You Are CHOSEN!
Bennett Cerf, founder of Random House Publishing, once said, “What I fear most is that I am not loved.” That statement probably reflects our number one fear, the fear of being rejected.
At the core of rejection is the question, “Will I be chosen or will I not be chosen?"
When I am chosen, It means someone has seen me as unique, that someone desires to come closer to me, to be on the same side as me. Someone believes I have a significant contribution to make.
On the other hand, when I am not chosen, I feel insignificant , ostracized, as if something is wrong with me and everyone knows about it. There is no pain like not being chosen, or the pain of being overlooked.
Some experience professional rejection. The company is downsizing and you are no longer needed. You didn’t get the job or the raise. You were looked over for a promotion.
Some people experience physical rejection. Maybe you feel this when you look in the mirror and feel like you’re not good looking enough.
Then there is relationship rejection. Maybe you are in high school and feel the pain of not fitting in, or of thinking your peers are intentionally leaving you out of conversations or parties. As you get older rejection can come from a spouse who decides to call it quits after finding someone else. This pain leaves us devastated and depressed.
Finally, there is what I call religious rejection. There are people who feel they don’t measure up to God's expectations. Or they don't feel like they are welcome in a religious gathering. This perception may be far from true, but it is a valid feeling.
The truth is, God accepts us no matter what we have done or what has been done to us in the past. He chooses us every day.
We may feel like we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, we will never lose our value in God’s eyes. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, we are still priceless to him and chosen every day.
Let these words from the New Testament reinforce God's love for you when feelings say otherwise:
“Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.” (Ephesians 1:4 The Message)
At the core of rejection is the question, “Will I be chosen or will I not be chosen?"
When I am chosen, It means someone has seen me as unique, that someone desires to come closer to me, to be on the same side as me. Someone believes I have a significant contribution to make.
On the other hand, when I am not chosen, I feel insignificant , ostracized, as if something is wrong with me and everyone knows about it. There is no pain like not being chosen, or the pain of being overlooked.
Some experience professional rejection. The company is downsizing and you are no longer needed. You didn’t get the job or the raise. You were looked over for a promotion.
Some people experience physical rejection. Maybe you feel this when you look in the mirror and feel like you’re not good looking enough.
Then there is relationship rejection. Maybe you are in high school and feel the pain of not fitting in, or of thinking your peers are intentionally leaving you out of conversations or parties. As you get older rejection can come from a spouse who decides to call it quits after finding someone else. This pain leaves us devastated and depressed.
Finally, there is what I call religious rejection. There are people who feel they don’t measure up to God's expectations. Or they don't feel like they are welcome in a religious gathering. This perception may be far from true, but it is a valid feeling.
The truth is, God accepts us no matter what we have done or what has been done to us in the past. He chooses us every day.
We may feel like we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, we will never lose our value in God’s eyes. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, we are still priceless to him and chosen every day.
Let these words from the New Testament reinforce God's love for you when feelings say otherwise:
“Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.” (Ephesians 1:4 The Message)