How to Handle Rejection as Christians.

Why Does Rejection Happen?

Rejection will happen to us from time to time because that is life. In handling rejection as Christians, we should not ask the question why but try and get ourselves out of the feeling of despondency fast before it destroys us. One of the reasons why rejection happens is to prevent us from taking the wrong path in life.

What Rejection Feels Like?

When rejection happens to us, it hurts, everywhere seems dark and there is no hope. But that is how the enemy wants us to see things. We should grieve for a while and not forever; pick ourselves up and face whatever comes our way. 

Rejection happens in our lives from time to time. It could be job-related, romantic, family members not returning love we are offering and so on.

My Story

I was out of work a while back and needed a job. I had three children in the house and bills to pay. I applied for a job in a well-known organisation. I got called for the first stage of the interview but did not make the second stage. I was devastated! Despite all my efforts praying for a job, filling the application form meticulously, still, I did not get the job. I was dejected and kept on worrying about how we were going to cope. 

I found solace with friends God sent to me but most importantly, God consoled me. It was comforting, in the end, the kids and I did not starve, the bills got paid and I got the right job eventually. 

Two people out of many in the Bible that experienced rejection are David and Hannah.

David – (1 Samuel 29&30) – David experienced rejection by the Philistines, his men and his other associates. The Philistines did not trust David to join them for battle, so they advised him to leave. When David got back to Ziklag with his men, they discovered all their families captured and their possessions burnt. His men grumbled against him and were thinking of stoning him. In 1 Samuel 30:6, towards the end of the verse, it says, “But David found strength in the Lord”.

Hannah – Hannah felt rejected because she was barren. She was always in tears until she met with Eli and told him her predicament. After the conversation with Eli, the Bible records Hannah saying; “May your servant find favour in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.” She found solace in God and did not cry over the issue any longer. (1 Samuel 1:18) 

How to Handle Rejection as a Christian.

• Turn to God during this period by reading the Bible.
• Have a conversation with God through prayer. 
• Invite the right person/people to pray with for you.
• Pray for the people or person who rejected you. This gesture brings healing.

No matter what we are going through, we should hang on to Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith. During my experience with rejection, yes, I cried, I was sad, it was very lonely, yet I had to be strong for the kids around me. There was someone I held on to, that was Jesus. I found solace in him and his word. 

We are encouraged to find solace in God. He will listen and console us. David and Hannahs’ story changed, David recovered everything he lost (1 Samuel 30:18) and Hannah went to give birth to more children after Samuel (1 Samuel 2:21) Just because we feel rejected now does not mean that we will be forever. Your story will change for the better if you hang on to the Lord Almighty.  

The outcome of handling rejection the right way makes us strong and bold and leads to an increase in our faith.