Don’t be offended!
Have you ever wished the Christian life were easier? Life’s everyday challenges don’t evaporate the minute we profess faith in Christ, and it’s easy to grow frustrated when difficult questions or repeated temptations continue to vex us. This devotional from Mrs. Charles Cowman’s Streams in the Desert encourages Christians to resist the urge to become offended or upset when things don’t work out quite like we want:
It is sometimes very difficult not to be offended in Jesus Christ. The offenses may be circumstantial. I find myself in a prison-house–a narrow sphere, a sick chamber, an unpopular position–when I had hoped for wide opportunities. Yes, but He knows what is best for me. My environment is of His determining. He means it to intensify my faith, to draw me into nearer communion with Himself, to ripen my power. In the dungeon my soul should prosper.
The offense may be mental. I am haunted by perplexities, questions, which I cannot solve. I had hoped that, when I gave myself to Him, my sky would always be clear; but often it is overspread by mist and cloud. Yet let me believe that, if difficulties remain, it is that I may learn to trust Him all the more implicitly–to trust and not be afraid. Yes, and by my intellectual conflicts, I am trained to be a tutor to other storm-driven men.
The offense may be spiritual. I had fancied that within His fold I should never feel the biting winds of temptation; but it is best as it is. His grace is magnified. My own character is matured. His Heaven is sweeter at the close of the day. There I shall look back on the turnings and trials of the way, and shall sing the praises of my Guide. So, let come what will come, His will is welcome; and I shall refuse to be offended in my loving Lord.
Read the complete devotional at Streams in the Desert.
When you find yourself frustrated and offended at life’s circumstances, a bit of spiritual perspective can put it all in the proper context.
Hi, thanks for this post. I’m really encouraged and at the same time reminded to never look or magnify the “storms of life”, rather, magnify God and His grace more each day.
My wife and I are also facing our own “storm” the past days, but yesterday, I was just remin ded again by the Lord about a verse in 2 Corinthians that says, For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal.”
God bless!
thank you this was perfect today
Thank you so much for this wonderful reminder.. =)
Thankyou.Jesus said that many would be offended because of Me…Many times offenses come because of yes ,even pastors,co-workers,other believers,family members,the economy and the list could go on…That’s why many times in the word God encourges us to “Be encouraged,Be of good cheer,Be strong and of good courage..For I have overcome the world.Galatians 6:9 says ..to be not weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.
Be of strong heart my beloved…we can’t get any lower than that Jesus has not already been.Be blessed my friend. Brother Steve
Hey, thanks for this!
Thank you. The idea of “offense” keeps coming back to me this week. I’m still amazed how God does these intensives in an area where I am lacking. Being easily offended has been a family pattern and an individual choice for me. I am genuinely sorry for how much time I have wasted being offended over the most trivial things. I think this had to do with self-esteem issues, but to be honest, if I am not finding myself in Christ, won’t I always be lacking self-esteem? I’m thinking that the easily-offended thing was a tell-tale of a larger issues of not being grounded as I needed to be in the love and work of the Trinity. Thank you, Lord, for setting my feet in high places!
Wow! This writing as well as the posts are wonderful. They have confirmed a discussion I had just yesterday with a sister in Christ. Praise God for all he does and how he is there for us at every turn with exactly what we need. I am so glad to be his child! What an awesome God we serve.
Thank you for God is good! This month a group of my co-worker are studying about offensive and being offended. As we go through this work week. We are asking God to cross us over to other side of peace, joy and love this week. Because we wanted God’s best for our life. God blessed you for writing this article.