I fought doing it, I gave into my bitterness and took a broom to the ceiling ... well within 10 seconds my broom broke in half. I seriously just started laughing and looked up to God and said "I get it ... just let it go". :-)
Tawnya - I couldn't help but to laugh out loud about your broom story! I too am very cynical and as you probably know Kris trusts anyone that comes his way.
In response to the post. I forgive and forget pretty quickly (even though my husband my say differently)! It's when someone repeatedly does something to me that offends me that it becomes harder to forget.
For example: My parents bring me a TON of bitterness. Don't get me wrong, I love them dearly and I'm very close to them. It's just that everytime I get around them I tend to be such a negative person and my self esteem crashes! This has been an on-going struggle for me, but has escalated in the last year. I hate it that everytime I drop them off at the airport I cry the whole way home because of how they make me feel. It causes me to be so bitter towards them. I pray and pray for patience and for a forgiving heart, and God ALWAYS lifts my burdens and sets me at ease - and then I actually can't wait to see them again!
They are my parents, and I know I wouldn't be who I am today if it wasn't partly for them! I do love them with my whole heart. I just wish to see more of God in their hearts!
Yup! Cynicism is right up there with my struggle with forgiveness - I know exactly what you're talking about. And I have to pray daily against it...some days REALLY hard! Isn't it a little terrifying how much we absorb from watching the way our parents handled things(terrifying because I am now a parent and realize that there are two little pairs of eyes watching me at all times) and how much that shapes the way we do things? Not that that is an excuse, hence the constant prayer!
I like the quote -I'm going to go write it down - and funny, funny story! And sooo appropriate!
the quote 'No, My child; forgiving will make you all right' really hit home with me. My biggest struggle right now is being bitter about a family situation and this hit me square in the face. It's time to forgive and expereince my own Elim!
oh, this is such a struggle!... there are a few relationships in my life that i have struggled (and am presently struggling) with having bitterness! not to mention, it seems when i do actually let go a little and try to forgive, it can come SO quickly rushing back with a certain comment or even just a thought of the past!!! i have to guard so tightly my thoughts and continually give them over to the Lord in order to be free of this! i have tasted the sweet freedom of forgiveness--on both sides! and that is truly what i long for... i don't know why i have learn this lesson over and over! or why i think this time hanging onto the bitterness will be much better than letting it go!... it is hard, but it is worth it and it is necessary in our lives!! God is well aware of the cancer of bitterness, and that's why He calls us to let it go! and He has more than shown us the extent to which He will go to redeem us and forgive us!! who are we to feel we have the "right" to not forgive??!!... this day was a good study... also a good reminder of those little eyes that are watching us--watching the way we handle things and the way we choose (or choose NOT) to forgive!!!
also, tawnya, hilarious story about the broom!:)
anya, i pray healing will come to your family situation!...
When I finished this lesson, I actually asked God why I had done it, b/c I was longing for him to reach out and touch me, but nothing jumped from the page. Only after reading your comments did I realize that I was harboring bitterness today! We just moved into a furnished house yesterday and I've been frustrated that some things weren't as clean as I'd have liked. I was bitter that whoever lived here before didn't clean it as well as they should have. Thank you girls for helping me process this. And, by the way, I realized today that if I listed all the things I was thankful for about this home, I'd have a long, long list. I think bitterness causes us to forget all the things that we could be praising the Lord over.
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