We Are Not Rejected!!!

Rejection is a feeling that I am very familiar with. It is one of my greatest fears and it is impossible to avoid. At this point in my life, I do not make decisions based on whether I will be rejected or not, because I do not let fear control me. But, it still hurts when I feel rejected.

As I was thinking about this topic, I was pondering where feelings of rejection come from. As I began to think over my life, I could see many of the circumstances of my life set me up for much rejection. When I was young enough to comprehend that I did not have a father, I felt rejection. As a youth, I realized that people did not accept me because I was "illegitimate" which caused feelings of rejection. Then as I grew older, I made choices that caused people to reject me. I even rejected myself because I saw that some of my choices hurt me and the people around me. My mind was set up to look for possible rejection and try to avoid it with my actions. This is a tiring and impossible way to live.

During these years, I worked very hard to counteract rejection by doing well in school, excelling in athletics, and any other thing I could find acceptable in this world. It was not until I was 27 that I realized that I was driven by the fear of rejection. I remember walking through my bedroom with a basket of laundry on a routine day. All of a sudden, I fell to the ground and the laundry went flying; I landed face down in tears and cried out to God saying; "Lord, no matter what I do, I am not acceptable." All of the years of this futile battle had caught up to me. I was ready to surrender!!

Fortunately, I surrendered to the right person. His name is Jesus! He has never rejected me and He never will. At this moment, I began to rely on His love and acceptance. This journey has led to a life of freedom. It is easier and more fun to live knowing each moment I am loved and accepted even on my worst days. My bad actions cannot change the love that God has for me.

I love the story in Luke 19 of Zacchaeus. He was a tax collector in Jericho. When Jesus entered the city, Zacchaeus climbed up into a tree to see Jesus. He did it because he was of "short stature." I can understand this, because I am short too. I have been in many crowds where all I can see is the back of people's heads. In all these years, I have never climbed into a tree to see something. This shows how desperately Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. And Jesus notices and cares when we are desperate. In verse 5, Jesus says; "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house."

Here is how the people around respond; "...they all complained saying, 'He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.'" Jesus was breaking all customs of the religious leaders. They would not eat with a sinner and especially not stay at his house. If you read the next few verses in this passage, you see that the people were right about Zacchaeus... he was a corrupt tax collector. So, he tells Jesus he is giving half of his goods to the poor and if he has taken anything from anyone, he is going to restore it fourfold. Zacchaeus, a sinner, came in contact with the true loving and accepting nature of God. It is the love of Jesus and His acceptance that helps Zacchaeus get set free from his greedy and corrupt ways. You can see that Jesus loved and accepted Zacchaeus BEFORE he changed.

If you are feeling rejected today, I want you to know that you are loved, accepted, and desired by God right now. He is not waiting for you to change your ways. He is not asking you to get your act together. He just wants you the way you are right now. I love knowing this truth each day. He wants me even when it feels like no one else does. We are not rejected!!!

Revelation 3:20- "Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."