Rejection

This word is defined as “refusing or dismissing a proposal or an idea”.  Rejection is also “the spurning of a person’s affection.” Rejection sounds to me like a negative word and it pretty much is for the most part.  If I reject an idea is feels like I’m putting it in a bad light.  If I reject another person, it feels personal. I think personal rejection is pretty painful. I actually know what that feels like. Rejection can create the massive hurt inside my heart. I don’t always know how to handle rejection or the hurt that follows.  God knows rejection. He had felt it first hand and from His people. Check this out….

1“Put the trumpet to your lips and give the warning!


    The enemy swoops down on the Lord’s people like an eagle.


The Israelites have broken my agreement


    and have turned against my teachings.

2 They cry out to me,


    ‘Our God, we in Israel know you!’

3 But Israel has rejected what is good,


    so the enemy will chase them.

4 They chose their own kings


    without asking my permission.


They chose their own leaders,


    people I did not know.


They made their silver and gold into idols,


    and for all this they will be destroyed.

11 “Although Israel built more altars to remove sin,


    they have become altars for sinning.

12 I have written many teachings for them,


    but they think the teachings are strange and foreign. (Hosea 8:1-4; 11-12 NCV)

 The Lord’s heart breaks over being rejected by His people.  He created us to have fellowship and friendship with Him and we reject and spurn Him.

I know what it’s like to be heart broken. I know what it’s like to love someone and the love is not returned – instead it’s spurned.  This is one incredibly painful emotion. The deeper I love someone, the more vulnerable I become to being hurt by him or her. The deeper my love for another, the more painful the rejection.

I think that are times when rejection reveals the heart of another. It can clear up my vision of the situation after I’ve worked through the pain. The Lord noted that His people built more alter to ask for forgiveness; instead they ended up sinning more.

I want to be like the Lord and love in spite of rejection. I don’t understand His incredible patience and His grace despite the fact that I’ve rejected His Ways all too often.

Pressing On!

Dwayne