Rejection is many times like a wall that hinders us from moving forward. We are in the midst of accomplishing things, but suddenly we realize the dreams will not come true so easily. Everyone of us probably is not too unfamiliar with rejection. We might have experience rejection at least once. Some of us may desire to pursue degree in a specific prestigious university, but end up in a different college. Some others may want to work in a gigantic worldwide company, the competition however is too tight that we are not able to join the business. Young people know what the meaning of a broken heart is. 'I love you Honey and I want to spend the rest of my life with you - will you marry me?' said Bob to Jenny. Jenny replied, 'Thank you Bob, but if you really love me, please tell Daniel that I love him so much - can we simply be friend?' Bob is eliminated; Bob fainted. Rejection causes disappointment. In the absence of wise guidance and self control, disappointment will be very much destructive.
- Rejection is a reality. We however need to learn and practice to seeing the real reality beyond the wall of rejection. In Luke 9.51, Jesus viewed his journey to Jerusalem not simply as an approach to death, rather he viewed it as an approach to another glorification of being taken up to heaven. Death is not an encouraging word for most of us, but being taken up to heaven is absolutely splendid. Beyond the mountain of difficulties is a promise valley. Beyond the wall of rejection is a glorious treasure. Neither the promise valley nor the glorious treasure is visible to us unless we are able to reaching the top of the mountain and to breaking the wall. Thus, we need to have a sight that is able to penetrate through the wall of rejection and through the mountain of difficulties.
- Our ability to see what is beyond the wall of rejection is significant to help us focus on a life fascinatingly designed by God: that is a life with purpose. However, it is not complete. Along the way after the elimination, we are frequently preoccupied and intimidated by mounted difficulties. We may easily devastated by such a challenging situation. In this context, no prayer is better than a cry like this: 'Open the eyes of my heart Lord! I want to see Jesus!' The letter to the Hebrews recorded the life of Moses, saying: 'Moses persevered because he saw him who is invisible' (11.27). Stepping in the path of rejection is not easy. Though our eyes are able to see the splendid ending of the journey, the process itself may not be painless; we may feel lonely and abandoned. We need to see Jesus and to convince ourselves that Jesus is always available for us: Immanuel.
- Two related to eyes-skills are required to stay positive in facing rejection. Eyes that are able to look at the glory beyond the wall of rejection and mountain of difficulties is one. And eyes that are able to see the presence of God in all aspects of our lives, good or bad, and especially when we feel that he is not there with us is another. On the wall of the apartment we now live in, a beautiful ornament with a meaningful words, says:
- 'I believe in the sun, even when it is not shinning,
- I believe in love, even when I can not feel it,
- I believe in God, even when he is silent'
- The wonderful words above were according to the best information available discovered in the cellars of Cologne, Germany (1939-1945), and most likely were written by someone hiding from NAZI Concentration Camp. The author invited his/her fellows to grasp and to experience the presence of God in the midst of brutal systematic persecution created by the regime. With the same spirit, I invite all of us to rejoice not only in our strength, but also in our weaknesses and suffering, and to trust that God never leave us alone. Jesus is our best friend when we are lonely and abandoned, because he himself was once rejected.
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