The most creative power to the human spirit is the power to heel the wounds of a past it cannot change.
(Author unknown)
Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.
HEBREWS 12:12-15 NASB
As I get older I am learning to try and grow better not bitter. Some people are so much fun to be around. They always have positive attitudes, they do not take a position of superiority because of their experience, they are willing to show and teach things they have learned in their life, and they are able to use the painful experiences in their life without bitterness to help others recovery from like situations. What a joy it is to have people like this in my life to draw from and to learn from. Then there are some that I have met that are just the opposite. I will put myself in this category in times past. These are those who because of some trauma and tragic situation have continued to dwell upon the problem as it grows and grows, and becomes more infected. After an emotional scab has formed and later as it becomes a scar, they bitterly display the scar saying, look what
Ive been through. It is painful to be around bitter people because they hurt you with the pain they are feeling. Scripture tells me that this is coming short of the grace of God. And so it is, to accept the grace of God and forgiveness we have to put down our past and walk in the newness of life that we have received from Jesus Christ. In my childhood I had fears and insecurity because my parents divorced. Later in adolescence I developed fears because of economic insecurity. I was drafted and Vietnam added to my emotional instability. Add twenty-five years of drug and alcohol abuse. Throw in rage and violence. Then stir that all into many relationships that were founded on greed and lust. Top it off having family and friends die because of alcoholism and drug addictions, and you can get one messed up person who thrived on displaying his scars of bitterness. I had every reason to be bitter didnt I? I had excuses and I used them, and all it did was drive people away. Thats what Scripture says, have no root of bitterness springing up causing trouble, and by it many be defiled. Having set most loved ones at a distance; I soon learned that I was only hurting myself over and over. Ah, but for the grace of God. When the pain exceeded the pleasure in my thriving self-centered will, having nowhere to turn I reached out and God was there. I had to drop my burden to embrace God. Today some of the scars are still there, but I dont have time to look back, I want to look forward to an unending flow of grace and mercy. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself .JRE
Share with me what the Life Recovery Bible has to say on this scripture:
When we deal with difficult circumstances or face painful recovery issues, we may grow angry or bitter. Sometimes we dont perceive our own bitterness taking root; we need others to point it out to us. The feelings are understandable, especially if we have been victimized; allowing our self to feel them can be a first step in recovery. But we need to forgive and to release the injustices and hurts to God in order to experience His over whelming forgiveness. When we hang on to our bitterness, we not only hinder our own healing but also hurt others along the way.
LIFE RECOVERY BIBLE page 1504
(Author unknown)
Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.
HEBREWS 12:12-15 NASB
As I get older I am learning to try and grow better not bitter. Some people are so much fun to be around. They always have positive attitudes, they do not take a position of superiority because of their experience, they are willing to show and teach things they have learned in their life, and they are able to use the painful experiences in their life without bitterness to help others recovery from like situations. What a joy it is to have people like this in my life to draw from and to learn from. Then there are some that I have met that are just the opposite. I will put myself in this category in times past. These are those who because of some trauma and tragic situation have continued to dwell upon the problem as it grows and grows, and becomes more infected. After an emotional scab has formed and later as it becomes a scar, they bitterly display the scar saying, look what
Ive been through. It is painful to be around bitter people because they hurt you with the pain they are feeling. Scripture tells me that this is coming short of the grace of God. And so it is, to accept the grace of God and forgiveness we have to put down our past and walk in the newness of life that we have received from Jesus Christ. In my childhood I had fears and insecurity because my parents divorced. Later in adolescence I developed fears because of economic insecurity. I was drafted and Vietnam added to my emotional instability. Add twenty-five years of drug and alcohol abuse. Throw in rage and violence. Then stir that all into many relationships that were founded on greed and lust. Top it off having family and friends die because of alcoholism and drug addictions, and you can get one messed up person who thrived on displaying his scars of bitterness. I had every reason to be bitter didnt I? I had excuses and I used them, and all it did was drive people away. Thats what Scripture says, have no root of bitterness springing up causing trouble, and by it many be defiled. Having set most loved ones at a distance; I soon learned that I was only hurting myself over and over. Ah, but for the grace of God. When the pain exceeded the pleasure in my thriving self-centered will, having nowhere to turn I reached out and God was there. I had to drop my burden to embrace God. Today some of the scars are still there, but I dont have time to look back, I want to look forward to an unending flow of grace and mercy. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself .JRE
Share with me what the Life Recovery Bible has to say on this scripture:
When we deal with difficult circumstances or face painful recovery issues, we may grow angry or bitter. Sometimes we dont perceive our own bitterness taking root; we need others to point it out to us. The feelings are understandable, especially if we have been victimized; allowing our self to feel them can be a first step in recovery. But we need to forgive and to release the injustices and hurts to God in order to experience His over whelming forgiveness. When we hang on to our bitterness, we not only hinder our own healing but also hurt others along the way.
LIFE RECOVERY BIBLE page 1504
