Frankie experienced something he never wanted: rejection.
Frankie remembered the day well. The day his wife said, “I don’t love
you anymore.” Then she proved it by leaving him and their two children. As if
that rejection wasn’t bad enough, more followed. Frankie pastored churches in a
denomination that frowned upon divorced pastors … almost ostracized them, in
fact.
Frankie sent out hundreds of resumes to churches. Nothing. He finally
decided to take a job outside of church work, and for the next six years, he
worked diligently in areas he didn’t think God had called him. Then he
remarried. His new wife wanted him to pastor again. More resumes. More
rejections. Nothing seemed to have changed, until one church took a chance on
him and called him as pastor. But even there, some members rejected his
leadership because he had been divorced.
Like Frankie, I remember rejection as a child. I wasn’t the most
athletically built boy. Nor was I interested in sports. So, when Physical
Education class took place, and the teacher chose two team captains to pick
teams, I was always the last one selected. Rejection hurt then … as it does
now.
King David knew rejection too—and by one of his own sons who decided he
wanted to be king. He brown-nosed the people, who eventually turned to him as
king and rejected his father. Absalom eventually ran his father out of town.
The reasons others may reject us vary. Often it concerns our appearance,
jealousy, or our likes and dislikes. Sometimes, it’s because they see others
rejecting us, so they just follow suit. Acceptance is one of our basic needs
and when others don’t accept us, it hurts … deeply.
God gives us good news though. He never rejects us. When we turn to
Him, we find Him turned to us. He loved us enough to send His Son to die for
us, and He accepts us based on what Christ has done on Calvary.
Acknowledging our hurt is beneficial. So is realizing that not everyone
will ever accept us. Jesus was perfect, but rejected by many. But amongst others’
rejection is God’s acceptance, and His is the only real acceptance that
matters. His acceptance allows us to experience peace and fulfillment in life.
Seek to live at peace with others, but more than that enjoy the
acceptance of God.
Prayer: Father, thank You for accepting us, even when others reject us.
Tweetable: Have you been rejected?
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