I fought the urge to gasp while reading her text on my phone. The hard-to-swallow message caused a long-buried hurt to suddenly resurface. Rejection.
Although I have felt the sting of rejection throughout my life, this was a lesson from the school of hard knocks, adult education department.
Rejection happens in every stage of life—to little girls, teen girls, and grown girls.
Almost like I was an experiment in a lab or a reality show. Will she survive rejection as a woman? Stay tuned for the results.
Perhaps, like me, rejection yanked the rug out from under your fragile heart too many times.
But whether people introduced us to rejection early in life, later, or both, there are three truths we need to cling to whenever people reject us.
And these truths change our perspective as we compare rejection from people to acceptance from God. We replace lies with truth.
(1.) Rejection is something done to me, not who I am.
Rejection leaves a hole in our soul wider than the Grand Canyon. Yet, we make the mistake of equating what is done to us as a title to wear. The actions of others should never pen the labels we stick on ourselves.
Because rejection is an action, not a person. Rejection does not make me a reject.
On the flip side, acceptance is not only an action, but also a living being—God. So there’s no need for me to have an identity crisis. I take my cue about who I am from the great I AM.
We are patterned in the image of our Creator. Accepted. Valued. Precious.
Rejection is an action, not a person. Rejection does not make 'me' a reject. So there’s no need for me to have an identity crisis. I take my cue about who I am from the great I AM. #rejection #acceptance @FridayKaren Click To TweetOnce I watched a movie about toys built by workers on an assembly line. Every final assembled toy passed through inspectors who stamped each “Reject” or “Accept.”
Even if people attempt to stamp us with reject-or-accept opinions, God already placed His stamp on us. It always has and always will read, “Accept.”
Rejection and acceptance first intersected on Calvary’s cross. As soon as the cross beam bearing Jesus’s outstretched arms locked in place, rejection lost the hold on our lives. Now anchored in God’s acceptance, we know who we are and who we are not.
(2.) Rejection decides not to invest in me, but my heavenly Father is all-in.
Loved ones investing in our lives adds value. Yet, when others decide we’re not worth the time, attention or devotion, there’s One who invests all He has in us.
God’s invested, focused, attentive, intentional and all-in—“without restrictions” (Dictionary.com). God never limits how active He is in our lives.
We forget people are limited. So, we inadvertently apply this thinking to God. But we can’t set limits on a God who always operates in the supernatural. He brings His whole-hearted devotion into our lives where human devotion falls short.
If we reflect on where we limit God, we see how our doubts play a role.
- Maybe we think He loves others, but not us.
- Perhaps we fear God will let us down.
- Or we feel like the Father is distant, mad at us or disappointed in us—all comparisons to what we experience with others.
To remedy this, we exchange our doubts with confidence in who God is—He never fails and He is always faithful. “Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass” (Joshua 21:45, ESV).
We have assurance in a God who is constant, loyal, committed, dedicated, and quite fond of me and you. And the Lord declares, “I’m so glad you belong to Me.”
We have assurance in a God who is constant, loyal, committed, dedicated, and quite fond of me and you. And the Lord declares, 'I'm so glad you belong to Me.' #rejection #acceptance @FridayKaren Click To Tweet(3.) Rejection chooses to abandon me; God makes a promise, “I’m not going anywhere.”
Important people not showing up in my life caused me to wish for someone to promise to stay near forever, both physically and emotionally.
Still, does anyone promise forever and really own up to it? Yes, our heavenly Father. He’s the real Promise-keeper of always and forever.
When we feel alone, we remember God is there. And the Lord never leaves us to tend to ourselves and He never checks out on us. Declare these statements out loud.
God wants me.
The Lord pursues me.
God stays intimately connected to me.
The Father never disowns me.
(Insert your name) And God has said, I will never leave ________ or let ________ be alone. (Hebrews 13:5b, NLV)
Which truth spoke to you or what would you add?
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It’s such a good point that rejection is something outside of us–it’s not us and it’s not how our Father thinks of His children. I’m so thankful that through Christ we’re “accepted in the Beloved.”
I’m thankful that sure and secure acceptance, Barbara. As soon as the cross beam bearing Jesus’s outstretched arms locked in place, rejection lost the hold on our lives. Now anchored in God’s acceptance, we know who we are and who we are not.
Karen,
All three of these truths are powerful. When I inserted my name in Hebrews 13:5 it reminds me that even though rejection from humans will certainly come my way, God will NEVER leave nor forsake me. As long as I have God’s acceptance, all human “acceptance” pales in comparison.
Blessings,
Bev xx
Amen, Bev. So comforting.
And God has said, I will never leave Bev or let her be alone. (Hebrews 13:5b, NLV)
NEVER!
Great reminder that it’s not who we are. God does not see me as a reject, and in this writing life, we are continually struggling with rejection.
Yes, Michele, writers deal with it constantly. And it comes hard, but maybe even more so when friends or family reject us.
And the Lord declares to Michele, “I’m so glad you belong to Me.”
I had a situation a month ago that left me feeling rejected. It was a horrible feeling. It’s since worked itself out (for the most part anyway) but the emotions from it linger. Your words really resonate with me here and I appreciate the truths you’re sharing! “Rejection does not make me a reject. ….there’s no need for me to have an identity crisis.”
Lisa, I’m very familiar with the feelings and emotions that linger. Even something that happened a year ago the enemy uses to remind me I was hurt and rejected by someone I love dearly. I have to constantly replace the lies with God’s truth.
The Father never disowns Lisa.
Karen, rejection leaves a sting that raises its ugly head in my life now and then. While each of these truths is precious, the one I cling to most is His promise > “I’m not going anywhere.” God will never walk out on us, and He stays when all others do walk out. His faithfulness is astounding.
Joanne, it’s so amazing how God is the real Promise-keeper of always and forever. The faithful Father who promises:
“Joanne, I’m not going anywhere.”
Rejection is such a tender issue for so many — me included!
I loved this: “Rejection is something done to me, not who I am. ” Great reminder!
It seems to affect every person at some point in life! Glad we are not rejects, but accepted and valued and precious to the heavenly Father!
Karen, this is a great topic you’ve provided wonderful perspective to. I especially like the phrase, “Rejection does not make me a reject.” Amen! Stamp me “Accepted in the Beloved.”
Yes, me too, Debbie! God already placed His stamp on us. It always has and always will read, “Accept.”
A universal feeling. Thank you for the words of hope.
You’re welcome. Lauren is wanted, pursued, and never disowned by the Father!
Praise God he is all in, no matter who else decides not to be!
Yes! And God has said, I will never leave Bethany or let her be alone. (Hebrews 13:5b, NLV)
Thanks for the reminder that God is not going anywhere – not only did He promise to never leave me, but He also said goodness and mercy was going to pursue me as well!
Wow!
Amen! I’ve always loved that verse in Psalm 23!
And God has said, I will never leave Jerralea or let her be alone. (Hebrews 13:5b, NLV)