Protected, Not Rejected

To reject:

a :  to refuse to accept, consider, submit to, take for some purpose, or use 

b :  to refuse to hear, receive, or admit 

c :  to refuse as lover or spouse

Have you ever-encountered rejection?  Rejection by a crush, a job, a school …I’m raising my hand to all three. 

Rejection hurts, no one likes to realize they weren’t the ideal candidate [to date, for the job, to represent their desired school].  BUT rejection doesn’t alter your worth, no truly, it doesn’t!  Someone choosing not to accept you doesn’t mean you’re any less beautiful, any less intelligent, or any less worthy.  Rejection by man is acceptance of faith that God will provide greater than you were attempting to settle for. 

When approaching dating one of my dear friends encouraged me to pray, “Lord, I want the blessings you've created for me.  I want the relationship you have for me, if this relationship isn’t of you, I ask that you guard my heart, give me wisdom, and direct my heart (and his too!).  I want the man you have for me, I will wait upon you.  I want your blessings, I pick your desires over my own.”  I promise you – God is SO faithful because I have stories about guys in hot pursuit, asking me out, me praying the prayer above, and never hearing from them.  BUT I don’t view this as rejection, I see this is PROTECTION!!  I prayed for God to guard my heart, I prayed for protection, but that doesn’t mean I got to select the warfare.  Wouldn’t it be nice if we always got to be the one to say no or the one to initiate the break up?  Rejection stings less when you understand that the God of the universe can open any door, close any door, sees the future, knows me completely, knows exactly what I need, has unlimited resources to meet my needs, always provides, and loves to bless me.  

The difference in approaching rejection with hope and eager anticipation of a greater gift compared to tears and sorrow, this altered perspective lies within your foundation.  What you build your life around will determine how you deal with rejection; self worth based upon other’s thoughts of you will lead to heartbreak because humans are fickle; look to fashion and diet trends and you’ll be unable to argue otherwise.  Every day is a reminder of change; the sun rises, our bodies age/grown, the seasons change, society transforms, the sun sets.  In an ever-changing world I seek a solid foundation; the ONLY constant in my life is Christ.

• "Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven's lights. Unlike them, He NEVER CHANGES like shifting shadows" (James 1:17).
• "The Lord's plans stand firm forever; His intentions can never be shaken" (Psalm 33:11).
• "The grass withers, and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8).
• "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

Have y’all heard the parable of the man who built his house on the sand?  Let me sing it to you Sunday School style because that is how I remember it:

The wise man built his house upon the rock, The wise man built his house upon the rock, The wise man built his house upon the rock, And the rain came tumbling down.

And the rain came down and the floods came up, The rain came down and the floods came up, The rain came down and the floods came up, And the house on the rock stood firm.

The foolish man built his house upon the sand, The foolish man built his house upon the sand, The foolish man built his house upon the sand, And the rain came tumbling down.

And the rain came down and the floods came up, The rain came down and the floods came up, The rain came down and the floods came up, And the house on the sand fell flat.

Rock = solid = constant = God.  Sand = flimsy = ever changing based upon an exterior force.  A foundation on Christ teaches me that regardless of what happens I know I am loved, I know I am treasured, I know I am protected, I know provision awaits, I know He is in control, but above all I know my Lord is victorious. This knowledge provides me constant peace.

• Better in His perfect hands, than with my imperfection.
• Better to be transformed thru pain.
• Better to trust His character
• Better to cry for a week than tears for years.
• Better rejected to be protected.
• Better a greater man with the greatest plan.
• Better a bruise to my pride than a break to my heart.
• Better pain today for thankfulness tomorrow.
• Better a lesson learned with one that wasn’t meant for me.
• Better a prepared heart waiting with wisdom.
• Better to trust His promises than my flawed perspective.

Shining in His light. Q.