Are you dealing with hurt and offense and unable to forgive, heal, and it’s affecting you?

None of us are immune to hurt and offense. Even the most loving, forgiving, understanding person is going to have times when they get hurt and offended, feel misunderstood, disrespected, unappreciated, or taken advantage of. And many times, that is exactly justifiable and warranted to feel that way.

Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! Luke 17:1

 HOW you react and how LONG you react to offense is what needs to be addressed. Because while you are offended, you could be the cause of offending others!

The longer you stay in the hurt and offense, the more ground you give over to bad, harmful things that have the power to change you away from the likeness of Jesus. Let that sink in. Do you want to reflect Him–or a pharisee? A prideful, self-righteous set of people that Jesus called a brood of vipers?

 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?  Matthew 23:33

When we have been wronged, we need to seek healing from the Lord right away so that offense doesn’t take hold and control us. We need to forgive and let God be our vindicator even when He chooses NOT to vindicate.

Most often, we don’t let God vindicate us because He doesn’t dish out the punishment as we want, as fast as we want. So, every chance we get…….we are going to make those snide comments. Going to let that person know they hurt us and we have not forgotten, and the message we are sending to God, through that offense, is that we are taking ourselves off the list to be forgiven for our sins as well, because if you don’t forgive, you are dealt the same measure as you give. OUCH!

37Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6

Pride also has a strong say in this. It never wants to back down and let go of the offense and let the offender get away with it. Many times, offended people are the most prideful and stubborn because they have not learned the healing power of humility and standing up to their pride.

So, is that offense you are holding onto that important? Does it mean that much to you? Is it worth holding onto if it means you are no longer able to receive God’s forgiveness for your mistakes and sins? AND let’s not forget, if you don’t forgive and hold onto the offense, you are always holding open the door and allowing the enemy to have free access to torment you. 

34 And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 35 “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”Matt 18:34-35

 “Studies show that angry, resentful people are more prone to have heart attacks than those who forgive. Also, those people with chronic anger problems are more likely to self-medicate with alcohol or other drugs.” (Gary Inrig, Forgiveness: Discover the Power and Reality of Authentic Christian Forgiveness, Grand Rapids, Mich.: Discovery House Publishers, 2005, 14).

Standing with you,
Sheila Hollinger

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