When You Experience Rejection

“Rejection isn’t just an emotion we feel. It’s a message that’s sent to the core of who we are, causing us to believe lies about ourselves, others, and God.”
~Lysa TerKeurst

I just finished reading Lysa’s TerKeurst’s new book, Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely. This quote was one of many that resonated with me, especially since I recently experienced rejection.
 
I started blogging almost a year ago. One of my favorite online communities was accepting guest blog submissions for the next quarter. I’ve never applied to be a guest blogger before, and even though part of me thought, “You’ll never be selected,” I surprised myself and applied anyways. Then I waited….and waited…and waited.
 
I eventually received an e-mail thanking me for my guest blog submission. Then came the gentle let down - They received hundreds of submissions, but were only able to select 26 to publish. While my blog wasn’t selected, they thanked me for sharing my heart and encouraged me to submit another blog in the future.
 
Rejection is hard, even when it comes with loving and encouraging words.
 
I wish I could say as soon as I read that e-mail it inspired me to start working on my next guest blog submission. Instead, these were the thoughts and doubts that were running through my mind:
 
“Why would anyone want to read your words? No one cares what you have to say. You’ll never be good enough. You should stop writing. You’ll never be as good as (fill in the name of every writer/blogger you know).”
 
When we experience rejection, it can be difficult to distinguish between lies and the truth. We may start to accept the lies as truth, which often leads to feeling unworthy of love and doubting our gifts and purpose.
 
 How do you distinguish between lies and the truth? In my life, I have found it helpful to:

• Pray - Ask God to give you wisdom/discernment. (James 1:5)
• Read God’s Word – Do the thoughts that you have about yourself align with what God says about you? 
• Memorize scripture – God will bring to mind verses to help and encourage you.
• Surround yourself with others who you love and trust. Share your thoughts/doubts with them. Sometimes we need others to help remind us of what is true.

 
God has used this recent experience with rejection to remind me of the truth:  

“I started blogging because God gave me a desire to share my story. My hope and prayer is that others will feel encouraged and less alone and will also share their own story with someone. I may never know who reads my words or the impact they have on someone’s life, but I will continue to write as long as God gives me words to share.”

Rejection hurts, but it can also refine and strengthen us.
 
When you experience rejection, remember that you are still worthy of love. You are still valuable. You still have something to offer. God still has a purpose for your life.