Bitterness

This week has been rough, to say the least. I have been hurt by people who I thought were real friends. The truth is, as much as you want some people in your life, sometimes it's okay for them not to be. If they make you feel inferior or unloved or not important, then I think it's okay to stop pursuing that relationship. If their behavior makes you question their character, then no matter how much time you've invested in the relationship, I think it's okay to let it go. I don't think it's okay or God-honoring, however, to harbor hurt feelings or anger towards the people who have broken trust in a relationship. God says we are to forgive and that is what we have to do. Not just because of the other person, but for our own good. Even if we feel the person isn't worthy of our forgiveness, we have to remember that none of us are worthy of ANY forgiveness. But not forgiving and letting that hurt grow deeper and deeper isn't any different than having a physical wound left untreated. Over time, it gets worse until it becomes infected and even harder to treat. Bitterness does that too and in an even more harmful way. It's okay to be angry. Even Jesus got angry at injustices. But it's not okay to let that anger make you bitter. Bitterness is hard to get rid of- been there done that, unfortunately more times than I can count. 

Right now it seems like I don't know how I'll ever get over the hurt. I think it's a process just like anything else. I'm choosing to look at this as God's way of protecting my heart from getting hurt again by the same person who has hurt me before. And it also gives me an opportunity to be extra thankful for the trustworthy friends that God has put in my life.