Let's Be Real...Rejection is a Natural Part of Life

I know what it feels like to be unwanted.  Rejected.

I’ve been rejected more than I like to admit.  Rejected by men.  Friends.  Hiring managers.  Let’s be real - rejection is a natural part of life.  But it still hurts.  It sucks. And sometimes, it can be hard to get past.  If you’ve dealt with rejection over and over again, it can become a part of you.  It lingers in the back of your mind, reminding you why you’re not good enough.  Reminding you of the times you didn’t hit the mark.

And if you’re not careful, rejection can grow into fear - paralyzing fear that prevents you from moving forward.

There are people working the same job after 20 years because they have been denied promotions for so long, they’ve given up trying.  There are people who have resigned themselves to singleness – given up on love because they are afraid of being rejected once again.  Fear of rejection can become a jail cell – imprisoning you to a lifetime of mediocrity and settling.

When it comes to living a fulfilled life in Christ, it is important to recognize that rejection is one of the tools that Satan uses against us.  John 10:10a tells us that the thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy.  Think about it for a minute.  Think of how rejection steals your hopes.  Think of those times when rejection killed your self confidence.  Remember – rejection aims to destroy your purpose.

When dealing with rejection, it can be easy to focus on the ones who don’t love us, don’t want us, and don’t treat us right.  Unfortunately, that leads us to neglect the One who does love us, who does want us, who does treat us right. Don’t let rejection push you away from God, let it push you towards Him. There is hope in the second part of John 10:10 – “But I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

The battle we fight is not a physical one – it’s spiritual.  Refuse to let Satan use rejection against you.  Instead, look to Jesus who can restore your hope, remind you of why you’re valuable, and empower you to fulfill your purpose.