Thinking Differently about Rejection
If God is in control of everything and is guiding us to where we need to be, then getting rejected for something can be part of God's plan.
It's hard getting rejected for something we want whether it's a relationship or a job offer or to get into a school we really want to go to or a promotion at work. Rejection can be painful. It can really play against our sense of self-worth. We might start thinking that we're a failure or inadequate or of little value. But we have to remember that our personal value and worth is never tied to worldly successes or failures. Our value is always ultimately determined by God. God calls us, who believe in Christ, His children (see 1 Jn. 3:1). And that never changes. We will always be the children of God no matter the rejections in life.
Jesus, Himself, was rejected many times when He was here on earth. There were people He invited to be His disciples and they refused outright. There were religious leaders who opposed His teachings and even conspired to have Him killed. There was even a particular disciple who betrayed Jesus in exchange for money. Jesus knows what it's like to experience rejection. All those rejections must have hurt. But Jesus' value never changed despite the rejections. He remained to be God. And Jesus kept serving people regardless of being accepted or rejected. He kept going despite the rejections that came His way.
We should think a little bit differently about being rejected. If God is in control of everything and is guiding us to where we need to be, then getting rejected for something can be part of God's plan. Perhaps God is saving us from being in a bad situation. Perhaps God has a better thing in mind for us. Perhaps God wants us to do something else. Perhaps God is growing our character and patience. God closes doors for particular reasons. It's so that we can end up at the right door that He is going to open.
The book of Acts records an episode where the apostle Paul received multiple closed doors in succession. Paul was trying to figure out where God wanted Him to be to preach about Christ. In Acts 16, it tells us that Paul was "forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia" (Ac. 16:6 ESV). Then Paul tried to go to Bithynia but "the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them" (Ac. 16:7 ESV). That’s two closed doors in a row by the Holy Spirit. Finally, God revealed to Paul where he should go and preach. Through a vision, Paul was instructed to go to Macedonia (see Ac. 16:9-10). It's pretty obvious that the closed doors Paul experienced at first were so that He could be guided to the right place where God wanted him to be.
We shouldn't be afraid of receiving a "No" for an answer to something that we want. Every "No" we receive brings clarity to where we need to be. A "No" from God is a great answer. It just means we're one step closer to the right "Yes" from Him.
Barnabas the Monastic
Servant of Christ. Husband. Dad. Modern Monastic. I have a wild ambition in life: get as close to the Lord Jesus Christ as I can while on earth. I explore and integrate ancient Christian monk wisdom in modern everyday life. Lives in Canada.
