Bitterness
Bitterness
Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many. (Heb. 12:15)
Good, Bad, and Ugly
God gave you anger as an early warning system against evil, danger, or abuse. When an enemy violates boundaries—whether against you, your family, your nation, or the vulnerable—your anger kicks in. It motivates you to take righteous steps to protect yourself and those who need it. Jesus got angry when He protected His spiritual sheep from wolves in sheep’s clothing (see John 2:15). When anger motivates righteous action, it has served its God-given purpose.
But when anger is left simmering, it turns toxic. Bitterness, resentment, and an unforgiving spirit are symptoms of simmering anger. God did not design you to store up anger. He graciously commands, “Don’t let the sun go down on your anger” (Eph. 4:26).
Bitter Fruit
Bitterness poisons relationships—and not just the relationship with the person you’re mad at. Bitterness toward one person harms all your relationships, including your marriage, family, and work relationships. Bitter people make for lousy friends, and Scripture warns against partnering with a chronically angry man (see Prov. 22:24). You need to release the pressure from your simmering cauldron of anger. Decide if the relationship is worth salvaging—sometimes it isn’t. If it is, talk through your conflict, enforce appropriate boundaries, forgive, forbear, and move on.
Bottom Line
Unresolved anger puts a bitter taste in your mouth and spoils your relationships. Grow in Christ and develop a forgiving spirit.