Years ago, Bob Jones prophesied about “beauty and unity” in the Pacific Northwest and how unity was necessary if we were going to experience healings and creative miracles.

His prophetic word also came with a warning. He saw “cyclone fences,” and they represented “offenses.” He saw this was the strategy to stop the move of God in our area.

And that is EXACTLY what happened!

We get offended when we feel hurt, angry, or upset by something that someone has said or done. Instead of going to that person directly and resolving the issue, we often harbor anger and resentment.

When we take offense, it is because we are usually hurt, ashamed, or afraid.

We often get offended when we feel dishonored or disrespected. The main reason we get offended is because we are insecure. The more secure we are, the less likely we will choose to take offense.

We also can take offense when something touches on an unhealed wound from our past. We often transfer our feelings about a past incident onto a person who looks, acts, or behaves like the person who has hurt us before.

We can take offense when we don’t agree with someone. We have been taught that it’s not acceptable to disagree. We’ve been programmed to fear “the other.” We often demonize those we don’t agree with.

The good news is that we can make a choice not to take offense. We are told in Proverbs 19:11: “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”

We are told in 1 Peter 4:8, that “Love covers over a multitude of sins.”

As we mature in love, and become secure in our identity, the less offended we will be.