A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
– Proverbs 19:11
When we’re hurt or offended, our natural response is to often lash out or stew in bitterness. But Proverbs 19:11 reminds us that patience, rooted in wisdom, leads us to something greater: the ability to let go. Overlooking an offense isn’t about ignoring wrongs or pretending they don’t hurt. It’s choosing grace over retaliation, forgiveness over pride, and peace over conflict.
When I look to an example of this, my father-in-law immediately comes to mind. I see the beauty of a life lived with self-control and humility. It’s not that he hasn’t faced offenses or frustrations – he surely has – but he embodies the truth of what’s being communicated above. His restraint, kindness, and refusal to speak ill of others show that strength isn’t in fighting every battle but in letting go of the ones that don’t matter in eternity.
When I think about the patience and forgiveness Jesus extends to me daily, how can I not strive to offer the same to others? Grace, underserved and unearned, is what Christ showed us at the cross. And if He could endure so much on my behalf, far be it from me to not overlook a hurtful word or action for His sake.
Wisdom calls us to ask: Will this matter tomorrow? Will this offense shape my relationship with Christ or my witness to others? The obvious answer to those questions is no. Overlooking offenses is not weakness; it’s evidence of a heart changed by God’s grace.
Friends, let us pray for the wisdom to be patient, the strength to forgive, and the glory of showing Christ through our response to offenses. In those moments, we reflect the heart of our Savior, who forgave us completely.
Former Blackout Artist 