“There are no coincidences in life. What person that wandered in and out of your life was there for some purpose, even if they caused you harm. Sometimes, it doesn’t make sense the short periods of time we get with people or the outcomes from their choices. However, if you turn it over to God he promises that you will see the big picture in the hereafter. Nothing is too small to be a mistake.” –Shannon L. Alder
You work really
hard and you carefully and methodically ensure every word, punctuation and
spacing is pristine. You have an expectation; you got this one. There is a
smile that forms and the submit button has been pressed; then the waiting with
anticipation begins. A couple of days later the phone rings. Your heart races
with excitement. The appointment and the day you been waiting for happens.
Hair stylist appointment is made. Shopping for new clothes
is completed. Newly purchased personal items with cologne or perfume are
bought. You are set. You arrive ten minutes early. The meeting is over and again
you wait with anticipation. It finally arrives and a dark cloud surrounds you
as you read: Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career with Eureka
Company! We received many qualified candidates and the decision was difficult,
but we have decided to proceed with another candidate whose experience and
background meets our needs more closely at this time.
REJECT!
Rejection is an assassin to our identity. It creates a lie
that we are not good enough, smart enough, or pretty enough. Conditional love
develops feelings of rejection. Therefore, rejection will always hurt when you
have entrusted your identity in the value of other’s opinions and their
acceptance of you. Your Identity is not found from other’s “approval of you”.
We feel rejected when we don’t have our identity built upon the right criteria.
Rejection will hurt less when your identity is not founded on materialistic
things, views of what others think of you, but rather spiritual.
Rejection comes from Latin, meaning thrown back. Rejection
will always hurt because we’ve all believed the lie we’re unworthy of someone
else’s love and acceptance. Reject; just the word itself sends chills and
negative vibes of prior pains and hurts. If we don’t wear the latest fad in
jeans, then we are rejected from the “In” crowd. If you have a Christian faith
then you are rejected because of your views. If you are not a Christian you are
rejected because of your views.
Rejection is in our mind because we have not learned to
accept who we really are. In order to understand rejection, we have to look
into our past. It started in childhood. Maybe our parents didn’t praise us
enough; maybe you were the last one picked to play kickball on someone’s team.
You didn't get asked out to go to the prom. You asked for a date and they said
no.
Rejection can hurt because the lie is believed you are
unworthy of someone else’s love and acceptance. The form wounds within our
heart and spirit. I pray you are having a wonderful day. Yet, did you feel the
emotion from the word rejection? It is a tough battle to fight. We all struggle
with wanting to feel accepted. The wounds of rejection opens up into deep
rooted issues like abandonment, worthlessness, or a feeling you are not good
enough.
Therefore, to heal you have to throw aside every argument
and captivate every thought and make it obedient to the truth (2 Cor 10:5). How
do you measure that you are worthy? You seek the spiritual where it begins.
The first step is avoiding those messages that make you feel
unworthy. You seek out the positive affirmations and situations, and you rise
above where you have fallen. However, no matter how much external validation
you receive, you will not be able to accept acknowledgement because you didn’t
personally believe in your own value.
The second step is accepting you are wonderfully made
(Psalms 139:14). Get rid of those thoughts and ask yourself: “Am I willing to
let go of approval from others”, and Am I willing to push past through my fears
when it seems like things are not going to change and see it through” by making
your thoughts obedient through Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Remember, you attract what you are. And when you believe who
you are and what you are deserving of, you will get. The truth is spoken
between you and God. You know the answer to your crises or dilemma. You know if
you feel worthy. So I ask you, do you feel worthy?
The only measurement you should take is with the Truth. The
truth is that you are worthy enough that Christ died for you (Romans 6:10, 2
Corinthians 5:15). If you seek Him and you believe it is Him who works in you
(Phil 2:13) then, “God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his
power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every
deed prompted by faith” (2 Thessalonians 1:11).
Your identity is found not in what others say or do that
provides that reject feeling. Your identity is found through Him that supplies
us with everything pertaining to life and godliness. Identify who you are,
define those boundaries and put up a defense against the attacks of rejection.
Rejection is the cattle prod that moves you along to something better.
In my life, I didn’t like rejection. Now, I embrace it
because it saved me from harm and potential damage that enabled me to be
blessed beyond measure. Rejection tells me that I am trying to do things my
way. It helps me to trust on Him and knowing that I am wonderfully made and
accepted by Him. By His grace I am no longer a sinner, but being perfected into
the identity of Christ, who enables me to do more than I could imagine. Working
through my past hurts has enabled me to not feel so much the sting of rejection
and has enabled me to find my identity in knowing the power that I can do all
things through Christ who strengthens me.
Isn’t it time for you to find that strength? Work through
the hurts of your past that block you from moving forward because you feel
unworthy by the rejection you received. You are more precious than you realize.
Embrace yourself into another world that seems to go the opposite of where you
are. Realize the true blessings are not found in material things or others
thoughts and viewpoints of you.
Be healed in knowing rejection moves you along to something
better. You have to be patient and not force the outcome that ultimately could
result in the feeling of being rejected. When the feeling of rejection comes it
is the river of emotions guiding you to wake up to something which is
healthier. Your identity is not founded on words or acceptance, but rather
something that is spiritual which blesses and moves you into a realm which is
divine.
Accept who you are, forgive those in your past, learn to
embrace rejection as something better comes along and know you are never
rejected from the love of Christ.
“When you give yourself permission to communicate what matters to you in every situation you will have peace despite rejection or disapproval. Putting a voice to your soul helps you to let go of the negative energy of fear and regret.” --Shannon L. Alder
By Faith I forge my Attitude In Trusting in Him to form my identity,
