ManageYourEmotionsBook8.5x5.5_RevJULY.indd

Others are keenly aware of the hole they’ve fallen into, but they’re just too proud or afraid to admit it. One person in the OldTestament who wasn’t afraid to voice her bitterness was Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law. Having lost her husband and two sons she said, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me” (Ruth 1:20). Rather than call Naomi’s bitterness into question, God led her and Ruth into a blessed situation in which her daughter-in-law remarried and became part of the bloodline of Jesus Christ by giving birth to a son named Obed (Matthew 1:5). As with all sin, the first step toward removing the bitterness from our lives is own up to it.After that, we must: Go to God with it- Facing up to our bitterness, we must then bring it to God.After all, He’s the only one who can effectively dress the wound and bring about healing. Another woman from Scripture who experienced deliver- ance from bitterness was Hannah. Enjoying a good home and loving husband, Hannah appeared to have it all.Yet something was miss- ing – children.This void made her so miserable that: “She, greatly distressed, praying to the Lord, wept bitterly” (1 Samuel 1:10). In that same prayer, she vowed that, if God blessed her with a son, she in turn would dedicate him to a lifetime of service to the Lord. Soon after that, she gave birth to Samuel, who went on to become a great leader in Israel’s history. Matters may not turn around for you as swiftly as they did for Naomi and Hannah.Yet, when you tell God about it and give Him time, He will provide relief and recovery. Finally, to win the battle over bitterness: Let go of it- “I’ve had a few arguments with people,” acknowl- edged comedian Buddy Hackett, “but I never carry a grudge.You know why?While you’re out carrying a grudge, they’re out danc- ing.” 38 The first step toward dumping the grudge and overcoming

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