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Writer's pictureBible Brian

The sting of rejection


We all know the pain of rejection. That stinging feeling that someone does not hold us in as high a regard as we'd like, or even in many cases as high as they ought. We're not just talking about "no, I won't go to the dance with you". That stings, but not quite as much as, say, a child who is unhappy with their new step parent (or even one of their biological parents). A student unable to make new friends in a new school. The new guy on the job who becomes the butt of all the jokes at the office. An immigrant in a new country, whose neighbors perhaps find him strange or unsavory. All of these situations absolutely suck, both for the sufferer, and for God.

God is no stranger to rejection. Of the 8 billion people on the planet, only a few million truly love Him. Of the estimated 20 billion people who have ever lived, a significant portion of them chose to rebel without a hint of repentance. The very first humans forfeited a direct relationship with God in the hope of usurping His throne. Even as He walked among men, healing them, feeding them, and even lifting them from the grave, He was put on a cross by none other than those who claimed to be His closest followers; teachers of His law!

When you are rejected, you are not alone. Not only did Jesus suffer more than the lion's share of rejection, but the Bible even indicates that whatever men do to you, they do to Him (Matthew 25:31-46; Acts 9:4-5). Not only does Jesus feel the pain of your rejection, but He, Himself, does not reject you. Even if those who reject you are your own parents, Jesus is a more than adequate substitution (Psalm 27:10). He even knows you better than any man ever could. In Psalm 139, we see that God knows us very deeply. He knows every action, every word, and even every thought you will ever have.

That might be a little disconcerting at first. God knows my every action? You mean He saw when I pocketed that chocolate bar while the shop keeper wasn't looking? My every word? Like when I swore at my mother? My every... thought? Like the horrible things I thought about that cutie at the bus stop? This God, in His infinite Holiness, knows how dreadfully sinful I am? Yes. Yes He does. And all those things, all of your filthy acts, words and thoughts, have failed to make Him love you any less. They have failed because when He looks at you, He doesn't see the rebellious piece of dirt that you are. Though He is the one person who is worthy to reject you, He is the one person who utterly refused! On the day of judgment, when your entire life has passed and you are examined, none other than Jesus Christ will stand before the Father and announce "this one is blameless!"

When Jesus died on that cross, your sin died with Him. Everything that could cause God to reject you bit the dust, and when Jesus walked out of that tomb, it couldn't follow Him. Now, God sees you as a son or a daughter, and He is able to relate to you in ways your earthly parents never could. Even His knowledge of your flaws, your weaknesses, and, yes, your sin, is an advantage to you. He is able to build you up in spite of them, and even build you up using them.

Rejection is one of the most painful experiences a human being can suffer. But the love of God is so powerful, even rejection loses its power. When men reject you, return to God. Take refuge in Him. Pray to Him, study His word, have fellowship with His other children, a time will come when God will heal you so perfectly that you will even consider your most bitter earthly experiences to be worth it.

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