Five Negative and Harmful EmotionsSample

Rejection

Ps.34:18-19: The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in Spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all.

Rejection has many causes. For many, it is rejection by parents: an unwanted pregnancy (while in the womb), parents not caring physically or emotionally for their children - receiving no physical expression of love or words of encouragement, or parents that did not make time for their children, favouring one sibling above the other. There are, however, many other causes: poverty, being a "middle child" among your siblings, constant failure, a physical defect, being from another race, and being bullied at school.

Rejection starts with our response to harmful things that happen to us. Rejection leads to increased inferiority, guilt or shame, social withdrawal, and trying to become "invisible." But in some cases, it often leads to strong rebellion and aggressive behaviour.

Jesus experienced the ultimate form of rejection. During His lifetime, He was rejected. The Cross was a sign of the world's rejection of Jesus. God, His Father, also rejected him. He carried the rejection of all of us on the Cross. He took all our pain and emotion of rejection on Himself. Because of Jesus' life and rejection, we can now bring our own rejection to Him, knowing He will not reject us, nor will the God our Father.

What is the remedy for rejection? You cannot change anything about other people's behaviour towards you. But you can change how you think and feel about it.

Change starts when you recognise your feelings of rejection and refuse them to determine your life any longer. The second step is to forgive people who rejected you.

Thirdly, you will have to understand how God looks at you. God made you, and He loves you. God does not love you because of your performance or the lack of it, your circumstances, or what other people think of you. You are special to Him because He created you to love and have a relationship with you. What God thinks about you is infinitely more important than what people may think of you.

The first step is always a decision to reject rejection. Ask the Holy Spirit to help and guide you.

As you come to Him, the living Stone, rejected by humans, you must remember that you are chosen by God and precious to Him.

Book to read: God's remedy for rejection – Derek Prince