Offense is like a trap—subtle, quick, and often justified in our own minds. Maybe someone ignored you, spoke harshly, or misunderstood your intentions. The pain can feel real and personal. But offense is a choice. Holding on to it is like drinking poison and hoping the other person suffers.

Proverbs 19:11 gives us another way: wisdom yields patience, and there is glory in overlooking an offense. To "overlook" doesn’t mean we deny the hurt, but that we choose not to let it take root. It means we value peace and growth more than being right or vindicated.

Take the story of Joseph in Genesis 37–50. Betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, imprisoned unjustly—yet when power was finally in his hands, he forgave. Why? Because he saw the bigger picture: “What you meant for evil, God meant for good.” Joseph didn’t let offense define him—he let grace rewrite the story.