In the Bible, it is declared quite a few times that we will face trials. Jesus doesn’t say that we will have a pain-free, carefree, and easy-going life. We will face a lifetime of trials. Trials in different shapes, sizes, and forms. One of these trials comes in the form of rejection.
Rejection stings. Rejection hurts.
Rejection stings. Rejection hurts. Right now I am in a season of rejection. College and grad school have come to an end, and job opportunities are my focus. I have never been in a season where so many doors have been shut in my face. I have fantasized and romanticized about the “dream job” in a dream office downtown with a scaling view of the mountains. My naive self thought this job process would be easy due to my comparison faults of watching my wildly talented & well-deserved friends land dream jobs. Instead, I have gotten rejection letters filling my email inbox, tearing my human heart apart bit by bit. Tears have silently spilled out of the corners of my eyes as I have sat down at my dining room table, shakingly opening up my unopened email message to see the result after weeks of interviews. “Unfortunately, we have decided to go with someone else. Thank you for your time and consideration.”
“Why not me? What did I do wrong?”
The immediate reaction to rejection is confusion, frustration, and moments of doubt. “Why not me? What did I do wrong?” And trust me, I know it is painful when you thought you were on God’s path, and you find out it wasn’t God’s plan. The Creator of our lives knows what He is doing. You have to trust in His provision and set plans for yourself. God only asks you to put your best foot forward with an upright posture that shows confidence regardless of being rejected because He knows everything as He is omniscient and omnipresent.
1 John 3:20-22 “If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts and He knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask because we keep His commands and do what pleases Him.”
We Can’t Do it in Our Strength.
God knows. He knows you have been rejected and knows how you feel inside. I am sure you have been in the same boat as me, figuring out why or what went wrong and trying to piece together God’s purpose in your situation. Maybe it is not rejection in jobs, but rejection in relationships, friendships, finances, or whatever caused your heart to break because it did not pan out to your own expectations and visions. God knows. We can’t do it in our strength, but we have a Father who will carry us through our trials and our stings of pain. God aligns trials to make us more mature and persevere through the tough times—-
James 1: 2-3 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (NIV).
Rejection tests your faith. It can make you wonder and question. In a season of rejection, ask for wisdom. For God says “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:5-6, NIV)
There is no way we are going to avoid rejection. When we live this life wholeheartedly and authentic, we will face a season of rejection in the world. Someone or something in this world will reject you, but remember, you have a Father who will never, ever reject you. He solemnly and purely loves you for all He created you to be. He will carry you and He will rescue you. The next rejection letter, talk, email, or text you get… it’s okay to shed a tear, but place your heart into His hands. Ask for wisdom to guide you in the next steps, and hold your head high because God has the most incredible plans for you. Perhaps a rejection is a redirection to God’s beautifully designed path He has set for you. Rejection is a time of reflection of who God has called you to be.
He will carry you. He will rescue you. (Isaiah 46:4)
It may not seem glamorous right now, but after each trial, God will get you exactly where you need to be, mature and complete and not lacking anything. (James 1:4, NIV).
When you get knocked down, get right back up for His Kingdom—–
He has you every step of the way——-
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
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