Don't let bitterness in

My son, my daughter, in the middle of a long struggle it's easy to let bitterness in without noticing, a small root that grows slowly until it takes over the whole heart. You may even be persevering on the outside, while inside you're holding resentment toward whoever hurt you, or even toward me, for not acting the way you expected.

I want to warn you about this root before it climbs any higher. Bitterness doesn't protect you; it only imprisons you together with whoever wounded you, making you relive the pain every day with no relief at all. Truly persevering includes tending the garden of your heart, pulling out what poisons it even while the struggle continues.

Let me into that hurting place today. Bring me the anger you're holding onto, even against me, and let me turn it into something that doesn't destroy you from within. Staying strong doesn't mean staying bitter; it means continuing to trust, even while wounded.