What did she say?, Oh Nah I just have to let them know how I feel or else…, Wow! They really "tried" me, I can't "bang" with them like that. Does all this sound too familiar?
Everyone's on their guard not wanting to be disrespected, read, crossed or looked down upon by others, all this can be summed as offenses. Offenses are bait used by the enemy to destroy us, those around us, and aspects of our lives. When we become offended we speak from anger and sometimes end up saying things we regret. I've been there many times, talking back, cussing people out, just letting them know " I am not the one" and at the end of the day I end up feeling bad, losing/letting go of people, and most importantly disrespecting and disappointing God.
When we react in this manner we should keep in mind that at the end of it all God will judge us. He commanded us to love one another and strive to live in peace, but also made us aware that it wouldn't always be peaches and cream. That we have to endure and overcome the hard times in order to enter the promise land.
This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. – John 15:12 (NLT)
Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.- Romans 12:18 (NLT)
Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.- Hebrews 12:14 (NLT)
Does anyone ever think What Would Jesus Do (WWJD)? If he was "tried" and offended and talked about negatively, how much more you? How did he handle that situation? Are you handling it in that same manner, or are you ready to "pop off" and let the other party know how you feel right away, not caring how you say it or just cutting them out of your life just like that? Is it really worth it? I don't think so! Do you really want to miss your place in heaven because you just "had" to speak your mind?
Don't you know that when someone is offended it is very hard to win the person back? So let's be careful of what and how we say things to others. It's not worth burning bridges and losing good friends and family due to issues with the tongue. When the nature of God is in you, you know how to make peace with others.
An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars. Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction. The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. – Proverbs 18:19-21
After being confrontational at times and a "sour/patch", as I was called by a few people I know, I started to avoid confrontations. When someone offended me I balled up and didn't know what to say or how to react I would harbor the hurt and resentment inside. I would wonder what I did or how I could make it better just to be at peace with them. I just didn't want "issues"/enemies. You're going to have enemies throughout life but we should grow and learn to kill the spirit of offense. Know that your delivery and tact makes a difference in your speech, and sometimes people don't deserve a response and shouldn't be given the satisfaction of upsetting you.
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. So watch yourselves! “If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.”- Luke 17:1-3
As believers, we should learn to be mature and let other know it's ok when an offense occurs. People may think you’re a fool but you're not, you just want to please God. For your sanity, peace, and being clean before God, let's learn not to overdo it. Swallow your pride and let things slide. You shouldn't share the space in your heart with God and resentment/anger towards other people. God doesn't want us to be resentful, rather he wants us to be forgiving towards others and ourselves. This is the way towards God's heart and the way you become the person he created you to be.
This is the way towards God's heart, the way you become the person he created you to be. So let it go! Remember hurt people, hurt people so don't take personally, forgive and know that God will take care of it. Your focus should be on developing yourself into who he wants you to be.