Bitter and Blind
Silence and stillness before God (2 minutes)
Scripture reading
Scripture reading:
Jonah 4:1–3
But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
Devotional
Jonah’s story is often told with a chuckle — the runaway prophet in the belly of a great fish. But chapter 4 takes a darker turn. God shows mercy to the people of Nineveh, and Jonah is furious. Not just annoyed. Not disappointed. Furious.
Bitterness sometimes comes from a deeply embedded sense of how things “should” be. Jonah believed the Ninevites deserved wrath. He wanted judgment, not grace. And when God showed mercy, it offended Jonah’s sense of justice so much that he wanted to die.
This is one of bitterness’s most subtle forms — when we believe others shouldn’t receive the forgiveness that we’ve received. We forget how great our own need for mercy has been.
At the cross, Jesus bore not only our sin but the sin of the ones we struggle to forgive. He stretched His arms wide — for everyone. Even the people we think are too far gone. When we let go of bitterness, we’re not excusing sin. We’re trusting God’s justice and choosing to walk in His mercy.
Question to consider
Is there anyone in your life you struggle to imagine God forgiving — and could that struggle be a sign of hidden bitterness?
Prayer
Merciful God, forgive me when I withhold grace from others. Remind me of your kindness to me, and soften my heart to reflect your mercy, even when it feels hard. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Conclude with silence (2 minutes)
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DAILY SEVENS
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Daily Sevens are devotionals to help you connect with God throughout the day. Each Office contains five elements: Silence and Stillness, Scripture, a Devotional Reading, a Question to Consider, and Prayer.
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