Lesson 55

How Can I Deal With Being Bitter Over My Situation?

Many wives are bitter when they learn of their husband’s involvement with sexual impurity. Once bitterness takes root, it begins to grow as the gravity of the circumstances unfolds. It may be more emotionally painful than any physical pain a wife may have experienced.

It’s easy to feel a “right” to be bitter, but the root of bitterness can grow deeper, especially if your husband’s sin issues are not settled and it becomes a roller coaster ride of resolve and relapse. Even with godly counsel and recommitment on his part, bitterness for you can hang on for a lengthy period of time. Whether your bitterness is old or new, it can only be set aside as you allow God to bring freedom to your imprisoned heart.

“I found that forgiveness helped me eradicate the root of bitterness in my heart,” Kay thoughtfully recalled. “Restoration was a process that included rebuilding trust through marital integrity on both sides and that stems only from knowing the Lord in a deeper way. All of that was wrapped in our unified daily prayers for our marriage.”

Part of Kay’s favorite Bible passage from Lamentations gave her hope: “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him. It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:25-26)