June 18, 2026
The Unoffendable Heart
Fracas is one of my favorite words. According to the thesaurus, it has negative connotations: riot, squabble, spat, set-to, tiff, dispute, fight, altercation, melee, tussle. It makes me remember my roller coaster youth, that season when almost any conversation had the possibility of turning into conflict. With every conflict, we struggled with offense. It takes maturity to surrender ego. I gave up the right to offense long ago. I am amazed by people who will leave a church, a marriage, a friendship or a job over an offense.
Most offenses are unintentional. People are human. A situation might remind them of an earlier argument or experience that hurt them deeply. Or they’re hungry, preoccupied or might have a headache. If someone takes an offense and builds on it, thinks of things to say in return and nurses the offense into a grudge, no good outcome will occur. It’s easier to forgive, cover the offense with love and move on.
Several years ago, God asked me to develop an unoffendable heart. When I heard things that could cause conflict, I ignored them. Before long, ignoring conflict became a habit. Choosing to be offended is like choosing to be happy. Or sad. We choose the emotions we allow.
Today’s culture is hyper-sensitive. We see public shaming. Piling on. Let’s give more grace. An unoffendable heart goes well with a heart filled with endless grace. The root of bitterness born out of conflict does much damage to friends, families, churches, workplaces and every kind of gathering. Try ignoring conflict and its dreadful consequences will fade away. It is a challenge to extend grace and forgive easily, to not even notice the things meant to trip you up.
Dear Lord, thank You for teaching us to seek peaceful relationships and the healing power of grace. I am thankful for Your blessings toward me, Your willingness to forgive all my past sins. Lord, help me love these people I share my life with. Whether family, friends, co-workers, or church family, may I always seek the righteous meaning in every conversation and may I never dig deep just to find fault. I pray my love for others will rule my heart and my tongue so I never make their lives harder than they have to be.
A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11