385. How to Drain Bitterness
We have a recurring plumbing issue in our kitchen. It is mainly because oily stuff and some food particles are not properly filtered and managed to enter the kitchen sink drain, which eventually clogs up the pipe. When the drain is clogged, all the grimy stuff that was supposed to “flow” away creeps back up, creating a stench, and if you leave that long enough, everybody will notice.
It’s the same thing with bitterness. Bitterness is often created through unceasing blame against unfortunate events, traumas, or people who hurt us. When they don’t get properly filtered, they block our spiritual pipe, and all associated feelings stop draining out, but begin to creep back up in the form of bitterness. It is like a spiritual “stench”. We might think people may not know, but in a matter of time, people around us will begin to notice and get affected by the stench. Therefore, Hebrews 12:15 tells us to be cautious of bitterness springing up, “causing trouble and defiling many”. Bitterness doesn’t just impact the bitter person, but it “defiles” many around.
But the good news is that there is a way to drain bitterness. A simple plunger often did the trick, removing the clog in my kitchen. That plunger for our spirit is “grace”. Hebrews 12:15 warns us not to fall short of the “grace” of God. Becoming gracious is the plunger that allows everything to drain out. We can be tempted to hold on to the bitterness in the name of fairness, but they are the very reasons why we don’t feel the release in our spirit. When nothing gets drained out, it creates a stench in our words, attitudes, and actions.
Becoming increasingly gracious should become the main goal of every follower of Jesus. As difficult as it may feel, there are no sins that we cannot forgive when Christ forgave all our sins. Our repentance from stubbornness and self-righteousness allows God to do the work of healing in us, moving us forward, not backward.
As Jesus promised, we must believe that if we let loose on earth (physical realm), it will also be loosed in heaven (spiritual realm). The physical act of choosing grace over revenge in our words and actions has the spiritual power to dismantle the bitterness that so easily piles up and clogs our spirit.
