“Being offended is inevitable. Living offended is a choice.”
I saw this quote on a friend’s social media page. For me, it is a profound truth about the human experience. Our social media feeds, the local news, and even casual conversations can be breeding grounds for misunderstandings and disagreements. In this fallen world we live in, people will say things, and circumstances may come up that are in conflict with our values, beliefs, or emotions. Being offended is a part of life; living offended is a decision we make.
Allowing offenses to take root in our minds and hearts can lead to prolonged anger, resentment, and bitterness. We need a way to work through offenses without letting them dominate our lives.
But what if the person we’re offended by is Jesus?
”and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.” Luke 7:23 CSB
Offended by Jesus? How could anyone ever feel offended by Him? To be honest, today I realized that I have had seasons in my life when I carried offense in my heart against the One I clung to for healing. I’ve felt offended that another person got what I so desperately wanted. I felt offended when it seemed like Jesus couldn’t see me or hear me. Instead of living in a state of blessing, I had chosen mental anguish. Living offended is a choice that robs our spirits of peace. It creates drama in our minds and builds a wall in our hearts.
One of the most powerful tools we have to combat offense is prayer. In prayer we can ask God to provide comfort and clarity. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us to present our requests to God, and promises that His peace will guard our hearts and minds. Through prayer, we can seek God’s guidance on how to handle the offense and ask for the strength to move on.
Embrace God’s Love
Blessed is the one who chooses not to live a life offended by Christ. Holding onto offenses, especially against God, can lead to a cycle of negative thoughts and disbelief. Both of which cause us to ignore or discount God’s love. So often we hear about the importance of self-love, but only His love has the power to break destructive cycles. Dear One, let’s make better choices. May God’s love fill our hearts as we examine ourselves, seek His wisdom, and move forward.