A work in progress…bitterness…

 

A work in progress….Bitterness….

…..

As much as I would like to say that my husband and I had the perfect marriage, I cannot in all truth say that…we were two individuals, he the baby of the family-me the only…he outgoing-me reticent….he the procrastinator-me the let’s get this thing done…he the extrovert-me the introvert….etc…etc….etc…we talked and prayed through so many things over the years…we didn’t always agree…and when he made decisions I didn’t agree with, I was angry, resentful and bitter…and that bitterness ate at my soul and our marriage until it was resolved…

These memories came to forefront again as I read Jonah 4…bitterness, anger…and we don’t know if Jonah resolved that with God or not…the book leaves us hanging…Jonah was a work in progress just like everyone else…God had the last say…as He always does…His mercy, grace shows  through…

Thank YOU…

“Bitterness

Exhibiting intense animosity

: harshly reproachful

: marked by cynicism and rancor,” Merriam-Webster.com

“What does the Bible say about bitterness? Bitterness is defined as anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly. It is synonymous with resentment and envy. “ Bible study tools…

 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?” Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Jonah.4.1-11 

 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”

Acts.8.23

 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Col.3.8

 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

Eccl.7.9

 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

Eph.4.26-27

 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Mark.11.25

Even from the cross, Jesus forgave …mercy…

 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Luke.23.34

 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1John.1.5-9

Forgiveness…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9J6xOT3Ldw