How Do I Know When I Am Offended?

Emotional Intelligence is being able to identify when an offense has actually occurred.

Sometimes an offense was done AGAINST you, but that doesn’t make YOU offended. You know that it wasn’t right, you know that it wasn’t ok. You are not pleased with it. But you may not have actual offense in your heart.

An offended heart is bitter and holds resentment. It has not forgiven.

When an offense has been done and you are displeased with it, disappointed, you may act accordingly. You may have different boundaries and you may need to operate differently with the person/ organization.

It may even still hurt and disappointed… but there is a a difference between being wounded and offended.

Here are questions to ask yourself:

• Have I genuinely (not lying to myself) forgiven them?
• Have I taken appropriate responsibility where it is warranted? Not just looked at their part?
• Have I released them in my heart?
• Have I sat with God and identified my feelings about this?

You may have to still deal with hurt feelings, but when bitterness and resentment have set it… there is still anger directed at whomever you are offended toward.

Sometimes we don’t actually know when we are hurt because we aren’t used to identifying our pain.

In the next blog we will explore more on how to identify when you are in pain.