Understanding Rejection

Rejection is to be deeply wounded. So many of us walk through life each day feeling the sting of rejection. We feel unwanted by the lack of attention or affection. We may feel that we are not accepted or loved. Sometimes we deal with being compared to others, abandonment, abuse, neglect, or simply not being chosen or accepted for who we are. No one can live up to everyone’s expectations so how are we to cope when the opportunities to feel rejection abound?

Here are a few common, but unhealthy ways to react to rejection.

• Avoid the risk of rejection

• Anger and aggression

• Hopelessness and despair

• Being overly dependent on the approval of others

Not one of these options is a healthy way to deal with rejection. It is impossible to eliminate risk from relationships. The only thing such an attempt would accomplish is to create a lack of commitment or cause us to just conform to the environment. Of course anger and despair does not produce positive results and codependence only creates a whole other set of problems to deal with on top of rejection.

Pastor Jimmy Evans provides a few ways to actually overcome rejection.

• Base your life on God’s love – not one person feels rejected because of what God has done, but rather what people have done; God’s love heals a spirit of rejection

• Pursue relationships with fellow believers who are also pursuing Christ

• Expect rejection – it’s going to happen at some point

• Forgive those who reject you and respond with God’s love in return

Application of these truths will help you to stop trying to ineffectively avoid rejection and learn how to overcome rejection in your life and stop allowing it to overtake you.

To learn more from Jimmy and Karen Evans, be sure to check out their ministry (Marriage Today).

Learn more about accepting rejection and how to benefit from it.

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