A funeral was the occasion for a friend and I to reminisce about our junior and senior high school days, some 39 plus years ago. We didn’t do the usual reminiscing by telling stories of people and things that happened while we were in school. Instead, we talked about so many of our classmates and schoolmates who had bad experiences while in school, and, who today are allowing their bitterness over those experiences to negatively affect everything they think, say and do.
That conversation brought to mind a question: Would I want to go back and relive those days?
Well, “Yes!” and “No!”
“Yes!” because those were fairly carefree days with little “real” responsibility other than school work, a few chores around the house, a part- time job, church activities, and fun times with family and friends. I was blessed with a loving family, godly disciple-makers/mentors, and good friends.
“No!” because those were very difficult days for me, and, guess what? The teenage years are very difficult for almost everyone.
As I revisit those days in my mind’s eye, I could very easily allow hurt and anger to grip me again, and roots of bitterness to take hold and grow. Some of the meanness directed at me, verbally and non-verbally, hurt me very deeply at the time. Guess what else I have learned? People of ages say and do mean things.
So many people are bent and worn down by the weight of the hurt and anger they have carried with them for decades. Some have constructed walls of protection that have grown into walls of isolation. Others, now under 60, are bitter old men and women who spew bitterness and hatred towards everyone.
I began thinking about why these experiences in my past do not have me tethered to wallow in anger, bitterness, and self-pity. It seems that the answer can be found in my response to this question: Whose opinion matters?
Had I listened to and dwelt upon those mean words and actions, I would have concluded that I was the dumbest and ugliest girl in the universe, totally devoid of personality, and useless to the world.
Thankfully, I listened to the Word of God and understood not only who I was in Christ, but also the immeasurable grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness that God so generously poured out upon me. Therefore, how can I do anything other than live in the comfort, security and freedom of that grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness?
By now some may be thinking, “That’s easy for you to say, but you don’t know what I’ve been through!”
You’re right, I don’t. But, God does! And He is rich in mercy and loves us (Ephesians 2:4-5). We are unique and amazing creations of our Sovereign God (Psalm 139:14 and Ephesians 2:10).
If you are living in the grip of bitterness because of things that happened to you in the past, there is hope and freedom in the grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:280-29, NIV).
Every moment, we as Christ-followers must choose to walk as heirs of the Sovereign God, not as slaves to anger, bitterness, and the past.
…I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14, ESV).
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