Rejection.

Such an ugly word. To Simply think about it is painful. It is even worse when rejection happens to you. I have faced plenty of rejection in my day, and boy, oh boy, did that hurt. Rejection of jobs, people, relationships, plans, friends, schools, the list goes on. Rejection is such a painful thing especially when you are young, it hurts in many and different ways. It’s a difficult concept to understand, to try to grasp the idea that something you’ve worked hard for won’t be yours, or that something you’ve dreamed of for many years is not for you. To think that you’ve been said no to by something you desire so strongly, it is hard to understand. We’ve all been there, those rejections. And if you haven’t, they will come in just time.

“Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” (James 1:3, New King James Version)

There are times when it almost feels like the whole universe has conspired against you, not allowing you to receive what you think you deserve, what you’ve worked so hard for. In my years of rejection, I’ve learned one thing: Don’t take it so seriously. Rejection can be traumatizing if you allow it to be. When I first began to apply to colleges and was rejected by some of my dream schools, it became a very painful experience. Then to be in college and have programs, scholarships, internships, financial aid and other things rejecting you, can really make life difficult and hard- I can definitely vouch for that. I allowed rejection to become personal and heavy in my heart. I believed that every no was because I was not good enough, or because I wasn’t trying hard enough. I doubted myself and began to no longer believe in me. It is hard to see past our rejections. Everything becomes foggy and cloudy, and all we can focus on is that specific thing, not being able to see beyond. It took a very long time for me to see the light at the end of the tunnel, to realize that those “no’s” were sent by God for a purpose. In my naiveness, I cried many nights over many rejections, not being able to understand why, trying to figure out why I wasn’t good enough for it. Little did I know that God had a plan.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9, NKJV)

God has been so good to me, He has done amazing things in my life and He continues to surprise me. After the many rejections I faced, I started to no longer feel motivated about my dreams; I thought my career was not for me. I felt discouraged, and I felt like such a failure. I would pray and pray, asking God why? Why did I continue to fail? I was trying so hard, giving it everything in me, and it just wasn’t happening. I began to accept my failures, I began to plan around them, giving myself different possibilities, examining my options. After a certain amount of time and many tears, I decided I would not let that define me. I would not let that rejection bring me down. I was young, and full of possibilities. This was just a no, and God helped me understand, seeing that I had so much more to offer. He showed me through people who believed in me and helped me. He led me to a different direction and opened doors. All along, God did not want this rejection to break me, but he wanted to shape me through it and lead me to better things than I could have ever imagined. At this point in life, I continue to face rejection, I still receive no’s, but my attitude towards them is different. Of course they bum me out, but after examining the situation I begin to look at different options or different ways to get to a destination.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” (Psalm 32:8, New King James Version)

College is full of rejections; classes, scholarships, programs, schools, internships, etc. These no’s can make you believe that something is not meant for you and can discourage you from continuing to fight. In reality, we just have to learn to see it through Gods eyes. These no’s are just more possibilities opening up in your life. Maybe God wants you to try a different way, or maybe this is not the time He has this planned for you. Maybe this really is not what God wants for you, but believe me when I say that if that is not for you, it is no reason to let it destroy you, because any alternate plan God has for you will be better than what you could begin to imagine. God helps us to see that rejections are not a failure, but a re-direction. Used as a guide to lead you into the plans He has for you. A blessing in disguise. Through prayer, God will guide you through these rejections, and re-direct you exactly where he wants you to be. Don’t lose faith, just move forward.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Viewing Rejection as Redirection

Rejection.