I’ve been mulling this post over in my head for several days. I really want to convey what’s in my heart, but I am not a gifted writer. I will do my best. If this resonates with you at all please leave me a comment or shoot me a text, as this is a more vulnerable post and I would love the feedback.
The Lord taught me something new this weekend and I feel impressed to pass it on. I was having a conversation with a dear relative about something and she said, “I know so and so hasn’t been very nice to several of you, but she’s always been nothing but nice to me. The Lord taught me a long time ago to not take on the offenses of someone else so I have always been kind to her.” This was really a one off sentence in a long conversation about something completely unrelated. But it struck a chord.
I’ve let it marinate the last few days. I’ve dug up some scripture to see what the Lord has to say about it. I came across this verse.
I absolutely love this! This is so freeing. We can be sad that someone is hurt but we don’t need to involve ourselves. In fact, we are instructed not to.
I’ve been thinking about my own life and times this has come up. I remember years and years ago I got a little crossways with my cleaning lady (first world problems) and she fired me. Gasp. I had referred probably 15 of her clients to her, including my then best friend and two sisters and my mom. I remember feeling annoyed because they kept using her. I didn’t voice it to them but somehow it felt like a betrayal to me. I reminded myself that they shouldn’t be inconvenienced because of my dispute but it still stung a bit if I’m being honest. It felt disloyal. Well, God wouldn’t want them to take up my offense.
Even as a 51 year old woman, I see this play out from time to time. One friend is hurt by another friend and we are expected to cut that person off as a sign of loyalty. But this is not what we are instructed to do.
I went back to said relative above yesterday to tell her what an impact that passing statement had on me. I asked her how she handles this scenario in real life. And she said I just always say. “I’m so sorry that person hurt you but the Lord told me a long time ago I am not to take up the offenses of other people.” And then she told me that ironically, now her friends have followed her example.
Side note, I shared my thoughts with my sweet husband the other day and he informed me that if someone wrongs me he will take that offense on! Gosh, how I love him! He is such a protector.
As I requested at the top, if this resonates with you in any way I encourage you to share. I would love to know if this has played out in your own life at times.
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I love this so much! Your blog really spoke to me. It’s such a powerful reminder how easy it is to carry offenses that were never ours to hold—or even cling tightly to our own hurt as if protecting it will somehow heal us. I’ve been walking through something similar, and I’m learning that constantly defending myself or replaying what was done only keeps me tied to the pain.
God has been showing me that letting go is not weakness—it’s trust. Trust that He sees, He knows, and He is far more capable of handling what hurt me than I am. Releasing offense doesn’t mean what happened was okay; it means I’m choosing peace over bitterness and faith over control.
Sometimes the greatest freedom comes when we stop trying to prove, defend, or carry it all ourselves and simply place it in God’s hands. He is faithful to defend, heal, and handle what we cannot. Thank you for this beautiful reminder that peace often begins where surrender starts.❤️