Rejection is a bitter pill to swallow, and it can frighten us either for a short time, or a very long time or for life; but as followers of Christ, “when even the world rejects you, God offer a permanent acceptance and adoption.”
As a Christian, I have good news for you that the things that habitually form as a foundation for people to reject you do not necessarily disqualify you before God.
So, in brief, below are a few Scriptures to encourage you to remember: You have to be confident, trusting, and have faith and hope in the Lord, knowing that the Lord has not rejected you or denied your request, if only you can hear his voice in the process.
“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious.” [1 Peter 2:4, ESV].
“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. [Psalm 118:22, ESV].
“For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage.” [Psalm 94:14, ESV].
All too often, we live with a sense that unless we possess certain specific personality traits or qualifications, we fall short in the crowd. Or perhaps we measure ourselves by our family background, our social standing, or a blemish-free past. The result can be discouraging, in fact.
We convince ourselves that, at best, we will be allowed to watch and cheer as the real spiritual leaders with a truly significant work in the body of Christ. Thus, without the proper credentials, we are not the kind of people the Lord can or will use for the Kingdom’s work. Hence, you build a minuscule mindset about yourself, of not being good enough. God cannot use me, God will not answer me. Wrong. He uses and answers all his faithful ones in the body of Christ.
Whatever our strengths and weaknesses, the secret of our usefulness is our availability to our Lord God. Jepthah had been rejected by people but accepted in heaven. The Lord delights to do that. No one is so “worthless” that God cannot use him or her for his glory. Your past may not be as sordid as Jepthah’s nor your gifts so unusual, but the Lord God who used him will use you as you trust him. The Lord answers all his children. No rejection, no denial.
So how do you react when a plan you’ve prayed over and worked hard for suddenly hits a dead end? It’s easy to feel rejected or even abandoned by God when a door you are very sure is opened before you, all of a sudden, is shut in your face. But here is another encouraging word from the Scripture for you to lift your confidence in the Lord.
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even if they may forget, yet I will not forget you.” [Isaiah 49:15, ESV].
That door shut right before you is not of God; take solace from Isaiah 49:15. The Lord will not allow you to go through something that will bring you suffering perpetually. Give thanks in every situation and behold the Lord, because he has the best of the best for us, but not leftovers or pain.
The Lord hears our request and sees through the storms, the ambush, and the unnecessary load or hurdles waiting behind that door that we cannot see ourselves, but are bent on going through. In such circumstances, the Lord will not go before you and open such a door for you, regardless of how attractive you see it.
We often view a “No” as a sign of failure or a lack of favour, but in reality, a closed door is often one of God’s most merciful acts of protection if we can understand. When we cry for help from the Lord God, he listens and makes sure the right help is offered to us as his children. If we delve into Psalm 34 below deeper, we can understand clearly that the Lord is with us all the time in every step of our lives.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. [Psalm 34:17-20, ESV].
Summarizing Psalm 34 in simple terms, the Lord God hears and delivers his children who put their faith in him and seek to live according to his ways, so those who cry out with confidence and faith are answered accordingly and are rescued from distress and rejection – they are led to the right doors with opportunities.
That said, remember that the Lord will only go before you to open doors that will have no nightmares and suffering for you and will do likewise for all his followers to prevent them from needless pain. Even though you may be praying for a specific issue for a specific answer, it will not happen if it would cause pain, and if it doesn’t go as per your request, remember it’s not a complete rejection. Give thanks and glorify the Lord.
Every so often, the Lord may be speaking to you, but you may not be hearing his voice – simply, you are not discerning well into the series of signs or dreams. The Lord may be redirecting you to something much better, or telling you to wait for the appropriate period of time for a better position or sending you to a different calling that would not only change your life but also the lives of many.
Therefore, let me tell you affirmatively that, as a Christian, a refusal, or a delay in your schedule for the opportunity that you are bent on grabbing by all means is not a denial or the end of your future. God has not forsaken you. He has it all under control, as you exercise self-control.
Do not allow the disappointment of a withdrawn or a rejected application; either it’s a big business proposal, or a job to convince you that you’ve failed.
In everything give thanks. Spiritually mature Christians, who are aligned with the divine Spirit of the Lord, will always give thanks for the doors closed, as well as the doors the Lord opens. When a road is blocked, it is because the Lord has something better for you outside the intended road you are clinging to travel. Discern into your actions; let it go if the spirit is telling you to, and give thanks to the Lord.
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” [Deuteronomy 31:6, ESV].
The Lord God is with us as long as we have the confidence, trust and faith in him, he will be present with us through every season, painful or painless, we will never be alone – just keep the Faith and Hope alive.
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