Bitterness and Unforgiveness

For Women By Women

By Tara Black

December 26, 2025

Hebrews 12:15 …lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Bitterness is the only material that destroys its own container; it is like acid. It devours from the inside out. Everything it touches can be corrupted.

That said, when difficult times come, it seems it is humanity’s default. “I don’t deserve what you did.” “I hope that you get what is coming to you.” “I refuse to forgive because you don’t deserve forgiveness.”

But think about it from God’s point of view.

• Did God deserve how you treated Him before you were saved?
• Did He discard you because of all those years of “riotous living”?
• What if He denied you the forgiveness you so desperately needed?

Christ took the penalty for all the times I have denied forgiveness, spoken evil of another person, been full of anger and wrath, and defiled others with those actions. But God, “for Christ’s sake,” forgave me. To be more Christlike, I must forgive as He forgave.

Bitterness and being unwilling to forgive the wrongs of others, destroys you and hinders what God can do with you in the future. The verse says that many would be affected by it.  How many people would not be reached for the Gospel if you play the victim of circumstances?  You must choose forgiveness, for your sake as well as others.

So, if you are bitter towards someone, and you feel justified in not forgiving them for the wrong they did against you, forgive them anyway—as Christ forgave you, even when you didn’t deserve it.

Reflection—The very throat you are holding onto could be your own.