Leaving bitterness behind in 2020

This year has been rough and it's still not over.

Many are waiting for the year to end, expecting that just because the year ends, so will the stress, emotional distress, frustration, and helplessness. Question is, what are everyone's plans if 2021 does not bring the relief we yearn for. Life has always been hard. But lately it's been a special kind of hard.

The enemy had been attacking our mind, our families, our livelihood, our goals and our faith. Many have been pushed in ways it feels like we are being torn apart; and then asked to somehow still be a support to the ones we love. With the helplessness can come frustration and with the frustration can come bitterness. Bitterness is like a fracture that has not healed correctly. Life has wounded us, but in the process of trying to pick back up our lives, anger and frustration festered like an infection; and with that frustration, we hastily rush to put things together. We lie to ourselves, say we're fine when we're not. We don’t believe that we can be whole again, so we don’t give it a second thought that our fracture healed incorrectly and we can’t use our limbs with the proper dexterity. We hurt others around us because we can’t be gentle anymore. It is physically impossible in our current state and there is a cure, but we don’t want to fix it; because the only way to fix a fracture that healed incorrectly is to break it again in the same place. We have to address the issues we swept under the rug, unearth the things that scared us and bring it to the one who can heal us. Jesus.

He can clean out every infection, put us together as new, and make us stronger for his glory. Our life stops being a cautionary tale and becomes a testimony of his faithfulness and grace. God didn't stop being good, because the world isn’t.

Many of us began 2020 with bitterness. We ignored our previous fractures of life, allowed them to heal incorrectly, hobbling through life with a handicap and lying to ourselves and everyone around us, saying we're "fine." Now with this year's chaos and stress, many are getting broken again. But without seeking the healing we needed, we are further disfigured. Trying to operate in our church and fulfill what God has planned in our lives without addressing the bitterness stirring up inside us from past pains and current trauma brought on this year is a recipe for disaster. Hebrews 12:15 says, “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”

I know it can seem easier said than done. It is human nature to seek vengeance for past wrongs or seek justice for those wronged, but the Bible says in Romans 12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Many of us are trying to let go, telling ourselves over and over that “it's over” but a small part of us are still holding on to the past and our present has not been making things easier. Now is the time to put our trust in the one who created us. Look ourselves in the mirror, stop ignoring the negative parts of our reflection and give it to Jesus. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Now is the time to seek his face that he may make us new. Now is the time to ask God to “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalms 51:10 Until we seek his face we are of no use for the kingdom. Mark 11:25-26 says “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Let's never let the wrongs of yesterday and the wrongs of 2020 build in your heart and turn to bitterness. Let's stay close to Jesus, so that he may continually transform us, keep us and use us for his glory.   

With all my Sisterly Love, Kassy