Day Ten – Chapter 10

“I loathe my own life; I will give full vent to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend with me’ (vs. 1, 2). Your hands fashioned and made me altogether, and would you destroy me? Remember now, that you have made me as clay; and would you turn me into dust again (vs. 8, 9)? Why then have you brought me out of the womb? Would that I had died and no eye had seen me” (v. 18).

It is impossible to read the story of Job without feeling empathy and sympathy for him, and it is also impossible to read it without seeing oneself in it. Job is so embittered because of his suffering that he doubts whether talking to the Lord would make any difference in his situation. Not many of us have experienced the immense amount of suffering Job endured, but we all know what it is like to either actually be bitter, or to experience life’s tragedies in such a way as to risk become so.

The writer of Hebrews warns about the dangers of becoming bitter. “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal” (Hebrews 12:15, 16). Another translation says, “let no root of bitterness . . .” Becoming bitter is a very real possibility for everyone of us, but doing so, or allowing oneself to become so, endangers us far worse than the thing that has caused the bitterness. This is a hard word for many because the hurt, pain, anger and frustration we feel as a result of the negative occurrences we have experienced seem to justify or warrant the bitterness. Bitterness indicates a lack of forgiveness, which negates the forgiveness we have received and will receive from the God. It defiles one giving rise to immorality and, in the case of Esau, very poor decisions. In Job’s case it led to some very harsh words, which only confirmed what was in his heart.

Job had become bitter, and like him, many of us have become bitter too. It is easy to see from reading his story the potential debilitating effects of his bitterness. It is not so easy to see our own. Often people looking from the outside have to tell us of the danger they see in our outlook and attitudes. No one blames you for how you feel, Everyone can understand the emotions that flood your very being, but let Job’s condition be a wakeup call for each of us today; watch out for the scourge of bitterness. In the words of Bishop Vashti McKenzie, “Get over it and keep it moving.”

Dear Lord, I am saddened to confess that I have allowed myself to become bitter over the negative events of my life. I feel stuck fixating over the things that have happened to me. I want to let it go, but the associated thoughts and memories make it nearly impossible. I don’t understand why this has happened to me. Help me to overcome today. I give you my situation. I surrender the pain, hurt, anger and frustration. Help me to focus more on the awesome future You have for me and less on what I have come through. Replace my salvation with joy and help me to “keep it moving.” Amen.