The Sting of Rejection
By Michelle S. Lazurek
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? Mark 9:12 NIV
It happened again.
Another rejection letter from a publishing company had hit my inbox.
When I read the words “We regret to inform you…” my heart sank.
My heart became bitter and cold.
“Why do I keep letting myself go through this?”I thought to myself.
Instead of dealing with the pain, I stuffed it way down deep into my soul and let it fester.
One day, God reminded me of my pain.
“Even I experienced rejection,” He said. I recalled to mind Mark 9:12.
I suddenly realized this wasn’t the first time I had done this. Many painful rejections came springing to mind: every friend that had abandoned me; every ex that had burned me; every parental word that bruised me.
It. All. Came. Flooding. Back.
Even though I thought I was doing the right thing by letting it go in the name of forgiveness, God reminded me I was stuffing it in the name of cowardice.
Jesus experienced a lot of pain during His crucifixion. But I have often wondered if the worst pain He felt was the desertion of his disciples, the same eleven men whom He once called brothers that couldn’t be bothered with saying a proper goodbye at His crucifixion. The same men who couldn’t wait to call down fire on the towns that would not welcome them now couldn’t stand to be associated with him in His darkest hour.
But instead of stuffing it, He triumphed over it.
He cried out to His father begging for their forgiveness. In so doing, He gave them the gift of spiritual and emotional freedom.
It’s not easy to give freedom to those who have wronged you. But putting up an emotional wall between you and others not only blocks them from reaching you, but prevents you from reaching out to God too.
When you experience the sting of rejection, cry out to Jesus and forgive them. Then you can experience the joy of giving them the gift of spiritual and emotional freedom.
When you experience the sting of rejection, cry out to Jesus and forgive them. Then you can experience the joy of giving them the gift of spiritual and emotional freedom.
Dear Lord, when I feel rejected, help me to cry out to You and not put up a spiritual wall. Help me extend to others the gift of freedom. Amen.
© 2017 by Michelle S. Lazurek. All rights reserved.
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Originally published Tuesday, 11 April 2017.
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