ALLOW GOD TO MELT AWAY ANY RESENTMENT IN YOUR LIFE
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Have you ever awakened to discover a shimmering frost covering the landscape? An icy layer settles on everything outside, altering the panorama. The grass, the plants, the trees sparkle in the morning light from the ice crystals. Although it appears a tranquil sight, frost can harm plant life, especially delicate plants. The frost can often linger through the morning hours until the sun finally melts it away.
Resentment can settle over our lives like an icy frost. It does not merely settle on our relationships… it settles on our world. It can come to dwell in our hearts. Lingering resentment can cause damage to relationships, even if unknowingly or unintentionally. If not resolved, it can persist for days, months, even years…. altering our perceptions and our outlook on life.
“Lay all the old resentments down at the wounded feet of Christ.” – C.S. Lewis
What exactly is resentment? Resentment is a feeling of bitterness and indignation that arises from perceived injustice. It is an underlying attitude of unforgiveness caused not just by one incident but by a pattern of behaviors from relationships or a pattern of unfairness from the world.
When we feel we have been wronged… whether real or imagined…or when we misunderstand or misperceive the motives and actions of others, anger is often our first emotion. Anger will soon dissipate, yet resentment may set in.
Holding fast to resentment may seem like a means of self-protection from further hurt. Yet its chilling effects can impair our health over time, emotionally and spiritually. We can freeze people out of our lives… and erect an icy barrier between us and God.
“For the resentful, deep-seated anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” – James 1:20
Resentment may be directed toward the outside world. We may believe we have had more than our share of injustices in life. We resent the poor hand we have been dealt. Our wounds are replayed in our minds. We blame the world for disappointments, missed opportunities, rejections that have caused our view of life to become icy.
Resentment may be aimed toward one or more individuals. Our hearts may have become cold and hardened toward them. We no longer notice their positive qualities and attributes. We place the blame for our negative feelings upon them. Lingering resentment harbored against another can settle on all our relationships, causing defensiveness at any affront.
Resentment may even be pointed toward God, however undeservedly. For He will never bring ill our way. Yet we may question His sovereign wisdom. Our focus can become fixed on our hurts instead of His love… our lack instead of His abundance. Since our dissatisfaction with life is blamed on God, we freeze Him out of our lives. We fail to recognize His endless mercy… or appreciate His generous blessings.
“Forgiveness is the key which unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.” – Corrie ten Boom
» How can we melt the frost of resentment in our lives?
The key is to allow God to warm our hearts, thawing the chill of resentment controlling us. Then this unhealthy emotion will not cause us to respond coldly to minor affronts or misunderstandings… or to freeze out the important relationships in our world.
Ridding our lives of resentment needs the power of God. Come to Him in prayer with a receptive heart. Talk candidly and openly with Him. Share the deep hurts of your life with the One whose mercy never fails. Ask Him to melt the icy barrier that you have erected. For He cannot abide with you when resentment encompasses your heart and life.
God will offer His comfort and His insight. Perhaps He will illuminate the misunderstandings that lie at the core of your resentment. Or He may show you how the injustices in your life have caused you to lean on Him rather than acting independently. He may point out how the ill will of others has made you stronger, more resilient. For God works even the injustices done to us into His supreme will for our lives.
Pray for a spirit of forgiveness that harbors no grudges. Repent of the sin of resentment in your life that goes against the teachings of Jesus. For the love of God cannot dwell in a hardened heart. Ask Him to soften your heart… to melt the resentment that has settled over you. He will begin to change your chilly outlook on life.
“Be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” – Ephesians 4:2-3
Choose empathy for others over defensiveness. Allow God to enlighten you with the reasons and motives behind their behavior. He will help you view others as ones He loves… created in His image. He will teach you patience to bear with one another’s faults and affronts in love.
When possible, seek peace. God will show you how to give grace… to yourself and others… as you so mercifully receive from Him. He will warm your frost of resentment. He will fill your heart instead with His kindness and compassion so you more closely mirror the pure character of His Son.
