Wanted.

You took the chance.  You tried out for the team, you sent in your manuscript, you offered to lead, you applied for the job, you pulled up stakes and moved, you said “I love you,”… you were brave and vulnerable–and you were rejected.  Sometimes taking a leap of faith ends up feeling like cliff diving into three feet of water. How can you recover when dreams break, and you’re left feeling unwanted and unnecessary?

First, you can fall back upon the promise that God made you, chose you, and has a good plan for you.  “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life,” (Ephesians 2:10, BSB).  You are not just loved and wanted by God–you have a role in His creation that was prepared for you and no one else!

When the apostles were questioned about preaching Christ–while under strict orders from the Jewish council not to do so–they replied, “We must obey God rather than human beings!” (Acts 5:29, NIV).  The word translated obey in this verse means “to be persuaded of what must come first.”  When you face human rejection, it is an opportunity to choose again who will set your priorities and define you.  You can choose to place your life in the hands of the perfect King, under whose rule everything flourishes (Psalm 72).

Lastly, you can find peace knowing that the rejection you’ve suffered cannot defeat His plans for you, and instead it will turn out for your good.  “Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself… Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?…  No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us,” (Romans 8:33,35,37, NLT).