One of the greatest needs of human beings is the need to be accepted. Because acceptance is a dire need of man, people yearn so much for it that they can do anything to be accepted. Sadly, people face rejection at different points in life. Rejection can even come from very close circles. Some parents can reject their children for different reasons. For instance, a man can turn down a pregnancy he is responsible for because he is not ready to father a child or that particular child, especially if the pregnancy was a result of infidelity or borne out of wedlock. The child is born and grows without the input, love and presence of his father. Sometimes, society, especially those acquainted with the story put it to his face by constantly reminding him he was rejected by his dad. It’s painful for such a child to grow up knowing his father rejected him before he was born. Rejection occurs in marriages too. A once happy and loving couple can all of sudden hate and reject themselves. Either one spouse rejects the other or chooses another in her stead. It doesn't feel good to be rejected, especially by those you love or who should love you. Rejection is not faced by sinners solely. Christians do face rejection too. Some members of the congregation can reject their pastor, a leader can be rejected by her subjects for various reasons.
Rejection can occur because a loved one left you; or as a result of multiple heartbreaks. People also feel rejected when they have multiple disappointments or are constantly turned down from opportunities they desire.
Rejection can occur as a result of racism, religious inclination, personal flaws or challenges. Rejection can also be borne out of hate and divisive tendencies.
JESUS KNOWS ABOUT REJECTION
Jesus knows how it feels to be rejected. As such, He can sympathize with our feelings of pain and rejection because He has also faced rejections like us. In His earthly work, He said “…no prophet is accepted in his own country” (Luke 4:24) because He was rejected by those who should have accepted Him
John 1:11 (NLT): “ He came to his own people, and even they rejected him”.
Even on the cross, Jesus suffered the greatest form of rejection when God turned His back on Him. He was forsaken by God and rejected by men He went through all these, just so that you and I can be accepted by God.
Mark 15:34 (NIV): “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"-which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Isaiah 53:3 (NIV): “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not”.
Jesus went through rejection so that all who come to God through Him will belong to God’s family, in which everyone is accepted
HOW TO DEAL WITH REJECTION
When faced with rejection, inability to handle it correctly can be more devastating than the rejection itself. For instance, Resorting to smoking, drinking, impulsive eating, isolating yourself or contemplating suicide are not healthy ways of dealing with rejection. Some positive ways of dealing with rejection include:
#1 PRAY
The next time you are faced with rejection, resist the temptation to feel rejected. Instead, turn the negative situation that led to rejection to God in prayers. and receive help, acceptance and comfort from Him. In the bible, Jabez prayed to God about his predicament and God heard him.
1 Chron 4:9-11 (NIV): “Jabez was more honourable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.
#2. REMIND YOURSELF GOD ACCEPTS YOU
Ephesians 1:6; John 6:37(TLB)
“… He [God] has made us accepted in the Beloved [Jesus Christ]”; “But some will come to me-those the Father has given me-and I will never, never reject them.
You can have a sense of belonging because you are a child of God. Remind yourself that you are loved and accepted by God. Don’t let the devil; negative circumstance or people speak rejection to you. No, you don't have to give in to rejection even in the face of unpleasant situations.
#3. DECLARE GOD’S WORD TO YOURSELF
This means saying what God has said about you or the situation. Declare words such as this below
“I am loved by God and accepted in Christ. No matter what comes my way, I am valuable to God. I do not give in to rejection”.
SOME BIBLE VERSES TO HELP YOU DEAL WITH REJECTION
Psalm 27:10 (NIV): “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me”.
Hebrews 13:5b: “Because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.
Mathew 28:20b: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
#4. ACCEPT YOURSELF
Don’t live your life with a sense of rejection. Although you might have shortcomings/weaknesses, it is not enough to side in with those rejecting you. You are extremely loved by God.
He accepts you because of Christ Jesus, not because of what you have done right or failed to do. With that sense of belonging, reach out to your future and be all that God has designed for you to be. Rejecting yourself and constant feeling of rejection can make you feel sad or lead to depression and/loneliness.#5. DON’T SOW SEEDS OF REJECTION
Don’t remind other people going through rejection of their hurt. Don’t act in a way that makes other people feel a sense of rejection while affirming yourself alone. Sow good seeds of love and be polite with your words. Nobody should lose a sense of esteem because of you what you said. Be a source of joy and encouragement to others, and you will reap the good seeds you sow.
Thank you for reading!
Acknowledgement
Special thanks to Chuks Ikechukwu for contributing to this article.
