Ignore Ignorance

There comes a time in life when you must learn how to ignore ignorance.

Not every word deserves a response. Not every insult deserves an explanation. Not every offense deserves your attention. Sometimes the greatest evidence of spiritual maturity is knowing when to be silent and let God handle what you cannot change.

Jesus gave us the perfect example. As He hung on the cross, suffering unjustly, He said: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34.

Jesus understood something powerful: sometimes people act out of ignorance. They may hurt you because they don’t understand you, don’t know your heart, or simply don’t know what they are doing.

This doesn’t mean the hurt isn’t real. It means you don’t have to allow their ignorance to control your spirit. Learn to guard your heart.

Don’t Return Evil for Evil

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us about personal retaliation. He said: “You have heard, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other cheek also.”

There is strength in refusing to become what wounded you.

Kenny Rogers sang a song that simply said, “You got to know when to fold them, know when to hold them, and know when to walk away and know when to run.”

Sometimes walking away is not weakness—it’s wisdom.

Learn to Forgive

Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who sins against him. Jesus answered: “Until seventy times seven.”

That’s 490 times, but Jesus was teaching us that we should always extend forgiveness no matter how many times a person sins against us. This is truly the act of long-suffering, being our brother’s keeper, and a test of our love. Forgiveness should be worn around our neck like a precious jewel that shines upon those we encounter each day.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending nothing happened. It doesn’t mean allowing someone to repeatedly abuse or mistreat you. And forgiveness doesn’t always mean restoring the same level of trust. But it does mean you have washed this hurt from your heart so that bitterness cannot take root and produce a spirit of vengeance, hatred, and even murder.

Unforgiveness is dangerous. It grows in your heart, and if it lingers, it will eat away at your peace and allow anger to take its place. It takes the power of love to forgive, and forgiveness is power over your hurt. Forgiveness releases the pain, mends your heart, and brings clarity and peace to your mind.

Forgiveness is healing.

Forgive Because You Have Been Forgiven

In Matthew 6:12, 14, 15, Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray:

“Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.”

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will forgive you.”

“But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father in Heaven forgive your trespasses.”

Here we see forgiveness is conditional in the response of our heart towards others. You will reap what you sow.

The instructions about forgiveness in Matthew 18:23–35: Jesus teaches about a king who took account against his servant who owed him $3,840,000,000. The servant did not have the money to pay back. His sentence was for him and his family to be sold into slavery until it was repaid.

The servant begged forgiveness, and the King’s heart was turned, and he forgave him all his debt. Then the servant saw a man who owed him $100.00, and that man did not have the money. So, the wicked servant had him put into prison.

The king was told of what the wicked servant had done, and the King had him arrested and delivered him to the tormentors until he could pay his entire debt.

Verse 35: “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if you from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.”

We ask God for mercy and forgiveness when we make mistakes, when we sin, yet sometimes we struggle to extend mercy when someone else makes a mistake or sins against us.

Just think about this: God has forgiven us for things we wish nobody knew about us. Things we vow that we will take to our graves in silence. So, when someone else’s ignorance hurts us, perhaps the best way to ignore it is to:

Just quickly forgive them in your heart, and don’t wait for an apology. You may never get one.

Repentance may look different. It may come in a hug, a phone call, a gift, or just a smile, so be willing in your heart to receive it.

Don’t let the hurt stick. Shake it off.

Respond with grace instead of revenge.

Wisdom instead of anger.

Forgiveness instead of bitterness.

A soft answer turns away wrath.

Ignore it, but don’t become it.

Walk in the Power of God’s Amazing Grace!

Gail D. Engram