When We Hold on to Heart Wounds

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Hebrews 12:15

Mila thought she’d moved on—but inside, she secretly fed a deep, invisible wound with unforgiveness.

No one makes it through life without painful wounds to the heart—betrayal, loss, rejection, shame, anger, fear or loneliness. The Bible doesn’t shy away from this harsh reality; in fact, it says these wounds were never part of God’s original design. Yet God meets us where we are, guiding us toward a path of healing and wholeness.

The Bible warns that the place where we’ve been hurt can easily turn into a “root of bitterness,” that becomes poisonous, affecting you and others. It says, “Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many” (Hebrews 12:15). Hurt leads to unforgiveness, which grows into anger, resentment, hatred, retaliation and even violence and murder.

Mila had been abused and betrayed by her husband years ago. She’d forgiven him for his actions toward her and started a new life. But deep inside, she’d refused to forgive him for how he’d hurt their children. “What he did was so horrible—my bitterness is justified,” she thought, never considering forgiving him.

But God hates evil. Scripture promises “Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end” (Proverbs 22:8). He says that vengeance is His alone to give out because He wants to protect us from going down the path that starts with bitterness and leads to ruin (Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19).

So, choose forgiveness today, and experience the healing that God has prepared for you.