GIVE ME YOUR HAND - by Lisa
Rejection. Nobody likes it. In fact, it's just downright painful. Maybe it's the loss of a job. Maybe a relationship has been severed. Either way it hurts and sooner or later it happens to everyone. But there are those among us who seemed to be called to bear almost crushing burdens of rejection.
Sometimes we are rejected because we have stood up to right a wrong - often one that affects us personally. Sometimes we're drawing a boundary against being badly treated. And sometimes we're rejected for our faith in Jesus Christ. My life story is about all three of these.
So what do you do with rejection? There are lots of choices. You can rationalize it away in your mind saying the other person is wrong. You can go deeper and understand the psychological challenges of the other person. You can even decide that this just proves that you're worthless.
But in the end, what's the right thing? Perhaps it's to ask for a hand - the hand of Christ. When we feel devastated by rejection - especially in long standing situations that just seem to come back over and over - there is no other place to turn. We can't change the situation. But we can, with Christ's help, learn to live past it.
Since we are created in God's image, we are the way that he shows himself to the world. So, not only is God there to hold our hands as we deal with tough problems, he's also there to lead us by the hand as we show him to the world. Finally, we can grasp his hand as he helps us up the mountain toward Christlikeness.
When you face serious rejection and feel like your life isn't worth much, reach for the hand that is always there. Amen.
Lisa
Sometimes we are rejected because we have stood up to right a wrong - often one that affects us personally. Sometimes we're drawing a boundary against being badly treated. And sometimes we're rejected for our faith in Jesus Christ. My life story is about all three of these.
So what do you do with rejection? There are lots of choices. You can rationalize it away in your mind saying the other person is wrong. You can go deeper and understand the psychological challenges of the other person. You can even decide that this just proves that you're worthless.
But in the end, what's the right thing? Perhaps it's to ask for a hand - the hand of Christ. When we feel devastated by rejection - especially in long standing situations that just seem to come back over and over - there is no other place to turn. We can't change the situation. But we can, with Christ's help, learn to live past it.
Since we are created in God's image, we are the way that he shows himself to the world. So, not only is God there to hold our hands as we deal with tough problems, he's also there to lead us by the hand as we show him to the world. Finally, we can grasp his hand as he helps us up the mountain toward Christlikeness.
When you face serious rejection and feel like your life isn't worth much, reach for the hand that is always there. Amen.
Lisa
Dear Lisa, What can I say - thank you for your vignette - I found it very calming. <3 Linda
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Hi Linda -
Thanks so much for your comment. Dealing with rejection is an ongoing struggle for me - as for many. I'm glad you were calmed. Sometimes it's hard to remember to reach out to him. But when we remember it's always worth the effort!
Blessings to you today.
Lisa
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