Rejection!

We all have to deal with rejection. If you’ve chosen a career in publishing, rejection becomes a frequent visitor. Professional rejections sting, but they only get me down for a day or two. That’s when I pick myself up and see what I can learn from the experience. My writing has grown stronger out of rejection. For this, I must say I’m thankful.

But what about personal rejection. This kind doesn’t have the same way of transitioning into motivation after a cool down period. When someone close to you, a mother, father, sister…you fill in the blank, turns their back or essentially says that you are not worthy of their love, that kind of rejection clings.

Last week I was studying from Beth Moore’s, Jesus the One and Only, Bible study. The topic, rejection. I’d been waiting for a response from a proposal that’s pretty important to me, so I thought, “Oh, no. God’s preparing me.” Well, I did get news on the proposal that day, and it wasn’t a rejection. God’s humor never fails to amaze me. But I still felt like that little section of the study had something important in it that I needed to grasp. As it turns out, the rejection I’d need to face was a much more personal rejection. Even with years of experience in this area, I’m still trying to find a way to see myself as lovable in situations that say I’m not. So I return to the verse from the study.

This is what David had to say:

Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;

fight against those who fight against me.

Take up shield and buckler;

arise and come to my aid.

Brandish spear and javelin

against those who pursue me.

Say to my soul,

“I am your salvation.”

Psalm 35:1-3

I think the point here is something I try to remind myself of often. God’s got this! He’ll handle my rejections much better than I ever could. He’ll deal with those that wish to hurt me and he’ll provide all that I need to survive.

Christmas is suppose to be a time when families draw together. For many people, loving extended family is only an image from a Hallmark movie. Christmastime can be a reminder of what could have been or should have been. As I’ve struggled through some thoughts of self-pity this week, something came to me. I’m so blessed. I have a life full of people who love me, not because they have to, and not because we’re tied together by biology. They love me just for who I am. How could anyone have it better than that?

I hope your Christmas is sprinkled with love!

Christina