Rejected vs. Rejoicing

Rejection has many different layers, and it can leave us with various types of wounds, some deeper than others. Each of us has experienced rejection in some form from our outside environment - either socially, from family, a spouse, from friends, or maybe even by a co-worker. When we experience an episode of being rejected, if we allow it to take root and grow we become vulnerable and weak. Then more rejection comes in like a rushing wave and infects our internal core beliefs leaving us lonely, isolated, and feeling worthless. Many times we then feel that we cannot live out our true purpose and calling in life. Does this sound familiar? 

Now consider this and ask yourself these questions: “How can I overcome a chain of rejection that holds me back from experiencing the joy of the Lord?” For I really do want to rejoice and praise HIM for who I am and who HE created me to be. So I am asking myself: “How can I re-frame my narrative so that it is changed from a negative to a positive one?”

Are you willing to look inward and ask these hard questions? How has rejection played a part of your story? Who are you allowing to write your story, God or the world?

What Defines You? ...

Have you made belonging to this world more important than belonging to God’s kingdom? Notice how thoughts such as these can dominate and cloud our view of ourselves, God, and others. Who are we living for anyway? The Bible says that Christians cannot serve both worlds. In fact, we must make a choice. The Apostle James wrote:

“You people aren't faithful to God! Don't you know if you love the world, you are God's enemies? And if you decide to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God” ~~ James 4:4 (CEV).

Now that is a scary thought - living like this makes us God's enemy. Are you willing to begin to receive God's love, His acceptance, and affirmation instead?  If so, what this means is that you will probably will live in exile - rejected by this world. Christians are to be set apart as a city on a hill and holy as unto the Lord. And the implications of this are many. For those of you who are married to an unbeliever, you may even feel devastating rejection by your own spouse as you make a stand for Christ. This can be tough to deal with.

Spend some quiet time with the Lord to discern what your deepest thoughts and desires are. Rejection has many layers, and some wounds are deeper than others. But the Lord wants to deliver you from rejection to the point where you are rejoicing in new found freedom!

Here is what God says: “For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people” ~~ 1 Samuel 12:22.

What a promise He has given to US! That neither you nor I will ever be rejected by God. Why? Because He called us and chosen us for Himself! What an amazing truth this is! Will you let His Word heal your spirit, transform you, and renew your mind? Instead of thinking how, when, what, and where rejection came in, start rejoicing that God says of us: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” ~~ John 14:18.

We can rejoice now for His powerful and mighty Word frees, sustains, heals, redeems, loves, and calls us.

First Thessalonians 5:16-22 reads: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the spirit. Do not despise prophesies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”

His Instructions Are Clear ...

He tells us we must make the choice to “rejoice always.” There is a difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is fleeting, while joy is an abiding fruit of the Spirit as we allow the Lord to change us. He wants us to “put on joy" and ‘‘put off rejection." When we make the choice to praise Him, we are choosing to believe His truth that our confidence is not in this world but in Him. We receive our value from Him. He promises that we will have joy when we obey Him - when we take Him at His Word. Then we receive His affirmation!

We must also pray daily - communing with His Spirit, seeking His truth, meditating on His Word, and asking Him to lead and guide us even moment-by-moment.

In The Living Bible, Psalms 37:4-8 reads: “Be delighted with the Lord. Then he will give you all your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him to help you do it, and he will. Your innocence will be clear to everyone. He will vindicate you with the blazing light of justice shining down as from the noonday sun.”

As we delight ourselves in the Lord, it is our choice to continue in a close personal relationship with Him. Then we won't allow evil thoughts to creep in or overtake us. Instead we'll stand fast and trust in our loving God!

Nehemiah was man we read about in the Old Testament who was willing to be rejected by the world in order to obey the voice of the Lord. He trusted in what he could not see or feel. YET he believed God and rejoiced in what God was about to do. Then under the direction of the Lord he built a wall of protection around his city. When opposition came and he felt the utter rejection and ridicule from his adversaries, look at what Nehemiah did in response. He prayed: “But now, O God, strengthen my hands” ~~ Nehemiah 6:8.

Nehemiah was determined to remain focused upon God's call on his life, not on himself or what others thought. God's instructions were for him to keep building. Keep doing what he was called to do. He was not to stop even for a moment and consider the opposition. God told him not to come down from the wall to meet with and negotiate with the people.  Even though they rejected him, he had inner peace as he continued to obey the Lord. (Nehemiah 6:3).  He was not willing to conform to other people's thinking or expectations. He made the choice to hold fast to God’s promise that he was doing a great work. Nehemiah was willing to endure criticism and ridicule in order to do something greater than himself through the power of God! He made the choice to think on what God said rather than to believe the King of Judah and all the people who said this could not happen.

Nehemiah was a man set apart. He was in exile, yet daily He sought the Lord in prayer, was thankful, and chose to follow God's leading! And the wall got finished supernaturally in just fifty-two days!

Will you recognize Who the GREAT I AM is in your life? Will you join me? I desire to be a modern-day Nehemiah. Do you? As we read earlier, let's “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophesies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from evil” ~~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16 -18 (ESV).

This is the Word of the Lord for you today! His Word will heal, deliver, and set you free from rejection and lead you to a life of inner peace and the joy of the Lord but only IF you are willing to give your thoughts to Him just as Nehemiah did!  Are you ready?

The most joyful people in the world are those who live in obedience to the Word of the Lord. They are set apart, protected by the Lord, at peace, confident, and rejoicing in His affirmation.

Pray with Me ...

Thank You Jesus for Your powerful and unchanging Word. Thank You that You are “The same yesterday, today, and forever.” Even though the story of Nehemiah was written thousands of years ago, Your promise is the same for us today! We receive Your affirmation. We ask You once and for all to break the chain of rejection that has bound our lives, and we now rejoice in You, our Savior. We thank You that we are free to praise You! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Scriptures for Further Study ...

“Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands?  Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God’s holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way: 'I’ll live in them, move into them; I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people. So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good,' says God. 'Don’t link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for myself. I’ll be a Father to you; you’ll be sons and daughters to me.' The Word of the Master, God”~~ 2 Corinthians 6:10-14 (MSG).

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” ~~ Philippians 4:4.

“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" ~~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

~ Elizabeth Bowman