When we’ve experienced rejection, it can show itself in a need to isolate and withdraw or in a drive to constantly ‘prove ourselves’ (or to prove others wrong). The Bible says Enoch ‘was a man who truly pleased God’, and he did it ‘by faith’ (v.5 NCV). God sees us differently from the way our parents or peers do. Other people’s acceptance is often based on our performance, whereas God’s acceptance is based on our position. Paul wrote, ‘God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God’ (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV). God sees us wrapped in the righteousness of Christ; and that means we’re always acceptable to and accepted by Him. That doesn’t mean we don’t need to work hard; it means working for the right reasons. Instead of striving for God’s approval, we serve Him out of gratitude. Once we know that our identity and worth aren’t tied to the value of our possessions, the homes we live in, how much we’ll earn, or the people we mix with, it changes our motivation. Instead of being concerned about the neighbourhood we live in, we become concerned about our neighbours. Instead of focusing on how much money we make, our focus becomes how much we can do to help God’s kingdom. Instead of worrying whether we’ll ever have a fantastic job, our goal is to do every task, big or small, with excellence and integrity. In other words, we’re doing it for the right reasons.

What Now?

If you know someone who’s experienced a rejection recently, send them a message or have a chat to let them know that you care about them, and also that God loves them and will never reject them.