Rejection

This one word fills many with negative emotions; guess what? we must deal with it or else it will define the rest of your life. Imagine what joy and peace awaits when we face the very thing that affects our lives. Love the picture below speaks of purity.

Rejection

Rejection means refusal to grant a person recognition or discard them as worthless.

The pain from rejection can leave a deep wound in the soul. Maybe you were the next in line for the job promotion but was offered to someone else, or your very presence is a threat to people around you. Perhaps even people in leadership see you as a nobody and fail to recognise your achievements. Maybe, someone that you love no longer feels the same for you. Father or mother may not want anything to do with you. Although rejection is very painful, never agree with the opinions of the rejecters, because most definitely their views of you are wrong.

The fear of man's rejection can affect our relationship with God, we fail to let God in, and we distance ourselves from Him. Our relationship with God becomes one of works if, "I work harder God will love me", yet God has accepted us before the foundation of the world.

Jesus was rejected, by his half-brothers, Jews, the Gentiles, religious rulers and a friend he ate with and taught for three years; yet this was a world He created. Jesus knows how it makes us feel because He has been there, but He did not let it define Him, He focused on pleasing the Father, we too should not focus on a man's opinion but God, so that the rejection is not the hindrance to our growth but what propels us to greater heights. Mathew 21:42, Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes?" We should not expect approval from man whose heart according to Jesus, is full of evil. Jesus has and always will be the firm foundation of everything on earth even though He was despised and hated for our sake.

Jesus being God experienced undeserved rejection, He felt the pain of it too, important to consider man rejected Jesus, but God chose Him. Isaiah 53:3-4, "He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain." Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely, he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted".

One man’s rejection does not mean we are loathsome. Find your sense of worth from God. His truth will give you strength needed daily. When we understand that we accepted by God, we discover self-worth and value that goes beyond human comprehension. Honour and value what God created you to be and, be content because it will make you a better person.

My experience of rejection was deeply rooted and painful, but I knew from a young age that God called me to preach. When this was going to happen I did not know, but I had unwavering faith about my calling. However, rejection followed me everywhere I went like a knife permanently stuck in my back that could not be removed. The constant presence of God saw me through it all, man’s rejection drove me further into the arms of God, and it is here I learned to survive around the very people who rejected and caused me pain. God used many of them to bless me.

Also, I came to understand God’s “process”, in this I took on all tasks, any role as though my life depended on it. I still do because we never stop learning. It is these experiences and skills that I can apply in my personal life and ministry as an evangelist. In the long-term God blessed me and set me free from bitterness and hatred. When we are born again, we are defined as children of God, as such God has created us for a purpose and no man can determine that but God. In Ephesians 2:8-9 we read that "we are blessed with every spiritual blessing and made us accepted in Him". Even though we do not deserve it nor can we earn it in Ephesians 2:8-9, " For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast”. I understand, when we are rejected by man, there is a loneliness that only God can fulfil, trust and have faith in Him, the crowd maybe hindrance to you, Mathew 24:28.

Do not give anyone permission to take away who you are destined to be, we are bought with a price and, His name is Jesus Christ.

Remember, as long as you are alive and, in this world, you are bound to be rejected or disappointed. It is what you chose to do with the hurt or pain, which can either make you stronger in your faith with God or remain in torment. It is a choice we all have to make. If you accept and chose the provision of God, His grace and comfort will be yours. Every born-again child of God has all of these provisions and blessings in Christ, but we have to choose to use them.

• Always remember that God will deliver you from the affliction, but you must have faith that He will do it.

• Do not be afraid of the future but fix your eyes on the finished work of the cross in faith.

• Remember to show mercy to your tormentors and remain true to your calling in due time the Lord will exalt you.

• Do your best and face rejection without bitterness, disobedience, or any other type of negative behaviours, behave righteously, in faith, and trust God that everything will work out for your good.

Forgive those who hurt you, most importantly forgive yourself for agreeing with man's opinion of you, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you", Ephesian 4:32