Table of Contents

1 This Problem Is Bigger Than We Think 11

2 The Presence of Bitter Conditions 25

3 The Power of Bitter Lament 42

4 The Place of Bitter Tears 59

5 The Making of a Bitter Heart 76

6 Understanding and Embracing Fatherly Discipline 94

7 Finding Freedom from a Bitter Life 110

8 Taming a Bitter Tongue 132

9 God Can Help You Overcome Bitterness 147

10 The Alternative of Sweet Faith 162

11 When Bitterness Starts Melting Away 177

12 Embracing God's Sweetness 193

Epilogue: Does Bitterness Have a Shelf Life? 209

Notes 213

Bibliography 215