What If the Bitterness Comes Back?

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:31-32).

Reader question: If you have a deep-rooted bitterness and have thought you have forgiven, but it still surfaces occasionally, do you at that moment repent and ask for cleansing? I am frustrated with thinking that I have forgiven an offense and then realizing that I have not dug out the root.

You might be holding onto the root of bitterness. In that case, you must confess it immediately.

On the other hand, you may have truly forgiven the sin that made you bitter when you first confessed your bitterness. After you are forgiven for bitterness, you can still be tempted to be bitter again. This is like confessing a lie and then lying again later. It is not the same sin. It does not mean you were not forgiven the first time. As long as this temptation works, the Enemy will keep trying it on you.

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Roots by the River

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