--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The bitterness, the sin you retain, can…" description: "\"“The bitterness, the sin you retain, can produce the same results that hurt you. If you were raised in an abusive environment, if you come from a famil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6b/joel-osteen-194_anger_the-bitterness-the-sin-you-retain-can-pr_784161.jpg" --- # The bitterness, the sin you retain, can produce the same… ![“The bitterness, the sin you retain, can produce the same results that hurt you. If you were raised in an abusive environment, if you come from a family filled with anger and dysfunction, instead of becoming bitter and angry, why don’t you be the one to put an end to the negative cycle? You can be…” quote by Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6b/joel-osteen-194_anger_the-bitterness-the-sin-you-retain-can-pr_784161.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6b/joel-osteen-194_anger_the-bitterness-the-sin-you-retain-can-pr_784161.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6b/joel-osteen-194_anger_the-bitterness-the-sin-you-retain-can-pr_784161.jpg) > ““The bitterness, the sin you retain, can produce the same results that hurt you. If you were raised in an abusive environment, if you come from a family filled with anger and dysfunction, instead of becoming bitter and angry, why don’t you be the one to put an end to the negative cycle? You can be the one to make a difference. Are you holding on to anger and unforgiveness and passing poison down to the next generation? Or are you willing to let it go so your family can rise to a new level? I realize it can be very hard to forgive, especially when someone has hurt you, but God will never ask you to do something without giving you the ability to do it. Forgiveness is a process. It doesn’t happen overnight. You don’t snap your fingers and make a hurt go away. That’s not realistic. But if you’ll continue to have the desire to forgive and ask God to help you, then little by little those negative feelings will fade. One day they won’t affect you at all.”” [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Holding onto anger perpetuates pain; forgiveness breaks the cycle of hurt and allows healing across generations. **In simple terms:** Forgiveness stops pain from repeating. Key Takeaway Choose forgiveness to end the cycle. Themes forgiveness healing generational trauma faith personal growth Mood hopeful reflective inspirational Type advice spiritual motivational When to use this quote - family counseling - personal prayer - support groups - conflict resolution - self‑reflection Key Concepts spirituality psychology emotional resilience Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take today to begin forgiving? - How does faith support your healing process? A Different Perspective Forgiveness is difficult and may not erase all pain immediately. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Anger Unforgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger-unforgiveness-3855198/) [Bitterness Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitterness-sin-3477147/) [Desire Forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-forgive-2037465/) [Forgive Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive-ask-1874932/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiveness Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness-process-380301/) [Hard to forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-to-forgive/) [Holding On To Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holding-on-to-anger/) [Little by little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-by-little/) [Negative feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-feelings/) [Next generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-generation/) ## Related quotes > [The Lord, before His Incarnation, let mankind experience all the bitterness of sin, all their powerlessness to eradicate it; and when all longed for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/the-lord-before-his-incarnation-let-mankind-experience-all-the/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [So many people live with anger and unforgiveness, and many of them are Christians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/so-many-people-live-with-anger-and-unforgiveness-and-many-of-them-are/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [When you hold on to anger and unforgiveness, you can't move forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/when-you-hold-on-to-anger-and-unforgiveness-you-can-t-move-forward/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [Letting go to move on is the desire to forgive for changes to be renew and refresh in everything in every ways for goodness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shellymarie-strengths-solis-smith-27s/letting-go-to-move-on-is-the-desire-to-forgive-for-changes-to-be/) [Shellymarie Strengths Solis Smith 27s](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shellymarie-strengths-solis-smith-27s/) > [“So pray with all your heart. Pray for the ability to forgive. Pray for the person who hurt you. Pray to be filled with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-c-donaldson/so-pray-with-all-your-heart-pray-for-the-ability-to-forgive-pray-for/) [Julie C. Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-c-donaldson/) > [“At the heart of God is the desire to give and to forgive. Because of this, he set into motion the entire redemptive process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/at-the-heart-of-god-is-the-desire-to-give-and-to-forgive-because-of/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“Giving Thanks leads to a desire to forgive, and forgiveness speaks of pure surrender and acceptance of the things that have happened in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/giving-thanks-leads-to-a-desire-to-forgive-and-forgiveness-speaks-of/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [“And for what I have done ill and for what I have done well and for what I have left undone, I ask you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/and-for-what-i-have-done-ill-and-for-what-i-have-done-well-and-for/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“I forgive everyone and ask forgiveness of everyone”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-niven/i-forgive-everyone-and-ask-forgiveness-of-everyone/) [Jennifer Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-niven/) > [“As you grow into a fine young woman, try not to make excuses. If you know the bottom’s safe - jump. If you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hall/as-you-grow-into-a-fine-young-woman-try-not-to-make-excuses-if-you/) [S.E. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hall/) > [When you love a child, you forgive her before she can even ask. Basically you've already forgiven her for things she hasn't even done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/when-you-love-a-child-you-forgive-her-before-she-can-even-ask/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [We ask for forgiveness. And we forgive others who ask us. In that way we can experience healing, healing in our souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-dobson/we-ask-for-forgiveness-and-we-forgive-others-who-ask-us-in-that-way/) [Ed Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-dobson/) > [God will forgive you if you ask him to. Though your sins be numerous as the grains of sand on the shore, God’s merciful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-madrid/god-will-forgive-you-if-you-ask-him-to-though-your-sins-be-numerous/) [Patrick Madrid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-madrid/) > [“So before you decide you can't forgive her, ask yourself if you want to live without her. We're only here for a short time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-j-bell/so-before-you-decide-you-can-t-forgive-her-ask-yourself-if-you-want/) [K.J. Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-j-bell/) > [“Forgiveness is the process of dropping off your emotional baggage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-fargo/forgiveness-is-the-process-of-dropping-off-your-emotional-baggage/) [Tim Fargo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-fargo/) ## More by Joel Osteen > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I don't have to figure out how God is going to solve my problem. I don't have to understand how He's going to bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-don-t-have-to-figure-out-how-god-is-going-to-solve-my-problem-i-don/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [The only difference between black coal and a precious diamond is the amount of pressure it endured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/the-only-difference-between-black-coal-and-a-precious-diamond-is-the/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Faith is easy; I think people complicate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/faith-is-easy-i-think-people-complicate-it/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [There's pros and cons of a big church. Cons is I don't get to know everybody, I don't get to go to their ballgame,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/there-s-pros-and-cons-of-a-big-church-cons-is-i-don-t-get-to-know/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [When you smile and project an aura of warmth, kindness, and friendliness, you will attract warms, kindness, and friendliness. Happy people will be drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/when-you-smile-and-project-an-aura-of-warmth-kindness-and/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-were-never-created-to-live-depressed-defeated-guilty-condemned/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [You may not have the approval of someone 'important,' but you have the favor of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-may-not-have-the-approval-of-someone-important-but-you-have-the/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“In the Bible, God called Gideon a mighty man of (fearless) courage. Gideon looked around and said, “Who’s He talking to? That’s not me.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/in-the-bible-god-called-gideon-a-mighty-man-of-fearless-courage/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [At the start of each new day, remind yourself: I am talented. I am creative. I am greatly favored by God. I am equipped.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/at-the-start-of-each-new-day-remind-yourself-i-am-talented-i-am/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Don't be intimidated by the size of your problem or the size of your dream. God will see to it that it is finished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/don-t-be-intimidated-by-the-size-of-your-problem-or-the-size-of-your/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [No matter what's happening, choose to be happy. Don't focus on what's wrong. Find something positive in your life. Thank God for the small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/no-matter-what-s-happening-choose-to-be-happy-don-t-focus-on-what-s/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I deal with more practical issues of the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-deal-with-more-practical-issues-of-the-bible/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I've learned a simple principle: all I have to do is be the best 'me' that I can be. One day when I read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-ve-learned-a-simple-principle-all-i-have-to-do-is-be-the-best-me/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“Too often we don’t realize how great we have it until something is taken away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/too-often-we-don-t-realize-how-great-we-have-it-until-something-is/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) [Explore all 960 Joel Osteen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) ## More Anger quotes > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The bitterness, the sin you retain, can produce the same results that hurt you. If you were raised in an abusive environment, if you come from a family filled with anger and dysfunction, instead of becoming bitter and angry, why don’t you be the one to put an end to the negative cycle? You can be the one to make a difference. Are you holding on to anger and unforgiveness and passing poison down to the next generation? Or are you willing to let it go so your family can rise to a new level? I realize it can be very hard to forgive, especially when someone has hurt you, but God will never ask you to do something without giving you the ability to do it. Forgiveness is a process. It doesn’t happen overnight. You don’t snap your fingers and make a hurt go away. That’s not realistic. But if you’ll continue to have the desire to forgive and ask God to help you, then little by little those negative feelings will fade. 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