who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
but delight to show mercy." Micah 7:18
God wants to show us all His lovingkindness.
"Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.[a]) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” 25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. 26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” 27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water." Exodus 15:22-27
But the Israelites grumbled instead. They didn't wait on the Lord. They demanded!
We need to accept God's lovingkindness. We shouldn't hold onto bittterness. Give it to God. Let God take it on. Bitterness will rip you in half. Bitterness will destroy relationships. It will destroy all if we allow it to.
Instead we should choose to have a heart like David.
"I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
that it surpasses your fame." Psalm 138:2
"The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made." Psalm 145:9
He had rough stuff going on but David praised God no matter what.
So how do we deal with Bitterness?
#1 Take it to God.
"You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you." Psalm 63:1-5
No matterr what happens I will praise God. Praise Him anyway. Go to God with everything.
#2 Forgive like you have been forgiven.
This is a conditional statement. He will forgive us as we have forgiven others.
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:31-32
#3 Rest in God.
"For forty years I was angry with that generation;
I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray,
and they have not known my ways.’
11 So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’”" Psalm 95:10-11
"The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands." Joshua 21:44
You can be in battle but still be in God's rest. We need that rest. We remember He is in control. His purpose will prevail. The closer you get to God the more of His peace you will have.
Stop....Pause...Give it to God.
#4 Be confident in the Lovingkindness of God.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[a] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4
#5 Spend more and more time in the Word.
Lovingkindness is mentioned in the Bible 149 times.
"The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe." Proverbs 18:10
You will be safe. I love you. I have only the best of intentions for You.
God can't do anything for you until you give it to Him. Until you come to Him.
"So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
Don't be dismayed, angry or bitter.
We can't do any of this on our own.
#6 Let it go!
"The Lord is my light and my salvation--
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life--
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident." Psalm 27:1-3