Offense and Healing from Offense
Scripture Reading
Genesis 18:9–15
Genesis 21:1–10
Ecclesiastes 7:21–22
Proverbs 3:5–6
1 Peter 2:23
Matthew 18:21–22
Let’s talk about Sarah.
Not the cleaned-up, storybook Sarah, the real one. The one who laughed when God told her she’d have a child. She was old. Tired. Disappointed. Her heart had already grieved that dream and buried it.
God asked, 'Is anything too hard for the Lord?' And the thing is… He still did it. Even though she laughed. Even though she doubted. God gave her Isaac, and the laughter turned from unbelief to joy.
But Sarah still had unhealed places. When Ishmael was laughing, Sarah got offended. Her pain hadn’t healed, so her response wasn’t grace , it was rejection. The very thing she once did, she couldn’t tolerate in someone else.
Sarah felt inadequate. Her pain led her to a regrettable decision. That regret turned into resentment. Her unhealed pain became offense.
Offense grows in places where we haven’t healed. Hurting people hurt people. If our perspective is negative or selective, we’ll take offense to everything. And when we confuse the mirror with the window, we judge what we should be reflecting on.
So how do we overcome offense?
1. Give others the benefit of the doubt and trust in the Lord.
2. Model Christ.
3. Forgive. And then forgive again.
Final Thought: God can be faithful even when we’ve been a mess. He wants to heal the places in us so we can enjoy the promise when it comes.
Reflect
1. Where have you laughed in disbelief at God’s promises in your life?
2. Is there a place in your heart where insecurity has led to regret?
3. Who or what are you taking offense to that might be connected to an unhealed wound?
4. Are you looking through a mirror (self-reflection) or a window (judging others)?
5. Where do you need to forgive — again — as Jesus commands in Matthew 18?
Prayer
Write your own version of the prayer below, in your words:
A Simple Prayer
Lord,
I’ve laughed in disbelief. I’ve made decisions I regret. I’ve been offended when I was really just hurting.
Would You meet me in that place, like You met Sarah?
Heal what’s still sore. Redeem what I messed up. Turn my pain into laughter again.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.