Just a Thought: One of the reasons rejection hurts us so bad is because it makes us feel unloved. Some would even take it deeper. They would say “I feel that because I have experienced rejection, I have been made to feel unworthy to be loved.” I understand rejection. I face it quite often a pastor and a preacher. The things I have to preach or teach are not always popular. I know there are some who preach to be popular. And some who take the attitude, “let’s not ruffle any feathers of those in the flock.” I just don’t believe we can stay true to scripture and do that. So, sometimes people reject the message, leave the church and leave me feeling rejected. So, I get what you’re thinking and feeling. And to be honest I do have to find my solutions and comfort in the fact people rejected Jesus for the same reasons. My goodness He lost a big crowd in one day. But Jesus felt the sting too. So, what is my point to you? Well, when you are rejected for whatever reason, you are not the first to feel the pain. And you are not alone. However, that is just not enough to help you or me. So, I want us to see that while rejection and abandonment hurt deeply, it is not the end of the story. Nor is it actually the whole story. Because we are people, people we tend to focus on a horizontal level mostly. But there is more than one angle that needs to be considered. On the vertical side we are loved, worthy of love and never rejected, forsaken or abandoned. Paul writes to remind us there is nothing that can separate us from the love God has for us. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:38-39) People are going to let us down. People are going to hurt us, reject us, leave us and abandon us and it is going to hurt. That is just a fact of life. We are all sinners and sinners don’t always do what is right (in fact we have a real tendency to do what is wrong). So, when they do hurt us, we have to have something or someone to turn to. We can turn to the one who is always there. Always faithful. And, always loving us and assuring us we are worthy of His love. One of the reasons rejection hurts us so bad is because it makes us feel unloved. And we can counter that feeling by acknowledging the truth, “Jesus loves this I know for the Bible tells me so.” Thanks to Jesus we are loved and accepted by the only one that truly matters. God Himself has loved beyond measure (Rom. 5:8) and He continues to faithfully love us every day! Dear Lord, I cannot lie, the rejection by those I know and love hurts and it hurts deeply. But I thank You Lord that You not only know and have felt my pain. But, You are also right here with me in the midst of mine reminding me I am loved by You. I am worthy of Your love and You will never leave me of forsake me because You love me. Help me Lord to focus on Your wonderful love for me. And help me Lord, to Love You as You love me. In Jesus name, amen.
