Here I am, Lord...

It hurts. Someone you love rejects you, leaves you, unfriends you or no longer has anything to do with you. What do you do?

This recently happened to me, and it broke my heart. It was unexpected, at least to me. Distance and other changes caused our relationship to not be as close as it once was but the love I had for this person was still there. 

Then I was reminded. Jesus experienced more than His share of rejection.

He spent years with His disciples and two of them betrayed Him at His darkest hour. Peter denied Jesus three times publicly and Judas accepted a bribe to lead soldiers to arrest Him.

The prophet Isaiah said,  “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).

It’s the ones closest to you that cause the most severe pain and wounds when they reject you. 

The beautiful news is that you are not alone. Rejection brings on hurt feelings and may cause  feelings of isolation. But remember, God said He would never leave you or forsake you. The best remedy when you have those feelings is to put on praise music and worship the God who loves you unconditionally.

God’s love for you is constant and certain; and for that we can rejoice!  Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

More than anything, God’s Word provides truth and comfort when it comes to pain and rejection. Here are some scriptures to meditate on to bring healing, peace and comfort:

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22)

“For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.” (Psalm 47:10)

“So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. ” (1 John 3:1)

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32)