Offense – The Silent Killer

Not every wound bleeds. Some settle deep into the heart and hide behind smiles. They live in the silence between friends, in the pause before a hug, in the ‘I’m fine’ that doesn’t quite feel true. This is the quiet presence of offense; unseen but powerful, unspoken but shaping everything.
Offense rarely announces its arrival. It slides in unnoticed, tucked beneath a misunderstood gesture, a forgotten invitation, or a sharp word that cuts a little too deep. It seeps into the soul when someone else is chosen and you are not, when correction feels like rejection, or when love seems so faint it no longer feels real.

According to The Bait of Satan by John Bevere, offense is one of the enemy’s most effective tools to trap believers, fracture relationships and hinder spiritual growth. He describes offense as a bait that leads to bitterness, division and unforgiveness, often without the offended person realizing the depth of their spiritual bondage.

The Bait of Satan – John Bevere

He emphasizes that even faithful Christians can fall into this trap, especially when they feel justified in their hurt. Yet, carrying offense distances us from God and stifles love. The book urges believers to pursue reconciliation, humility and forgiveness, which are central to Christ’s teaching. Please read it if you haven’t.

Sometimes, offense is not a window to what others have done, but a mirror that shows what remains unresolved within us: unspoken expectations, a need for affirmation, an old bruise from another place. God, in His mercy, allows these moments to surface, not to shame us, but to shape us. These cracks are an invitation to deeper healing and stronger love if we choose to respond rightly.

So, how do we break the silence? Bevere encourages the following;

1. Recognize the trap: Acknowledge that offense is a spiritual weapon meant to derail your walk with God.
2. Refuse to take the bait: Even when wronged, choose not to let offense take root in your heart.
3. Forgive quickly and often: Forgiveness isn’t about excusing others, but about freeing yourself.
4. Pray for those who hurt you: It softens your heart and aligns your response with God’s grace.
5. Guard your heart: Be slow to speak and quick to listen. Avoid assumptions and gossip.
6. Seek reconciliation: If safe and possible, lovingly confront the issue with the goal of restoration.
7. Stay rooted in Scripture: God’s Word is a filter that exposes offense and reminds us of grace. In fact, yielding pacifies great offenses – so the Word says.

On the other hand, dealing with offense also starts with asking hard, honest questions; not about others, but about yourself: Why does this bother me so deeply? What expectation did I place on them that they never signed up for? What pain am I projecting from another place?
And then comes the brave choice to forgive even if the apology never comes. To release the need to be right. To choose peace over pride.

Sometimes you may still need to have the hard conversations gently, honestly, with love. Not to accuse, but to restore. You might hear a version of the story that changes your perspective. You might discover that the one who hurt you was also hurting. In the process, you might begin to rebuild what you thought was lost.

Remember this, there is no perfect church. No flawless leader. No friendship that won’t face pressure. But there is grace for the imperfect. There is beauty in rebuilding. There is strength in staying, forgiving, and pressing in even when walking away seems easier.

So if you find yourself quietly withdrawing, emotionally exhausted or slowly hardening, pause! Before the silence becomes your home, before your heart forgets how to feel, ask God to soften what has grown cold. Let Him remind you that unity isn’t the absence of offense, but the presence of grace.

This moment may not be something to escape, but a doorway into deeper healing. Don’t take the bait. Walk free.

If you’ve ever walked into church carrying a smile but hiding a wound, you’re not alone. Beneath the songs and sermons, many hearts quietly carry the weight of misunderstanding, unmet expectations or moments that simply hurt too much to name. This isn’t weakness, and it isn’t failure. It’s part of what it means to do life with people, even in the body of Christ. So recognizing, confronting and healing from hidden hurt in the Body of Christ is an invitation, not a rebuke. An invitation to pause, to breathe, and to let God gently uncover what’s been buried. You don’t have to stay stuck in silence. Healing is possible, even here. Restoration is still God’s desire. And you are not forgotten. This is a journey toward peace, one brave step at a time.

Stay Blessed.