How Christians can approach rejection

The more we trust God, the less we should fear rejection. And the less we fear rejection, the bolder we should be to reach out and try new things for God. As Christians, we are not called to live safe, indecisive lives. No one in the Bible who is praised by God lived a safe, indecisive life.

There are ‘three levels’ on which to think about rejection from a Christian perspective:

LEVEL 1: God accounts for rejection: if God is sovereign, then any rejection was within His expectation, and therefore within His plan. There are no surprises for God.

LEVEL 2: God overcomes rejection: God never leaves us with all doors closed; we can be assured that He provides an alternative.

LEVEL 3: God uses rejection to point us in the right direction. Every closed door is God personally saying: “Hey, don’t go that way. It’s not the absolute best for you. Go this way, the way that I have appointed and prepared for you” (see Romans 8.28).

And so, amidst the disappointment and sorrow of rejection, we have reason to give thanks to God and to rejoice. We must thank Him that He has given us a clear message, more clear than any He could have given us in our indecisiveness.

As long as we are indecisive, we will never be able to discern what God’s will is for us. On the contrary, if we are bold in trying to make right decisions, then God’s will can be discerned in every rejection as well as every success. How are we to be bold? We must lift all our needs to the LORD and receive His peace through Christ Jesus (see Philippians 4.4–7). The Bible does not promise us certain outcomes in this life. We are, however, promised peace that surpasses human understanding, anchored in the assurance of eternal life with God.

I will end by noting that rejection does not mean we should never try something again. It simply means that God does not want us doing that thing right now. So, by all means, if the time is right, then we can try applying for that job or getting to know that person again. But, for now, God has called us to glorify Him elsewhere.

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