Do not be bitter or angry or mad…. Be kind and loving…and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ (Ephesians 4:31-32 NCV).
Bitterness is perhaps the most visible, common, and destructive kind of spiritual obesity, and if you carry the weight of a bad attitude toward anyone, you cannot stay spiritually healthy.
But it is hard to avoid bitterness because there are so many offenses threatening to plant it in our hearts. Above all diseases, we should really fear contracting bitterness, because it’s so easy to catch, so deadly to our spirit, and painful to get rid of it. But what a relief to do so! Do you want to feel lighter? Cast off your yoke of bitterness and humbly accept Christ’s yoke of forgiveness. It is so much easier. This is, in fact, one of the reasons even God forgave our sin. He no longer wanted to be burdened and angered by it (cf. Ezekiel 6:9; Isaiah 63:10). What’s good for God is good for us.
How do we lose the weight of bitterness? First, recognize who you have a hard heart towards. Second, be honest with God about what their sin has cost you. Why is your heart hard towards them? Third, believe that God will replace whatever their weaknesses or sin have taken from you, if you need it. It is the cost of someone’s sin against us that makes it so painful and trusting God with that cost will reduce its sting. Finally, turn them and their sin against you over to God. If resentment towards them tries to creep back, give them to God again. You will know you have lost the weight of bitterness when it is replaced with compassion.