It’s an often-quoted precept, but eternally true: Holding on to bitterness is like drinking arsenic and expecting the other person to die.
Hebrews 12:15 speaks of a “root of bitterness.” One that goes deep into your soul and is so very difficult to root out. When there, it will most often defile others who live around your bitterness. It’s like an infectious disease. Spreading as quickly as a contagious virus. Most will move away from you, not wanting to be infected with your bitterness.
How to get rid of it? At the first offense, forgive as Jesus has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32). Dig it out. Root it out. Extract it so deeply that it is unable to take root again.
God’s grace given to you by Jesus is meant to be given away to others. Jesus even forgave from the cross those who put him there (Luke 23:34). As his followers, we are to do the same.
Give grace to others as you have received it. Forgive as you have been forgiven.
If you don’t, it’s like drinking arsenic and expecting the other person to die!