God is Always Near to the Brokenhearted
When I learned I would write this article on rejection, I felt a strong sense of purpose—it seemed like a God-given task. At the same time, I couldn’t help but feel humbled that God chose me for this assignment. Rejection has been a significant part of my journey, and recently, I’ve come to understand that it doesn’t define who I am. There have been countless times when rejection knocked on my door, leaving me to grapple with my emotions and often bringing me to my knees.
Rejection doesn’t just bring me down to my knees. That used to be my mindset—feeling defeated and out for the count. But that’s only part of the story. The enemy tries to convince me that I'm alone, broken, and lying flat on the floor. Yet the truth is, rejection actually pulls me closer to my loving Father in heaven. When the sting of rejection hits, I may find myself on my knees, but now I view it from a different perspective.
In the past, harsh rejection would leave me feeling utterly devastated for a long time, clouding my perspective. I could picture myself crumpled on the floor, overwhelmed and unsure how to pick myself back up after such a blow. Can you relate? If you’re reading this, you've likely faced rejection at some point, too. For me, these experiences drove me to seek solace in Jesus, opening my eyes to a larger picture I had overlooked. When life brings me to my knees, I find Jesus, my Lord and Savior, waiting with open arms, inviting me to lay down my pain and disappointment. Once I release my burdens to him, I feel a renewed strength to rise again.
One of my favorite verses is Psalm 34:18 (ESV): “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” In those moments when our hearts feel shattered and the world's weight presses down on us, the Lord wraps us in his comfort. I want to share this thought with you: rejection can be incredibly hard. After facing rejection, I often wish I had been included or chosen or that my circumstances were different. Yet through it all, I remember that God is good. Some of the toughest rejections I've experienced have blossomed into incredible blessings. They've driven me to seek validation from my heavenly Father. When I start to question my sense of belonging, God gently reminds me of the truth: I know to whom I really belong.
The truth is that everyone goes through rejection at some point in their lives. Even Jesus, the world's savior, faced rejection from his hometown, family (Matthew 13:53), and friends. He encountered shut doors where he could have preached, only to be turned away (Matthew 8:34). Instead of letting the burden of repeated rejections weigh him down, Jesus relentlessly relied on and pursued his Father’s will. He showed us the way by praying for those who persecuted him (Matthew 13:21), refusing to be swayed by lost opportunities, popularity, or the need for approval. He understood, without a doubt, that his true identity was rooted in being the eternal Son of God, regardless of what society perceived him as.
When we encounter rejection, it's essential, like Jesus, to look beyond our immediate situation and focus on our Father, God. Rejection often aims to steal our joy and fill our minds with falsehoods like “Nobody cares about you” or “You have no worth.” These damaging thoughts stem from our enemy, the devil. God calls us his beloved (1 John 3:2), chosen (Colossians 3:12), and forgiven (Ephesians 1:7) children. While setting aside our feelings and circumstances can be challenging, bringing them to Jesus is essential. In doing so, he helps us remember our true identity in him and allows us to view the situation from his perspective.
Written by: Hannah Benson