We have all faced rejection, some more than others; it comes in many forms, and how we handle rejection determines if it controls us. Discover ways through God’s promises to take victory over rejection! I hope you will join me on this 5-day devotional to discover that we are not alone in rejection, for Jesus is rejected to this day!
Eternity Matters With Norma
Day 1
Scriptures: 2 Timothy 1:7, John 15:18
BULLIED AS A KID
As a child, I was a shadow of my parents; both parents were old enough to be my grandparents, as my daddy was 63 when I was born.
When kindergarten came around, I experienced separation anxiety. For the first few weeks of school, my mother sat in the back of the classroom. I imagine that is what started all the teasing and threatening.
By the 1st and 2nd grades, I feared going to school because two girls daily told me they would beat me up after school.
In my preschool years of life, I had two playmates: both neighbors. If there were just the two of us, I always had to follow their rules. If there were the three of us, I felt inferior to both.
How children are treated, can set the stage for how we see ourselves in adulthood.
Bullies taunt their victims to feel superior, to show power over others, or they lack confidence. As a result, I was an easy target to show others that I was less and that they were more.
Have you ever thought about Jesus being bullied?
“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me before it hated you.”John 15:18
The Scriptures do not reveal much about His childhood because the Bible only speaks of His birth and then goes to age 12 when He taught in the temple.
In His 30’s, He certainly was bullied, and to this day, He is rejected by countless people.
In today’s scripture reading, it gives us a recipe on how to survive being bullied, as we learn that God gave each of us a spirit to make us bold, giving us courage, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7
We are reminded in John 15:18 that if we are hated or disliked, we should remember that those in the world hated Jesus first.
CAN YOU RELATE?
A certain amount of rejection is a part of life. However, if it crosses a line, we must know how to handle rejection. As we continue this devotional, we will learn important truths to help us cope with the ‘feeling’ of being rejected. We will also learn that there are many forms of rejection, all of which we need to divorce from life.
Day 2
Scriptures: John 15:18-25
LAST CHOSEN IN THE GYM LINE
As a kid, I was on the chunky (Not fat, but big boned) side of life and far from being athletic.
In Jr. High School, Gym Class was a requirement. All schools mandated it because being active helps kids to be fit. Gym class was my least favorite. We had to use their showers which meant there wasn’t much privacy.
For certain activities, the teacher chose captains for teams. The captains then chose their team from the lineup of kids. It never failed, as I was always the last or second to last to be chosen.
My daddy used to ask his friends if they thought they could pick up His ‘two-ton Tony!’ Before you think that was awful, even though it embarrassed me as a kid, my father was an awesome parent. The only reason I brought that up, is to give you a vision of a stocky little girl. If a kid appears clumsy, a captain likely will not want them on their team.
In today’s scripture, we continue to learn from the fact that the world hated Jesus first.
In verse 25 we learn that Jesus was hated without a reason.
I don’t think the kids hated me; they just never took the time to get to know me personally. It is so easy for the world to pass judgment without truly knowing all the details.
Unfortunately, society often tends to pre-judge people.
• If they are well-known
• If they have money
• If they have a title, degree
• The color of their skin
• The type of clothing they wear
• The house they live in
• The vehicle they drive
Isn’t this sad? One of the main things that drew me to Jesus, was when I learned that He looked upon the heart. All of the other things do not matter to Him! It is time to divorce rejection from our lives for we are enough!
CAN YOU RELATE?
How can we know a person? By spending personal time with that person.
I was far from a sports jock, but I had value in other areas. I could draw, and I had good grades.
I longed to be liked, so I could reach out to others and be considered their friend. Isn’t that what Jesus desires of us? He longs for us to know Him personally.
Day 3
Scriptures: Psalms 118:22, 1 Kings 7:9
OUR ETERNAL LIFELINE SHOWED US HOW TO HANDLE REJECTION
For anyone who has ever felt rejection, this verse out of Psalm 118 should minister to your spirit.
“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.’” Ps. 118:22
In 1 Kings 7:9, we learn that the stones used were costly and were hand hewed and sawed. Stones that didn’t meet the perfect measurements or that were flawed, were rejected. The Psalmist used this as an illustration that Jesus was rejected, and HE is the main cornerstone of our foundation. Architecturally speaking, the cornerstone is traditionally the first stone laid for a structure.
It is important for us to realize that the main cornerstone that was rejected was Jesus! Yet He is our eternal lifeline! We cannot allow the abuse of words to destroy us, as God has a plan for everyone!
It is time to divorce rejection from our lives.
We are unique and wonderfully made! No two people in the universe have the same thumbprint! How much more unique do we need to be to realize that God made us special?
I will admit that I carried the abuse from my elementary school days into high school. It always lingered in my subconscious that I wasn’t good enough. Gossip still happened, but for the most part the bullying stopped. I got to the point that it was just easier to have one friend, than to try to be accepted by the groups or little cliques.
The adage that kids used to chant, ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,’is one of the biggest cop outs ever used. The person on the receiving end of verbal abuse would say it to make the perpetrator think they weren’t getting to them, but truth is, words do hurt!
CAN YOU RELATE?
If you are a victim of verbal abuse, please realize that our minds are one of the most powerful tools we have. God invented the first computer, and it was the human brain! What we allow to go into our brains, if we dwell on it, is received into our hearts. We can retrain the way we receive things to benefit us, not destroy us.
Day 4
Scriptures: Mark 6:6, Matthew 10:14, Matthew 26:50, Romans 12:17-21, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
USING OUR MINDS AS WEAPONS AGAINST REJECTION!
Scripture tells us how Jesus handled rejection; He didn’t hide away or become less social. The first instinct of a person who is being bullied is to lash back and then withdraw. Jesus stood strong and went right on with the mission before Him.
We know he experienced rejection in his hometown of Nazareth, yet He went about teaching throughout the villages! Mark 6:6.
Scripture tells us to depart and shake the dust off our feet when others do not want to hear us or see us. In other words, those who reject us aren’t worth our bother. Matthew 10:14
Remember when one of His own, betrayed Jesus? How do you think we would have responded to the actions of Judas? Most likely not as kindly as Jesus did.
Remember in His betrayal Jesus still called him, Friend.” Matthew 26:50a
Romans 12:17-21 gives us valuable wisdom! “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” (Be sure to read the verses suggested prior to verse 21)
It is so hard to love those who do us wrong, yet God gives us guidelines to be kind to those that mistreat us.
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”2 Corinthians. 10:3-5
CAN YOU RELATE?
The mind is one of the most powerful things we have, and it can also be a powerful weapon. Train your mind not to store the negative thoughts and words you have heard. Don’t allow yourself to go on the defense and say hurtful words in retaliation, making us no better than the person who rejects us. Instead of allowing hatred to manifest, think of something positive about that person to store in your heart. When we get and use this mindset, we are divorcing rejection!
Day 5
Scriptures: John 20:7
SCARS ARE REMINDERS WE SURVIVED THE WOUND!
Jesus not only survived verbal abuse, but also physical abuse, and He had the scars to prove it to doubting Thomas:
“Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Stop doubting and believe.” John 20:7
Do I remember all the things throughout life that tore me down? I do, but I only recall those scars because I choose to turn them into something to build others up. We are called to build up, not tear down. Divorce rejection and become a builder!
Jesus told Thomas to view the scars that wounded Him. Jesus not only survived, but He also thrived and is living at the right hand of the Father to this day. He has the perfect balm to completely heal our emotional wounds as well. His scars presented proof that He was who He said He was. Our scars are reminders that God brought us through!
God’s creation of the brain holds on to countless data. Because of free will, He leaves it up to us how to choose how we will process our lots in life. If you are still holding onto old hurts, it’s time to let them go and give it all to Jesus. Rid your life of bitterness and hatred that your mind has allowed into your soul.
Divorce Rejection!
CAN YOU RELATE?
One of the things that helped me is the following quote by 14-year-old Amy ‘Dolly’ Everett, who took her life because of being bullied. Her name became famous as a model advertising the Australian Akubra Hats. Dolly had left a sketch of a dancer with these words above the sketch.
“Speak even if your voice shakes!” Her family now uses her message to speak out against harmful words, known as bullying.