Today’s post isn’t a word study. Today, God is giving me revelation into my own struggles, sins, perceptions, and realities…and asking me to be raw and transparent with what He is teaching me about them.
I’ve been thinking a lot about rejection, lately. You see, it’s always been a stronghold in my life. As a child, I experienced situations in which adults in my world made decisions that left me feeling “less than.” Then, there were my peers! Oh boy! I won’t even bore you with that one! Like many teenage girls, I struggled to know who I was. I was deemed as “less than” by the elite and managed to find friends who accepted me but were not accepted by others. Let’s just say that teenage girls can be snarky, nasty, mean and rejecting…and leave it at that.
Unfortunately, I didn’t “leave it at that.” These scenarios in my life set up the perfect stomping ground for the enemy of my soul, and those rejections became the Achilles Heel that he would use to kick me when I’m down, for decades to come!
BUT. GOD! I’m about to turn 45 years old, and God is turning the tables on that ole devil and bringing me new freedom over these chains I’ve been dragging around my ankles for way too long!
Here is the good news God is revealing to my weary spirit! The devil is a liar! Nothing…NO THING…that comes out of his mouth is real! Were there real rejections in my life? Sure! And there is freedom in that, too! Yes, I said freedom! What God has been showing me is that, contrary to what the enemy whispers in my ear, I am NOT the only one who deals with rejection. On the contrary, JESUS…the Lamb of God, God in flesh, King of Kings, Creator of the Universe…was rejected! Some of the very folks He came to save and redeem rejected Him and crucified Him on a wooden cross!
Not only that, but God has allowed me to recently come in contact with people who are near and dear to me who have confessed that THEY experience, yes even frequently battle, rejection! Really, guys…this is a human condition; common to man; nothing new under the sun! Now, to some of you, this may seem too simplistic to mention. However, to me, this has been a life-changing epiphany! The Bible talks in many places about the freedom we have in Christ, and I think this is a head-smackin’, “I needed this,” V-8 moment of freedom for me!
And another thing…people will reject us. In fact, sometimes the people we hold the dearest will reject us in some way or another, at times. However, my father-in-law (Yes, it was a Bible verse, first) always says “All God’s promises are yea and amen.” And He promises us in His Word (And God IS truth, so He isn’t capable of lying) that He will NEVER leave us or forsake us. EVER! There is comfort in that, no matter what we think, feel, see, or perceive! This was the first explanation of my title “Rejected…Not Rejected.” We may be rejected by people, but NEVER by Jesus!
Here is the second example of my title! God has been revealing to me, over the last several weeks, that some of the rejection in my life which holds me hostage…get this…isn’t even REAL! Sometimes, the rejection I face is PERCEIVED! Yeah, how crazy is that!? Sometimes, the rejections that bind me the most are the ones I perceive vs real ones!
You know what I mean?
“So-and so didn’t invite me to their party, event, shopping trip. She must not like me.”
“I’m going to call to schedule this patient, and they’re going to tell me not to come…because music isn’t as important as the chaplain, the nurse, or the bath lady. I’m unnecessary.”
“I can’t go to this meeting because what I do isn’t as ‘real’ as other professions.”
“so and so didn’t talk to me when I came in the room. They must be mad at me.”
“The friend who said she’d call me back today didn’t call. She must’ve had something better to do.”
“My kid didn’t even get a birthday party, this year. I bet she wishes she had a cooler mom.”
“My husband totally disagreed with me on that. I should have kept my mouth shut…my opinion doesn’t really matter anyway.”
“My daughter is upset at me. I guess I should have let her not go to that event. She said she didn’t want to go.”
Do you see what I mean? Do you deal with this, too? The enemy, using MY brain to form these thoughts, is LYING to me again! In each of these scenarios (And yes, they are real. I told you this would be transparent!), nobody actually said the last sentences! They all originated in my mind! This is the second example of “Rejected…Not Rejected.” I perceived rejection, but in reality, there wasn’t any! So now, all I have to do is to be intentional to watch for those thoughts and take EVERY ONE OF THEM captive!
Jesus said that He is more than enough for us. He is everything that we need. He will never reject us. We just need to cling to Him!
Jesus, please help me to remember what you are showing me about rejection. Help me remember that you are always right beside me, inside me, no matter what I feel, think, perceive, or believe! Nothing can take your Presence away from me! Help me become more aware of the lies of the enemy so that I can combat him when he starts throwing his fiery darts my way! Help me use your Word to combat his every scheme. When I begin to hear rejecting thoughts in my mind, remind me that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Help me distinguish truth from lies and be freed from the lies…by the Truth!
So beautiful. God has given you many beautiful talents. I needed this today, thank you for sharing.💜
Thanks, sweetie! I also thought of another application of this idea. Sometimes, people reject our ideas. They aren’t rejecting US, per se, just the idea we presented. However, it often FEELS like WE are being rejected! Yet another lie! Felt like I was supposed to say that, too!
You just described my life! God has been helping me use His truth to combat those same thoughts. Most recently from Is. 51:12-13 “I, even I am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies and of the son of man who is made like grass, that you have forgotten the LORD your Maker who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth,”