We all go through things that are unfair. It’s easy to hold on to the hurts, think about what someone said, relive the offense. We don’t realize how much that’s souring our attitude, draining our energy, and limiting our creativity. If you’re going to fulfill your destiny, you have to get good at letting things go. Jesus said that “offenses will come” (Luke 17:1). He didn’t say offenses might come. He said, “Disappointments, betrayals, and unfair things will come.” How you deal with these offenses will determine whether you move forward and see the new things God has in store or whether you get stuck in bitterness.
This is where David excelled. He was an expert at letting things go. When he was a teenager, his father looked down on him and didn’t even bother to call him in from the shepherds’ fields when the prophet Samuel came to choose one of his sons as the next king of Israel. David could have lived bitter, but he let it go. He felt the sting of rejection from his own brothers. When David’s oldest brother was condescending and sarcastic, David could have been upset, but the Scripture says, “David turned and walked away.” He let it go. Had David not done this, he would never have seen Goliath and I wouldn’t be writing about him today.
Are you holding on to an offense, letting a betrayal, what someone said, or how someone treated you cause you to be sour? Let it go so you can move forward. There is a new level of your destiny that lies past the offense, past the rejection, past what they said. Do as David did and develop a habit of perpetual forgiveness. When offenses come, let them bounce off you like water off a duck’s back. If a family member doesn’t believe in you, that’s unfortunate but it’s not going to keep you from doing great things. If someone treats you badly, most people would be upset and try to pay them back, but you’re a David. You recognize that’s a distraction. You let it go.
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus told us to pray: “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive everyone who has done us wrong.” He was saying that every day we should be ready to forgive. It doesn’t have to be big things. When a coworker is rude to you, just smile and let it go. You can’t stop offenses from coming, but you can keep them from getting down in you. Are you living offended and bitter, holding a grudge? Today can be a turning point. You can forgive and release them right now. Let it go. This is your time to be free.