“Great peace have they that love thy law and nothing shall offend them” (Psalm 119:165 KJV).
Let me tell you about some things I have not gotten offended by: My toddler getting upset with me for strapping him into his car seat. A celebrity wearing something atrocious on the red carpet. Any team winning or losing the Super Bowl or World Cup. Someone who is not a friend not liking my house.
These things don’t rattle me, either because I know that I know better (such as my child in the car seat) or because I am not at all vested in the outcome, relationship, or opinion of the other party.
I have, however, been offended by others’ opinions regarding my Christian-ness, smarts, politics, appearance, experiences, knowledge, skills, relationships, and more. Why? Because these things mess with my view of myself, or because I care about the topic or outcome. Many times an interaction was soured for me because I was offended, or I managed to offend another party. That happens easily when my priorities are wrong. In such moments I care more about something temporal and superficial than I do about what God has said, and before I know it, I’m careening down a path I never wanted to be on.
How much simpler it is to be grounded in truth and not offended by whatever hot topic. How can we do that? By hearing the Word of God. The Bible tells us what is true, even if everyone else is screaming something contrary. God tells us how He sees His children, even if other opinions are coming at you.
When I hold to what God says in the Bible, the other stuff gets smaller, less offensive, less impactful. I don’t always manage this well. It’s hard. Sometimes the other stuff matters way too much to me. Just this morning I took offense when I didn’t need to. Luckily, the Bible verse I quoted at the start of this article came to mind and reminded me of what really counts.
Modern culture looks at being offended as a badge of honor, as protecting yourself. But that attitude is producing a hostility and fragility that is destroying relationships and damaging mental health. That doesn’t mean that there are not things worth discussing and defending. But it does mean that if it matters to the point that you are losing your peace, it probably matters too much.
Go back to God’s Word. Remember what is eternal, unfailing, and true (Matthew 24:35). Find your peace again.