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The Root

“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, NLT).

A healthy tree has a healthy root system.  Roots anchor the tree and provide a storage and distribution system for nutrients. When tree roots are injured, the tree becomes stressed and is subject to fall.

Psalms 1:3, Isaiah 55:12, and Hebrews 12:15 compare a person to a tree. Hebrews 12:15 gives a specific warning about the root of bitterness.  A bitter root develops from a hurt that has not been forgiven and healed.

Bitterness is compared to a root because it is often hidden under an ill nature of ungratefulness, grudges, jealousy, and criticism, stemming from a judgmental mindset to blame others in order to justify the bitterness. Bitterness results in anger, slander, and malice.

To avoid a bitter root, we must be willing to acknowledge that people are human and are capable of offense, that all hurt can be relinquished to God, and that we can choose to not allow hurt to have a negative impact on us.


Give grace and pray for those with a bitter root, but watch out bitterness is contagious. Guard your heart with gratefulness and forgiveness.

Beth Bailey
Co-Pastor - South Greenwood IPHC

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