Don't Block Your Blessing: The Power of Letting Go
Have you ever felt like something was holding you back in life? Like there was an invisible barrier between you and the blessings you know God wants for you?
You're not alone. Many of us struggle with this, often without realizing the root cause: offense.
God Is a God of Blessing
God is, by nature, a God of blessing. The word "bless" or its variations appear over 500 times in the Bible. This isn't a coincidence—it's a reflection of God's heart for His children. He wants you to:
Live a blessed life
Be a blessing to others
Bless Him in return
So why do we often feel stuck, unable to fully receive or experience these blessings?
The Daily Trap of Offense
The answer lies in what we choose to hold onto. Offense can be a major roadblock to God's blessings in our lives.It's daily, it's demonic, and if we're not careful, it can be deadly to our spiritual growth.
Think about it: every single day, you have opportunities to be offended. Sometimes it's small things:
A text left unanswered
A social media slight
Someone forgetting to say hello
Other times, it's much bigger—betrayals, harsh words, or intentional hurt. The size of the offense isn't what matters most; it's how long we choose to hold onto it.
The Weight That Gets Heavier
Imagine holding a small weight—say, three pounds. At first, it's no problem. You could hold it out in front of you with two fingers. But what if you had to hold that weight for five minutes? Twenty minutes? An hour? Eventually, that small weight would feel unbearable.
The same is true with offense. What starts as a small slight can become a crushing burden if we refuse to let it go.
Jesus Knew This Would Happen
Jesus knew this would be a struggle for us. In Luke 17:1, He says: "Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come."
Here's the truth: Offense is inevitable in this fallen world, but living offended is a choice. And it's a choice that can block God's blessings in your life.
Breaking Free from the Prison of Offense
How do we break free? The answer lies in forgiveness and letting go. This doesn't mean:
Pretending the hurt never happened
Saying what was done was okay
Becoming a doormat for future abuse
True forgiveness is saying: "I refuse to let what they did to me imprison me any longer."
Jesus Modeled Extreme Forgiveness
Jesus modeled this for us in the most extreme circumstances imaginable. While hanging on the cross, in agony and facing death, He prayed: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).
If Jesus could forgive in that moment, surely we can find the strength to forgive those who have wounded us.
The Biblical Standard
Colossians 3:13 instructs us to "bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
Remember: when God forgives you, it's total and complete—no strings attached. You're called to extend that same grace to others.
Building Protective Boundaries
Of course, this is easier said than done. That's why we need to be proactive in guarding our hearts against offense by setting up boundaries:
Physical Boundaries
Create margin in your life. Get rest, exercise, and cut out unnecessary stressors. You're more susceptible to offense when you're exhausted and overwhelmed.
Emotional Boundaries
Don't let your emotions rule your life. Guard against anger, bitterness, and resentment. Remember: choices lead and emotions follow. Choose to walk in love and forgiveness.
Mental Boundaries
Don't let your mind create imagined offenses. So much of what offends us is what we think others think about us—but these are often just assumptions we've made up in our heads.
The Jesus Strategy for Real Offense
When faced with genuine offense, Jesus gives us clear instructions in Matthew 5:44: pray for those who have hurt you.
Not that God would smite them, but that He would:
Give you wisdom
Help you walk in love
Show you where you might be wrong
Guide you in what He wants you to do
Even Offense Toward God
It's crucial to remember that we can even become offended at God. When life doesn't go as we planned or prayers seem to go unanswered, it's tempting to harbor resentment towards our Creator.
But holding onto offense—whether towards people or God—only traps us and stunts our spiritual growth.
The Ancient Trap Principle
The Greek word for offense, "skandalon," actually means a trap or snare. Like a monkey who refuses to let go of the fruit in a trap (even though it means capture), we often cling to our offenses at the cost of our freedom and blessings.
Your Freedom Questions
So today, ask yourself:
What offense am I holding onto?
What grudge, hurt, or resentment am I refusing to release?
How long have I been carrying this weight?
It doesn't matter how long you've held it or how justified you feel—today can be the day you choose to let it go.
Your Prayer of Release
Imagine standing before God, hands open, saying:
"Father, I release this offense. I reclaim my life. I choose to forgive. I choose to not lock myself in this prison of offense any longer. I release this situation, this person, this circumstance to You."
As you do this, you may find healing not just for your spirit, but for your whole being.
The Bronze Serpent Principle
In the Old Testament, God instructed Moses to create a bronze serpent on a pole. Anyone bitten by poisonous snakes could look at it and be healed. This was a foreshadowing of Jesus on the cross, taking all our sin, sickness, and pain upon Himself.
When you look to Jesus and release your offenses to Him, you open yourself up to receive His full healing and restoration. You clear the way for God's blessings to flow freely in your life once again.
Grace Is Greater
Remember: God's grace is greater than any sin or offense. He has already forgiven your past, present, and future sins. Don't let the enemy use offense to block you from experiencing the fullness of God's love and blessings for your life.
Your Prayer for Today
Today, make the choice to let go. Open your hands and your heart. Release the weight of offense you've been carrying:
"Dear God, today I come to you just as I am. I'm sorry for holding onto offenses and allowing them to separate me from You. Today, I choose to forgive. I receive Your forgiveness and grace. Help me to walk in love and to keep my heart free from offense. Thank You for Your blessings and for a fresh start. In Jesus' name, Amen."
Watch God's Blessings Flow
As you step into this freedom, watch how God's blessings begin to flow in new and unexpected ways. By letting go, you're making room to receive all that God has for you.
Your blessing is waiting on the other side of your forgiveness. Will you choose to let go today?