Offenses will come...What will you do about it?

I had an event take place over the weekend that really shook my soul. A person I thought was a friend of mine made it very clear that we were not friends and that we could not be friends anymore because I attend the church she chose to leave. It's very painful to know that she felt this way and that she was leaving the church. The reasoning behind her leaving is still a little vague but nonetheless it happened. My flesh wanted to lash out and send an angry text to her, but my spirit said "no, she is hurting and you will only make it worse." I was humbled and cried about it to my husband instead. I could have bad mouthed her, but I didn't because I was more confused than anything.

Losing a friend sucks and it hurts more when you think they never considered you as their friend to begin with. This moment made me think of Jesus when he was betrayed by Judas. Judas was with Jesus for 3 years, walking with Him in his ministry, healing people in His name, and just getting to be close to Jesus. Yet, Judas betrayed Jesus. I would speculate that it was out of offense. The spirit of offense can and will destroy some of the most solid people you know, people that you think are truly walking with the Lord. It's truly sad to know that this person was hurting and chose to seclude themselves instead of reaching out to me. I know it was a buildup of offenses that caused this to happen, and this person finally just snapped.

I was reading/listening to this book called The Bait of Satan by John Bevere, and in it he talks about how Satan will use things that offend us to lead us farther from the Truth of who God is and how much God loves us. Offenses are a trap, they are deadly, and they occur for everyone on this planet. Jesus himself even stated "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through which they do come!"(Luke 17:1) When offenses take place, and they will, we need to take that offense and give it to God. The offenses will come, it is our response to them that matters. Will you be offended and that linger in your heart and mind? Will you let that offense fester until you are paranoid, bitter, resentful and hateful? Or will you draw near to the Lord? Will you ask Him to help you forgive those that have hurt you?

So in all this confusion and sadness I felt over the weekend, I was reminded that I don't need to be offended by the actions of this person. It is not on me that they chose to do what they did. I could have been offended and taken my pain out on her, but I didn't, I prayed instead. I realized I was getting offended and I gave it right to God. I will continue giving it to God every time I feel offense rearing its ugly head. We do not need to be overcome by the offenses that show up in our lives, we can go to God. Do not let this tool of the Devil bring you further into captivity. When you are held captive by offense, you end up doing the Devils will and not Gods. You make decisions based on the pain you feel and instead of what your Heavenly Father has instructed of you. Thus, you are lead further and further away from God and out of His good and perfect will for your life.

So, when the opportunity of offense presents itself, run to God, trust Him to guide you, and ask His forgiveness that you were offended in the first place. Don't forget to ask Him to help you forgive those that have offended you.

*I highly encourage you to read The Bait of Satan, it is available on Amazon, Christian Book Distributors, Audible, and pretty much anywhere you purchase books. If you click the photo above, it will take you to a site that you can purchase from.*

** To the person most of this post was about, please know that I forgive you. I know you are hurting and I am praying for you. God loves you and so do I.**