bitter or better ? by Tim Heupel
A friend of mine from South Dakota who spent 32 years in the coaching profession would constantly tell his players , “ in the face of adversity you can either get bitter or better .” All of us love the stories of individuals who championed over tough situations and came to enjoy a better life in spite of the hardship and pain they endured . How sad it is when people make their pain and adversity the trademark of their life and constantly focus on it and allow it to become their identity . They become bitter and often they don ’ t know at who or at what .
In my years of doing jail and prison ministry , I heard the stories from individuals of their bitterness toward someone who had wronged them . They were living frothing in anger , plotting their plan of retaliation . It was only creating harm to them and the problem was never being resolved . The bitterness was destroying them and keeping them from being the person that God desired for them to be .
Dr . Wyatt Mullinax , a well-known psychologist , clergyman , and prison chaplain says it so well in his program Cognitive Renewal . Mullinax states something to the effect of … “ For the life of me . I cannot understand how you can allow someone you detest , that you dislike , and hate to live in your mind twenty-four hours a day , and you are not charging them one dimes rent .” It is an amazing paradox . We allow someone we don ’ t care for to control our thinking and behavior . Someone we detest is running our life .
God ’ s greatest commandment is - - have no other God ’ s before me . When we have someone else on our mind they become our god . The one true God loved us so much that He sent His one and only Son into the world to save us from our sins , to save us from our evil thoughts , and to save us so that we can become better rather than become bitter .
Yes , God expects better from us . Jesus taught us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you . That ’ s exactly what He did . He died for those who persecuted and mocked Him . He died for all . He paid the price to show us that forgiveness not retaliation is the foundation of His kingdom . The angels of heaven rejoice when we extend forgiveness and dismiss the bitterness of our lives . Give the angels an opportunity to party . We need to extend forgiveness to rid ourselves of bitterness , which will allow us to feel so much better .
In the face of adversity , pain , and wrong doing we have two choices . We can get bitter or we can get better . Look to the cross of Calvary and Christ ’ s open tomb . Seeing that act of love , I think you will want to get better .
Rev . Dr . Timothy J . Heupel Vacancy Pastor , Our Redeemer Lutheran Church , Eau Claire , WI
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