Resentments

          Resentment is anger or an over the top displeasure we feel when wronged, insulted, or hurt by others. At times it seems some may even invent reasons for having resentment—like my friend has a happier marriage than I do, or dresses better, etc.

The bad thing about resentments is that they are like scabs—they linger and they can fester, and it’s easy to pick them to keep them that way. Those of us, who have had them, know that they can eat away at our insides like some sort of a cancer, especially those we have held for a long time and love to massage. They are troublesome to our relationships because we may thing that a particular resentment is in the past until it pops its ugly head up in the form of sarcasm or spiteful comments. The resentments we carry are often deep within us.

I was talking with a friend the other day and the topic of resentments came up. He offered a couple of comments about them, based on his struggles with them. He said, “Resentments bite only the one holding them”, and “having resentments is like taking poison and hoping the other person dies.” In some ways I agree with what he said.

·         If we’re carrying resentments, we are ultimately the ones to suffer, as they will continue to eat away at us as they continue to feed the flames of anger we are feeling toward the cause of them. We will continue to be angry and feel bitterness, which robs us of some of the joy we could be feeling.

·         We hold the resentments while inwardly wishing, perhaps secretly, ill will on the one responsible for those resentments.

How are we to deal with resentments that we may be holding onto? Just the same way we deal with any other character flaws we may have—we prayerfully keep trying to release them through prayer and transparency about them. We recognize them for what they are and what they can do to our spiritual growth, and we don’t give up on ourselves while doing what it takes to get rid of them.

Bottom Line Thought: Are you carrying any resentments? How do they affect your relationships? What steps can you take to tackle that issue?