Blog #1
Get Rid of the Bitter, and Life Will Get Better
By Candace Beckford
When my sister and I were young, we used to tease our baby brother, who sucked his finger religiously. Morning, noon, and night—that finger was in his mouth. It got so bad that his finger stunk and developed a thick callus. It was bad!
My grandmother used to threaten to dip his finger in dog poop to make him stop. She never actually did it (thank God), but she wasn’t short on ideas. One day, she reached for a good old Jamaican remedy—a jar of bitter aloes.
And as the name suggests, that stuff was bitter! The taste lingered for days. After just one encounter with that bitterness, my brother’s finger-sucking days were over. That finger became a reminder of what he never wanted to experience again.
We laughed about it then, but as I look back now, there’s an object lesson hidden in that story.
The Taste of Bitterness
Bitterness: sharpness of taste; lack of sweetness; anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly; resentment. — Merriam-Webster
Bitterness isn’t just about taste—it’s about state.
Are you bitter?
Are you holding on to something that tears you down mentally, spiritually, physically, or socially? Bitter.
Do you harbor a grudge that stirs anger every time you see that person? Bitter.
Are you stuck in the same place, bound by invisible chains of the past? Bitter.
Are there people who seem to bring out the worst in you? Bitter.
Do you feel constantly cheated out of what’s rightfully yours? Bitter.
Bitterness creeps in quietly but poisons deeply. It clouds the sunshine of joy, extinguishes the fire of purpose, and worms its way into the sweetest moments of life.
Bitterness changes your atmosphere—it affects your relationships, friendships, even your marriage. It drains you dry, leaving only emptiness, loneliness, and sadness behind.
It’s Time to Let It Go
Just as my brother tasted those bitter aloes and made an instant decision to stop sucking his finger, we too must decide to eliminate bitterness from our lives.
Ask yourself:
1. Is there someone you need to forgive?
The hurt might be real—immense, even debilitating—but forgiveness is the door to freedom. Whether or not the other person apologizes is beyond your control. Forgiveness doesn’t excuse what they did—it releases you.
“Holding bitterness and not forgiving is like placing sulfuric acid in a tin can. It will eventually destroy the can from the inside. It does more damage to you than anyone else, including the person originally at fault.”
— Hopeton Thomas
2. Is there a situation you need to walk away from?
Change is hard. Sometimes it feels easier to stay in misery than to step into the unknown. But staying stuck only prolongs your pain.
Think of Lot’s wife in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. She looked back, unable to let go of a life that no longer served her, and became a pillar of salt—frozen in her past. Her unwillingness to move forward made her stagnant and unable to make an impact.
3. Is there an opportunity waiting for you, but fear and comparison hold you back?
You were created with purpose. Don’t let bitterness and insecurity rob you of what God has called you to do.
There Is Hope Beyond the Bitter
As the song by Jessica Reedy beautifully reminds us:
“I used to be so broken, lost, empty,
A heart with no beat,
A singer with no song to sing.
But in your pain lies a blessing,
A sweeter song of victory.
Life can leave you so bitter, bitter, bitter,
But you must believe—it gets better, better, better.”
Whatever the source of your bitterness—it’s time to let it go.
It can get better. It will get better.
Freedom is only one decision away.
Reflection Corner:
What area of your life has grown “bitter” and lost its sweetness?
Who or what do you need to release to experience peace again?
What would it look like for you to take one bold step toward healing today?
Today, choose to release the bitter—so your life can truly get better.
