After 12 years and 2 children, Jennifer had had enough. Her husband had had 3 affairs (that she
knew of). The latest was…. Well,
she’d rather not think about what the other woman looked like. It was the worst thing he’d ever done
to her, on top of all the other worst things he’d ever done to her. He’d tried to apologize and explain,
but it was deja voo; Jennifer had heard
this before. Their marriage was
over. Her friends said, “The guy was
a loser. Good riddance.” But Jennifer was not to be
consoled. She felt stupid. Angry. Used. Most of
all, she felt rejected.
Rejected. The word brings up images of jilted lovers and
laid-off workers. People who apply
for a job and don’t get it. People who try out for a team and don’t
make the cut. Of course, some
people reject themselves. An
aspiring author has her manuscript rejected; so she gives up writing. Tired of the taunting and the
rejection, a teenager takes his own life.
Suicide is the ultimate self-rejection.
Jennifer rejected herself for a while, mourning and moping,
in self-pity, refusing to take control of the situation and make a new life for
herself. Finally, her friends
said, “Quit feeling sorry for yourself.
Get down off the cross.”
The Christian faith holds out God’s love and acceptance to
us. “[Nothing] in all
creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ
Jesus our Lord” (Romans
8:39). Nothing in all creation. Others may reject you. You may reject yourself. But God doesn’t.
It’s good to know that the worst thing that can happen to
you, can’t happen. Death isn’t the
worst thing that can happen to you.
The worst thing that can happen to you is that God will reject you, that
somehow God will stop loving you, stop accepting you. And that can’t happen.
Like the Apostle Paul said: “Nothing in all creation…”
Others may reject you.
You may reject yourself.
But God always loves you and accepts you with open arms. You are God’s child. Your picture is in heaven. The worst that can happen to you, isn’t
going to happen. Phew. That’s a relief. Now get down off that cross.
If you feel rejected, these Scriptures may help you: Romans
8:16, Ephesians 2:8, Galatians 3:13-14, Colossians 1:13-14
No comments:
Post a Comment