Facing Your Giants: Rejection

(Editor's note: This continues our series on "Facing Your Giants." Here's the story of David and Goliath on which the series is built, while past lessons have focused on anger, fear, worry, greed and comfort.)

While we may not ever go toe-to-toe with a physical giant like David did, we all deal with hardships and temptations in our lives. Some kind of giant is standing before you, taunting you and harassing you.

One of those giants may be rejection. Let’s cut to the chase. Rejection hurts. No one wants to be rejected. No one likes to feel that they’re not good enough, or smart enough, or wanted enough. Rejection cuts deep, and the pain can linger. We’ve all experienced rejection at one time or another in our lives.

So, how do we defeat the giant of rejection?

Recognize that what God says only matters (Prov. 3:5-7): How much better would be if we didn’t worry about what other people thought or said about us? People will tell you you’re not good enough or not capable enough. Satan will whisper doubts in your ear. Ignore them — just like David did in I Samuel 17. David didn’t listen to the voices that told him he wasn’t qualified to fight Goliath. He listened to God (Ps. 85:8). Your fellow man will lift you up one day, then throw you under the bus the very next. But for Jesus, it wasn’t what man said about Him. It was what His Father said about Him (Matt. 3:17).

Recognize that ‘God don’t make no junk’: Rejection is one of the devil’s favorite tools to use. But the devil is a liar (John 8:44) because he really has no power over us when we know who we are in Christ. Let us not forget that we are the crowning jewel of God’s creation (Gen. 1:26-27; Matt. 6:25-26). God knows us and cares for us, because He created us (Isaiah 43:1). In fact, He’s the only One qualified to judge us. You’re so special to God, that He sent His own Son to die for your sins.

Recognize that you are not alone: Jesus warned us to get ready for rejection (Matt. 10:34). If you serve God fully, you’re going to be rejected. But know this: You are not alone. Jesus didn’t run from rejection; He embraced it, so that we could have an abundant life. Jesus sees, knows and cares. He’s been there (Heb. 4:15). If you’ve ever been rejected, you’re in good company. Turn to Jesus, who is positioned to provide guidance, comfort and strength.

Defeating the giant of rejection means seeing yourself the way that your Heavenly Father sees you—as a beloved child of His (I John 4:19). You were made to be accepted and you were made to be loved.