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“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” Isaiah 53:3

When have you experienced rejection? Did it come from a person in high school, a marriage proposal, college entrance application, missed promotions, a home loan you didn’t qualify for? Now think about how you reacted to the rejection. Were you hurt? Angry? Both? Whom did you go to?

You and I can go to Jesus when we’re rejected. He who was nailed to the cross knows about rejection. Isaiah had prophesied that Jesus would be despised and rejected by men. The people He came to save were the very ones who had Him nailed to that wooden instrument of death. Then, on the cross Jesus shouted to God in heaven, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). Even His Father had let Jesus hang on the cross all alone.

So when we’re rejected, we can choose to let bitterness, depression, anger, fear, doubt or loneliness dominate our life. Or, we can go to God the Redeemer. When we go to God, He calls us to forgive, to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44-45), and these commands are for our good. They free us from the kind of bitterness that kills our spirit and blocks our relationship with God. It’s only when we adopt Christ’s attitude of forgiveness that we can fully experience His healing.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, Your Son Jesus knows what rejection feels like, and so do I. When those times come, may I turn to You for comfort and peace. When I think about rejection in the past, help me to trust in Your steadfast love, Your perfect plan for my life, and Your power to redeem the bad in my life. Empower me by Your Holy Spirit to forgive where I need to forgive and love instead where Your love is needed. I pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen