Bitterness & The Wife

I've learned over the last year or so that bitterness is something that all women have struggled with at some point. Sadly, bitterness comes with alot of baggage, things like selfishness, anger, malice, self-righteousness and much more.

How can you tell if bitterness has taken root? Review the questions below and answer them with absolute truth.

(1) When asked about your relationship, do you go on an endless tirade about his sins?

(2) Is it difficult for you to speak lovingly of him?

(3) Does your body cringe if he tries to hug or kiss you?

(4) Does the idea of sex with your husband make a multitude of excuses come to your mind?

(5) Do you respond to your husband's sexual advances with an unloving and selfish attitude?

(6) Does your husband never meet your expectations?

(7) Do you rejoice in hearing others "discipline" or put down your husband?

If you answer yes to these questions then I would submit to you that bitterness has taken root in your heart and the best way to combat bitterness, is to take flight to the Word of God and meditate on scriptures that will help you in your war on sin. Whether you know it or not, every day you are in the war zone and sinful temptation will rear it's head morning, noon and night.

Ephesians 4: 25-32

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Matthew 6:14

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Proverbs 15:1

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

James 1:19

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all the filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

1 Corinthians 7:2-5

But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

My hope is to continue to seek out God's word so that I can be ready to combat my tendencies towards bitterness and through my searching I hope to share what I've gone through and hopefully you and other women will learn from my stumbling blocks.