If you are carrying around a lot of resentment, anger, or hurt over something that happened in the past, you may find that you are unhappy and unable to find peace. Perhaps the best thing that you can do for your own emotional health is to practice forgiveness, even if the person who wronged you does not appear to feel sorry.
Offense is a stumbling block that Satan uses to keep many Christians from experiencing life to the fullest. You probably will not progress in your relationship with God if, every time someone hurts your feelings, you get offended. The word for offense that is used in the New Testament means “the part of the trap on which the bait lies to lure in its victim,” and offense is part of Satan’s trap to keep us from going forward in our walk with God.
Apostle Paul’s Example
The apostle Paul was offended by other brothers in Christ, but in each instance he decided to leave the person with God. For example, there was a man named Alexander, who did Paul a great deal of harm. What’s Paul’s response? The Lord will pay him back (2 Timothy 4:14). In that same passage, Paul writes about how various people have left him: At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. However, he asks God, May it not be held against them (2 Timothy 4:16).
Paul may not have had power in his ministry had he been bitter towards others. Decide to forgive others through the power of God’s grace. If you’re offended about something others did to you, ask God, May it not be held against them. Forgiveness is the solution.