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What Does the Bible Say About Resentment?

Scripture reveals that resentment is a poison we drink ourselves — it grows like a bitter root, hardens our hearts, and hands control to the enemy, but God offers a different way through forgiveness and trust.

Scripture on Resentment

Proverbs 14:10 Old Testament
"Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy."
Ephesians 4:26-27 New Testament
"In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."
Hebrews 12:15 New Testament
"See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."
Colossians 3:13 New Testament
"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
1 Peter 2:23 New Testament
"When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly."
The Bottom Line
Resentment is slow-release bitterness that costs you more than it costs the person you resent.
Try Today

Name one person or situation you resent. Write down specifically what happened, then write: 'I cannot undo this, but I can stop letting it control me today. I choose to entrust this to God's justice, not my anger.'

Prayer

Jesus invites us to bring our wounds to Him — Matthew 11:28 says, 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.'

Father, I'm holding onto anger that's poisoning me from the inside. The wound is real, and it still hurts. I know I can't heal this myself, and I'm tired of carrying it. Help me see that entrusting this person and this situation to Your justice means I don't have to. Give me the strength to let go of what I cannot fix, and the courage to forgive even when forgiveness feels impossible. I want to be free. In Jesus' name, Amen.

📚 Read Ephesians 4:25-32 to see the full picture of how believers are called to handle hurt and anger.

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