2 Samuel 6

Life is unpredictable. No matter how hard you try, there will be times in your life when you feel disappointed, confused or hurt. It’s easy for us to put the blame on God, and if we aren’t careful, when those feelings are left unchecked they can lead to bitterness. 

In a lot of ways, Michal mirrors our own tendencies. When things don’t go our way, or God doesn’t give us what we thought we needed, like a weed, bitterness takes root in our heart. Bitterness cannot remove or change the bad things that have happened. Although we may not be able to control the circumstances of our life, we have a heavenly Father who cares for us. Through Christ, we are His beloved children, we can trust that He is for our good. 

Would we follow David’s example; although he was angry that he and Uzzah’s sin (incorrectly moving the ark, and touching it) led to his ultimate death, he took time to repent and grow from that experience. David had time to consider the proper way to move the ark, and was able to move forward with bringing the ark to Jerusalem. We must have a willingness to respond to God and allow Him to bring good out of difficult situations. That willingness has two parts: asking God for His guidance and looking for that guidance in His word. 

Ask God to search your heart for bitterness, and pray that He would lead you in the way everlasting.