Down for the Count
October 11, 2020 by Candace McQuain
Filed under Faith, Faith Articles
By Candace McQuain –
As a writer, and a human being with goals and aspirations, rejection is not an uncommon occurrence. As a matter of fact, it’s become a way of life.
For a while, I allowed every rejection to hit me in the gut.
We appreciate your submission. We are sorry to say that we don’t have a place for it in our publication at this time.
Left jab!
Thank you for your interest in the position, but after reviewing the applications received, yours was not selected for further consideration.
Right jab!
For various reasons you are not what we are looking for at this time. Really? There are various, as in more than one, reasons?
Knock Out!
The constant rejection became debilitating and forced me to lose sight of my goals and God’s calling on my life. Beat up and exhausted, I eventually kissed the canvas. No need for the ten-second count.
In this darkness, God showed me something very special through His word that forever changed me.
“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 23 the LORD has done this, And it is marvelous in our eyes” (Psalm 118:22-23 NIV).
Understanding that the person delivering the successes in my life was the same one sending the rejections changed my whole way of processing the good and the bad. Every Yes was His yes and every No His no. No longer did I feel personally attacked at the sight of rejection and gone were days of giving myself kudos for what God orchestrated for me.
My perspective on the way my life unfolds has grown substantially at the realization that it’s not about me. Each success, rejection, and everything in between are but tiny pieces of a gigantic puzzle that I will never see completed until I meet Jesus. Agonizing over the no’s of yesterday when the yes’s of today requires my full attention is selfish and will only keep me face down on the canvas.
Jesus was rejected, not only by strangers but also by those in His own hometown. Through all of the pain and loneliness, He never once stopped and said, “This just isn’t worth it. I’m giving up!” He persevered, remaining focused on His goal—to spread the Gospel.
I pray Lord, that we never lose focus on our goals when we get into the ring with rejection. Fill us with the strength to instinctively lift our head upwards and seek you and the assurance of Your perfect love and direction. In Your glorious name, Amen.
I feel your fight! Because it’s also mine :0
It’s good to know that our successes and failures, acceptances and rejections are all part of His plan. Thanks, Candace, for the new perspective for all of us!
It’s good to know that our successes and failures, acceptances and rejections are all part of His plan. Thanks, Candace!