The word “rejection” settles into my soul. It has for a very long time, for as long as I can remember. The last couple of years that word has rumbled around in my world and like a leaf being blown in the wind, I have had a hard time catching it. It swirls all around but whenever I try to pinpoint the source of this unrest in my life, it is always just out of my grasp.
Synonyms for this word are like punches I can physically and emotionally feel: dismissal, elimination, refusal, brush off, cold shoulder, disallowance, exclusion, rebuff.
Ouch, ouch and OUCH! As I read these words, they resonate; deep down I feel them. Each one like a punch to my heart, each one a plea to God ~ where are You Lord or more pointedly, “where were You when those things happened that left me feeling this way?”
I could tell you many things that have happened in my life to make me feel these things. I could tell you how I have struggled with fear of rejection all of my life how the above synonyms manifest themselves in my life or how when I am feeling particularly vulnerable, they put a strain on my relationship with others because of my need for their affirmation. But that’s not the point.
For me the point is holding it up to the light of God and in doing that, making satan flee. Satan cannot live in the light, he cannot continue in the light. He is the prince of demons (Matt. 12:34), he finds those footholds in our lives that keep us wondering if we measure up, keeps us at unrest in our souls, keeps us from being able to break free from those chains that so easily entangle us (Hebrews 12:1). This is where he wants us: ineffective for God, focused on the hurt, the soul stirrings that tell us we are not good enough, under the lies he tells and we believe. Why does he do this? Because these things render us ineffective for Jesus, that is exactly where satan wants us but that is NOT where I want to live!
I have all of the affirmation in Jesus that I need. When I am strong in Him and allowing Him to fight those old battles and wounds, those spiritual battles (Exodus 14:14); my relationship with God is solid, my relationships with others are easy and I feel peace and courage and love from the only One Whom I ultimately want it from anyway, my Heavenly Father. Others in my life cannot and should not have to carry the burden of that for me, Jesus died on the cross to bring peace, life, affirmation and so many others beautiful things into my life, why in the world would I live like a victim?
Jesus humbled Himself to come to earth and wear human skin. He was beaten, bruised. Our Lord was despised and rejected (Isaiah 53:3). Did you hear that? REJECTED ~ by the same people He came to earth to save. He came so that He could understand and sympathize with us. He came to heal us, to allow us to have a Saviour Who loves us, ACCEPTS us! Imagine the God of the universe loving you!
Isaiah 53:10 says: “Yet is was the will of God to crush Him….. Christ suffered because God knew that the end result would be one of beauty, a way back for sinners, a way back for us to be able to live in all eternity with God.
Hebrews 5:8 tells us that Christ learned obedience through what He suffered. If Christ learned obedience that way, why would we think that we are above God using suffering in our lives for His good and our obedience?
Someone once said “I love the uncertainty of what’s ahead as long as I am in the security of God’s hand” ….. the security of God’s hand, is there any better affirmation, peace or hope than being there?
As the trees begin to blossom all around us, as we look forward to celebrating Jesus’ birth this weekend, I want my heart and affections to be on Him alone. As the cold chill in the air turns to the fragrant, sweet warmth of Spring, I will remember that He is in control, that He alone holds ALL things together in His hand (Col 1:17)
Jesus came to save us. He came to allow us to be born again in Him and be renewed under His love for us (John 3:16), under His blood.
Yes, He suffered, but in His suffering was renewal/rebirth, hope, a way home.
In light of what He has done for us, our only response is to worship Him, to be so grateful that we spend our lives allowing Him to shine through us and in doing that bringing glory to His kingdom.