More Experiences with Jesus to Replace Your Rejection

Series: Today I Overcome Rejection (Part 3 of 3)

Rejection is a Scar that Won’t Heal By Itself

* Some scars won’t heal by themselves. Rejection is one of those scars.

* Deep desires like belonging can’t be ignored, denied, or disciplined. God made every human being with heart desires that are to be filled – by God and only by God.

* Rejection comes when we try to fill our heart desire for belonging through other people.

We offer our friendship, our romantic love or even our talents to be part of a team or club. And sometimes people don’t want to be our friend, don’t love us, and don’t think we’re qualified, skilled or otherwise desirable as a member of their team or club.

* Feelings of rejection rob us of rich, full lives in relationship with others.

In Part 2 of this series, I asked:

“Why does rejection hurt us so much and for so long?”

*Our core beliefs are what we think is true.

Beliefs are the filters through which we see others, ourselves, and every aspect of life. They limit or expand the possibilities and potential we see – in ourselves, in others and in situations.

*These beliefs are based on our experiences and the meaning we give to them.

(Beliefs can also be based on stories we hear that become so real to us that we adopt them as our own.) If we have experienced rejection again and again, our minds try to understand that rejection.

*Our Beliefs Can Be Ridiculously Wrong!

Because we don’t know everything and our thinking is clouded by emotion, our beliefs may be ridiculously wrong. We often assume we have been rejected because there is something wrong with us – that we aren’t worthy of love or acceptance and that we just don’t belong.

* To protect ourselves, we withdraw.

We don’t offer friendship, love or to join teams or groups because we are afraid of being hurt, of being rejected. It is this fear of rejection that robs us of rich, full lives in relationship with others.

*Our Minds are Stubborn.

Once we latch on to a belief, we are slow to release it. Our minds guard our beliefs, even when those beliefs hurt us!

Experiences Create Beliefs. Experiences Change Beliefs.

Beliefs are created by experiences (ours or the stories of others that we accept and adopt as our own) to which we give meaning. To change what you believe, have new experiences. Let Jesus fill that deep desire you have for acceptance, approval, and belonging.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Romans 12:2

Have Experiences with Jesus to Replace Your Rejection

You Already Have Belonging

I have an “absent-minded professor” kind of brain. I often don’t know what I have in my pockets or where I put things. Sometimes I even forget that I picked something up and am holding it in my hand. My point is that you can have something and not even know it (even if you have a normal brain).

God has already given you everything you need for life and to be like Him

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 2 Peter 1:3 (NLT)

God Placed Desires in Us so We Would Go to Him to be Fulfilled

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13 (NLT)

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 (NIV)

But desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12 (NASB)

You Belong to God. He is Not Rejecting You.

I have called you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1 (NLT)

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. John 10:27-29 (NLT)

A Question for Jesus

When God speaks to us, it changes us. We became Christians because we heard God. He touched our hearts. We knew that He was real and that He loved us.

To replace the lie of rejection, ask Jesus:

Jesus, I know you love me and I belong to You, but I’m feeling rejected by people. I really need to feel belonging and acceptance so my heart can heal. Jesus, how are you filling my need for acceptance and belonging today?

Let Him touch your heart.

You will have an impression, a picture, or hear a still small voice. It will be a voice of belonging, acceptance and approval. Believe that voice. That’s who you really are!!

Ask Jesus this question every day for a week. Journal your answers. Reread what He said to you or showed you.

Now, how do you see yourself?

Be REAL! Live REAL! You are going to have a great week!