We all, at some point, will face rejection. There is no avoiding it.
The thing is, what will we do with that rejection?
We can internalize it, and allow it to turn into anxiety, bitterness, unresolved trauma, distrust, and passive aggressive behavior. We can bottle it up and it will lead us to bottles of booze. We can suck it in and next thing we know we’ll be sucking on joints or meth pipes or God knows what else.
We can externalize it and allow it to break into fits of anger, rage, and even violence.
We can avoid it at all costs, developing a full addiction to people-pleasing, telling everyone what they want to hear, or think they want to hear, and just try to get everyone to like us, spinning dozens of relational plates at an exhausting pace.
Or, we can accept rejection. We can accept that the one who was rejected for us planned for us to experience His rejection in our very own bodies and minds, and learn the difference between godly rejection and ungodly rejection.
Think about it for a minute. Which do you want?
- Internalized rejection and passive-aggression?
- Externalized aggression as a response to rejection?
- People pleasing to unsuccessfully avoid rejection? Or,
- Identifying with the perfect Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was rejected for your sake so you could be accepted by Him?
If you want to learn how Jesus can help to heal and overcome your struggle with rejection, download the study guide and read further! Discussion Questions are at the bottom of the guide, go through them on your own or with your DNA group!
