“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces He was despised, and we held Him in low esteem.” Isaiah 53:3
Growing up, many of us have memories of being rejected by our peers, whether in the neighborhood group of kids, at school, or even at home by our siblings.
For me, some rejection came in the form of being a pastor’s kid, looked on as a goody-two-shoes by other kids, a girl who wouldn’t participate in everyday childish shenanigans.
But the sad truth is, if it hadn’t been for those reasons, kids would have found other reasons to reject me. It’s just how sinful human hearts work, because rejection isn’t based on who I am, or what I do or don’t do; rather, it’s found in the hearts of those who choose to reject others.
Most of us don’t want to recognize or own up to the truth that when we choose to reject others; it’s because of something within us that's much deeper than whatever reasons we justify our judgment.
Satan rejected God, and since then, throughout the ages, he has been spreading his disdain for God, His creation, and all that He loves in the hearts of men and women.
Although seen as a flimsy excuse, just an easy way to get out of a relationship, when a girl or guy breaks up a romantic relationship, saying, “It’s not you, it’s me,” it really is more about them than the person they're rejecting.
Most of us have experienced rejection at some point in our lives. Usually, the rejection comes with some kind of reference to it being our fault, of how we caused it or brought it on ourselves, of how we didn’t measure up to someone’s expectation or requirements, that somehow we lacked what it takes to be liked or included, or that we messed up in a way that caused us to be rejected.
Rejection tells us there is something wrong with us, and that’s why we were rejected—but the thing about rejection is that it’s a liar. In fact, it screams lies to us.
Jesus was and is still rejected, yet there isn’t a single thing wrong with Him. Not a thing within Him that is reason to reject Him. He is perfect in every way, without blemish (1 Peter 1:19).
Rejection isn’t caused by what a person does or doesn’t do, but it's birthed deep within a person who rejects other people, a person who looks at the imperfections of others for a reason to feel justified in rejecting them.
Sadly, being rejected by others can really trip up people, to the point where it affects all their relationships. It can cause self-doubt, loss of confidence, and paranoia that everything and anything they do will bring more rejection.
Still, tip-toeing around others to try to keep rejection at bay will fall short in the long run. The truth is, there is no way to keep others from rejecting us because even if we were to do everything perfectly, keeping to everyone’s standards, rejection would still come.
Jesus didn’t live in fear of being rejected or let the possibility of experiencing rejection keep Him from being God's Son and fulfilling His purpose on Earth. Rejection is designed by the enemy to operate as a thief, robbing people of their present and their future.
In John 10:10, Jesus explained what the enemy plans for us compared to what He has for us: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Instead of walking around in life focused on being rejected or trying to keep ourselves from being rejected, we can look at experiencing it as being set free in a way, where we can be who God created us to be, unrestrained by the opinions of others.
Hate fuels rejection, so we shouldn’t be surprised when it comes. John 15:18 says, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first."
As long as we’re restrained by a desire to keep ourselves from being rejected, we’ll miss out on the truly wonderful things God has for us when we walk out and live who He has called us to be.
Let’s Pray:
Dear Father,
Free us, O Lord, today from the fear of being rejected. Help us to walk in Your ways and be who You’ve called us to be.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/lchumpitaz
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
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Originally published Friday, 27 September 2024.
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