As I mentioned a couple of days ago, anger is a toxic condition born out of fear and ego (easing God out). One of the many by-products of anger is resentment. Resentment is simply anger focused on a person or an event in our life.
Somehow the committee in our head (where the devil tries to always be the chairman) convinces us we need to stay angry with someone or a situation well after an incident takes place. As a person in recovery I had to work hard to become resentment free as I know resentments often cause addicts to go back to their addictions.
On page 64 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, (where the 12 Steps originated), 3rd edition, it says; “Resentment is the ‘number one’ offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else. From it stem all forms of spiritual disease, for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually sick.”
(It is interesting this quote is found at the beginning of Step 4 in the Big Book, “Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.”)
The best way to deal with resentment is pretty much identical with how we need to deal with anger…name it, claim it, dump it…and don’t take it back. The best way to not take it back is to pray for the person or situation we are harboring resentment toward. Pray for that person to have peace, happiness and joy in his or her life. This is not easy as our ego and pride often get in our way, but it works…I write from experience.
Mark 11:25 (NIV), “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Reflection:
What beliefs, thoughts and actions cause you to struggle with resentment?
Additional Scripture to read and reflect on: Ephesians 4:31, Luke 6:37, Matthew 6:12-13
P.E.A.C.E.
Jay@EagleLaunch.com
