Offense: Release It

Sonya D. Ferreira
1 day ago
3 min read

**Offense may come uninvited, but it does not have to stay. In the quiet moment between holding on and letting go, healing begins.**

People can make you mad! Offenses are happening everyday, all around us and we need to know how to handle them appropriately.

There was a situation that occurred with my son that presented an opportunity for growth…that’s right. Offense presents us with a choice: we can pick it up and carry it or we can let it go and grow from it.

Let’s be real, it is not easy releasing offense especially if someone has mistreated or abused you. Human nature wants justice, sometimes it even wants revenge. More often than not those responses still leave people feeling fragmented in their souls. If we truly want to be whole, we must learn to let it go.

In Matthew 18:7, we are warned that offenses must come and I find that phrase interesting. It does not say, you may be offended sometimes. No, it says offenses will come your way but it also implies it is your choice to be offended.

You might be thinking, Wait… it’s not my right to be offended?

That’s right, it is a choice.

We cannot control when offense shows up at our door, uninvited and unwelcome. However, we can choose whether we allow it to move in and take up residence in our hearts.

I know what it is like to be angry. I know what it is like to wonder why God seems to be taking so long to make things right. I also know what happens when we hold on to offense and refuse to forgive; our hearts become impure. At no point has holding grudges or seeking revenge produced anything good for God’s people because human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires (James 1:20).

Even when we feel justified in our anger, believers are instructed not to let anger control us in thoughts, words, or actions (Psalm 4:4–5, Ephesians 4:26–27).

There is no shortage of reasons to be offended today. With everything happening in the world and the confusion surrounding what passes for Christianity in Western culture, it is easy to be offended. My intent is to inspire someone to refocus on the foundational principles Christians are meant to embody like forgiveness, humility, and grace.

The distractions of current world events, life events, and even past events can weigh heavily on people. If you do not want to be pulled under by the riptide, you must lighten your load. Let offenses come, then let them go.

As I talked with my son, I reminded him that living by God’s standard puts us on a narrow path and not everyone chooses to walk that road. Nevertheless, we remain unbothered when people change, relationships shift, and the world comes unglued because we have an anchor in God.

Even when we are weary, our foundation does not crack. When we are discouraged, it does not collapse. We can endure hardships and disappointments just as Christ endured them. John 13:16 reminds us that a messenger is not greater than the One who sends the message. If Christ suffered hurt and injustice, believers should not be surprised when we experience offense.

None of us enjoy suffering or dealing with offense but we cannot grow in godliness without learning how to handle difficult situations God’s way. So when offense comes: pause, process the pain, take it to God in prayer, and release it.

I ended my conversation with my son by telling him how proud I was that he maintained his convictions. In a world filled with greed, pride, and compromise, it’s worth recognizing when our children face temptation and still choose to stand in faith.

We may not always know what lies ahead, but we can walk forward with confidence when we release offense and submit to God’s way. We can trust that He will work all things together for our good according to His purpose.

Release it!