In my last post, I talked a bit about rejection. To view it, click Dealing with rejection in a Godly manner
The rejection you endure may be somewhat minor or it may be so devastating that it impacts your entire life and all of your relationships. You can’t keep from being rejected but you can keep from living in it.
“A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:13)
We can see that rejection was common for the majority of the Bible’s most famous figures. Noah was rejected by his society. Joseph was rejected by his brothers. Moses was rejected by his followers. David was rejected by both his brother and King Saul. Elijah, Elisha, and Jeremiah were all rejected by their kings. The disciples were rejected by the religious establishment. Jesus was rejected by His family and society. I wonder how they could stand amidst such rejection? ‘Cause rejection hurts, regardless of how or who is rejecting you.
If you feel like you’re being rejected, remember this:
Never put all your trust upon humans
Jesus didn’t put His trust in man’s opinions of Him because He knew what was inside man. “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.” (John 2:23-25)
Pray and forgive them
In response, Jesus prayed for those who had crucified Him: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Forgiveness does not come overnight but the Holy Spirit is right there with you.
Believe in what God has done for you
In Jesus, we are already accepted. Despite our sinful nature, Christ died for us. Even if He was God in the flesh, the Son took such a big step for us mere humans. Ephesians 1:4-6 says: “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”
Remember that God will never reject you
The truly faithful of God knew that they were completely accepted by the Father. They were secure in His embrace. Neither did praise puff them up nor did rejection hold them down; they pressed on without turning back. God’s desire for us is to run to Him, to see Him as the Psalmist did: “For You have been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings” (Psalm 61:3-4). If we run to God, even rejection can work in our favour.
Accept yourself
There is a definite connection between rejection and the fear of man. We don’t want to be rejected by others, so we’re afraid or overly concerned about their view of us. We want others to like us, so we do whatever is necessary to keep the peace or we live under the constant concern of what others think. Take a look at Ephesians 2:10: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Rejection can drive us into a closer relationship with Christ. You always have Jesus, who is willing to accept and love you, knowing absolutely everything about you. Although we may not understand why we’re being rejected, protection will be the final outcome if we trust God. He will always protect us. His Word says: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Sarah Karki 