Bitter or Blessed

We can’t always determine what comes to us in life, but we can choose how we respond to the circumstances that are often out of our control. How we respond to difficult times, times of sickness, betrayal, financial hardship, marriage problems, or many other difficulties, is what determines whether we will be blessed or bitter.

As a couple exchanges their vows, they include the words, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for better for worse. You could easily change the last part to, ‘bitter or sweet.’ It is a natural fact that Life just has some bitterness built into it. At some point, every one of us will come to bitter waters. The death of a loved one, sickness, bankruptcy, betrayal, false accusations, rejection, loss of a job, or many others I could list.

There is a misconception among many in the Christian world that being a Christian somehow exempts you from bitter waters. Most of the time this misconception comes from a lack of knowledge of the Word of God. All the Apostles were familiar with bitter waters. Jesus never said that we would never have trouble, in fact he promised that we would.

Jesus understood that life is tough, or as many young people would say today, Jesus knew ‘the struggle is real.’ He knew we would experience heartbreak and pain. He knew that some of us would go through trials of sickness, and financial struggles. So, Jesus encouraged us: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you…These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:20-22, 33

All throughout scripture, from the beginning of God’s covenant with man, God has promised to be with us when we come to those bitter waters:

“And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” – Deuteronomy 31:8

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – Isaiah 41:10-13

“and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” – Matthew 28:20

“Let your conversation [be] without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” – Hebrews 13:5-6

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” – I Peter 5:7

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16

In the book of Exodus chapter fifteen and verse twenty-three, it says, “The waters were bitter, and they could not drink of it.”

This means there was no pleasure no joy, no strength, no refreshment, from or in that circumstance. They were in a desert, they were tire, thirsty and desperate – there was no hope in sight. We have all felt like that before, if I’m being real, I been feeling that way lately. I have discovered that there are two possible responses to the bitter water.

The first is to murmur and complain. You can begin to let bitterness and resentment take root in your heart and blame God. But I can tell you from the experience of my past life – that will only lead to death: the death of your relationship with God, your relationship with others, and eventually your spirit will die as all hope is lost.

The second possible response is to praise God any way, worship God anyway, not because of the situation, but in spite of it.

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” – Habakkuk 3:17-18

The story of Naomi is a good example of the first possible response. In the land of Moab, because of famine, her husband and two sons die there. She hears of bread in her homeland and returns, the whole town is moved by her presence. They come to greet Naomi, but she said, call me not Naomi, but Marah, for the almighty hath dealt bitterly with me.

Here is the danger we all face, blaming God for our bitter waters, when we begin to blame God for our bitter waters, then bitterness begins to set into our own lives, Naomi had identified herself with her bitter waters. When you blame God, then you separate yourself from his comfort and grace to sustain you through your bitter waters.

The story of Job is a great example of the second possible response to bitter waters. In one day, Job lost everything that he had. Sheep cattle, oxen camels, servants, and all his children. His wife became angry and bitter. She finally told job, “just curse God and die.”

But job chose to be blessed instead of bitter. Instead of blaming God and murmur against God, he fell on his face, shaved his head, and worshipped God. And in the end God blessed Job with more than he had lost.

At the bitter waters in the desert the children of Israel murmured, but Moses cried unto the Lord. That is one of the first lessons of bitter waters, they will either turn us away from God, or they turn our attention back to God. We reach a point where we are not in control and we need God’s help.

Moses Cried unto the Lord, and God showed him a tree. Another lesson is that if we will respond correctly, the darkest and most bitter times will lead us into a greater revelation of who Jesus is, and ultimately a more intimate relationship with him.

When Moses cast the tree into the waters, they were made sweet. On a hill called Calvary, Jesus cast a tree into our bitter waters so they could be made sweet. What is the sweetness that Jesus can bring to the bitter waters of your life? A greater revelation of Jesus, a deeper relationship with Jesus, greater dependence on Jesus, the knowledge that as I trust him he will work everything out for my good, the knowledge that what the enemy intended to make me bitter, has actually blessed me, and to use what the devil  has used against you, to bring healing and deliverance to others. To take Goliath’s own sword, as it were, and cut off his head!

Some of the sweetest words in the bible are – and it came to pass. Remember this my friends, weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning! I pray that you will choose blessing over bitterness and stand strong in the mighty name of Jesus!