Bitterness is a plague to the soul.  John Courson has rightly said of the subject, “Bitterness is like taking a bottle of poison, swallowing it, and waiting for the other person to die.”  Bitterness may take root in just a moment of time, but its fruit remains for years if left unattended.  It grows and grows, eventually taking over the garden of the soul.  What are some root causes of bitterness, and more importantly, how do we cut it out of our lives?

Unforgiveness. All of us have been wronged at some point in our lives by a relative, co-worker, companion, or friend.  If we fail to extend forgiveness to those who have done us wrong, we work from the premise that we are better than Christ.  Forgiveness is easier to extend when you consider the way it is received: by the grace of God.

Resentment and Jealousy. Bitterness may fester when you see someone else excelling or being promoted.  Such feelings are often rooted in pride and selfishness.  Ask the Lord to take those feelings away and be genuinely happy when God blesses someone else.

Lack of Communication.  Oftentimes bitterness forms simply because two parties have failed to properly communicate with one another.  Silence is a fertilizer to the root of bitterness.  Make the move, reach out to that person and couple some words with those emotions.

Sin.  Yes, it is a sin to allow bitterness to linger.  Ask the Lord to forgive you, and then reach out to those with whom the problem exists.