Evicting Bitterness, Allowing Love to Move In

Many obstacles or trials that we face in this world are only tests to bring out of us, through our reaction, what is actually deep within our own hearts. The significance lies not within the trial or its outcome, but how we choose to react to, and handle, whatever it is that we must face. 

Have you learned to endure pain and unjust suffering patiently in a way that brings the Lord glory? Do you trust Him because of His goodness, and have you allowed God to become your vindicator? Have you arrived at the place in your life where bitterness is evicted from your heart, so that love has the room to move in? Have you become a person who can forgive while someone else is still currently offending you? 

When we choose to forgive, we waive our right to get even and to collect from others what we think we deserve as our compensation for their actions. We drop it, let it go, and leave it up to God to make things right. From experience, I can assure you that when we do this, He does a much better job of making things right than we ever could have done ourselves, and it is more than worth what you believe it might cost you at the time.

In addition, in letting the person who hurt you, the right to get even, and the bitterness go; choosing instead to grasp hold of forgiveness and love, you will find that you yourself are the captive who has finally been set free.