Dealing With Rejection

Few things in life hurt as much as rejection. Unfortunately, it is one of the things that is fairly common in the human experience. This is especially true for believers as we try to reach out to a lost world. So as Christians, what's the best way for us to handle it? Here are a few things that have helped me, and I hope you find them useful as well:



God Understands

God understands our hurt because He has experienced rejection as well.



God answered Samuel, “Go ahead and do what they’re asking. They are not rejecting you. They’ve rejected me as their King. From the day I brought them out of Egypt until this very day they’ve been behaving like this, leaving me for other gods. And now they’re doing it to you." ~1 Samuel 8:7-8 (MSG)



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 (NIV)



Knowing that He understand my pain makes rejection easier to bear.



God Sees

Through no fault of her own, Hagar found herself running from the rejection and oppression of her mistress Sarai. Alone in the desert, and pregnant, God saw her plight.



She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” ~Genesis 16:13 (NIV)



God Hears and Delivers

There is nothing we can't take to the Lord in prayer. He hears the cries of those who belong to Him and acts on their behalf.



The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles. ~Psalm 34:17 (NIV)



God Cares

No matter what we face, we can always rest assured in God's care and concern for us. What He did for us on the cross proves His love.



Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. ~1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)



God Comforts

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. ~2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NIV)



God Is In Control 

The enemy of our souls uses the rejection of others to bring us down, but we should always remember that ultimately, God is in control.



For the kingdom is the Lord’s
And He rules over the nations. ~Psalm 22:28 (NASB) 



God Is With Us

The Bible is full from cover to cover with the assurance that God is with us. Though the rest of the world reject us, we can be sure that God never will. He's always waiting with open arms for those who earnestly seek Him. We need to always be mindful of His presence with us wherever we go.



"Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." ~Matthew 28:20b (KJV)



God Has A Plan And A Purpose

Thought it is certainly not easy for us to comprehend, God has a purpose and plan for everything He allows in our lives--even rejection. Don't forget the story of Joseph, rejected by those he loved the most and sold into slavery. Only years later could he speak the words: "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good to save many people alive."



Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. ~Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)



And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. ~Romans 8:28 (NIV)



"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 (NIV)



Lord God, we give You praise, because You are the only One worthy of our praise. We thank You that even in rejection, Your Word gives us these truths to bolster our face and give us the strength we need to keep moving forward in life. We love You. Amen.