We have the choice!
James wrote by The Holy Spirit in chapter 4:
8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
FATHER is waiting and willing to be intimate with each of us. What are we waiting on?
It is written by THE SPIRIT in Isaiah chapter 30:
18 For this reason the Lord is still waiting to show His favor to you so He can show you His marvelous Love. He waits to be gracious to you. He sits on His Throne ready to show mercy to you. For Yahweh is the Lord of justice, faithful to keep His promises. Overwhelmed with bliss are all who will entwine their hearts in Him, waiting for Him to help them.
19 Yes, the people of Zion who live in Jerusalem will weep no more. How compassionate He will be when He hears your cries for help! He will answer you when He hears your voice!
20 Even though the Lord may allow you to go through a season of hardship and difficulty, He Himself will be there with you. He will not hide Himself from you, for your eyes will constantly see Him as your Teacher.
21 When you turn to the right or turn to the left, you will hear His Voice behind you to guide you, saying, “This is the right path; follow it.”
22 Then you will see your idols as they are-unclean! Your silver-overlaid idols and gold-plated images are defiled. You will discard them like a filthy menstrual cloth, saying to them, “Good riddance!”
23 Then God will supply you with abundant rain for the seeds you sow. He will bless you with an incredible, plentiful harvest. And in that day He will give you lush, broad pastures for your cattle.
The closer we are to FATHER, the easier it is to hear HIS Voice and be led in all matters. However, we must tune out the worldly voices who attempt to cause us to be offended.
Jesus spoke in Luke chapter 17:
1 One day Jesus taught his disciples this: “Betrayals are inevitable, but great devastation will come to the one guilty of betraying others.”
If you take on an offense, get rid of it for its focus will consume you and prevent you from getting closer to FATHER. Pray for those who despitefully use you.
Jesus also spoke in Luke chapter 6:
27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
35 But Love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be Sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
A mature Son will not allow an offense or betrayal by others to divert his focus from drawing near to FATHER.
And Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 24:
3 Now as Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.
5 For many will come in My Name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.
10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
14 And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Lawlessness is any position or action apart from the Divine Intent of FATHER. It is your choice to draw near to HIM or to be offended and take matters into your own hands.