Trust is the victim of rejection.

When we are rejected, dropped by those who we thought believed in us or loved us, trust is what is fragmented. Sometimes the one who has fallen and dropped us will seek to repair the damage, asking forgiveness, which is a very good thing. But depending upon the severity of the break, trust will take time to heal. Other times, those who have dropped us don’t care or don’t even know they have caused damage. And this speaks to us: you are not worth it; I reject you.

It’s been said that rejection is the doorway through which much of our spiritual and emotional struggles will come in life. No one is immune to the sting of rejection. It lurks in the shadows and speaks it’s lies that we are not worthy, there is something wrong with us or that we are not good enough. This is the luggage we can carry around with us into every new friendship, relationship, job or neighborhood.

Before we can ever learn to trust again, before we can heal our broken feet, we must deal with this devil of rejection. And it is this that King David dealt with first with Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9) by calling him to his presence. He did not reject Mephibosheth. Even his servant, Ziba, was quick to let the king know that there was something wrong with this young man, that he was defective, not worth the time of the king of Israel. Yet, David decides that he wants to give favor to this broken one: favor not rejection.

Some of us have perfected the state of being rejected into an art. We have received it and accepted its lie to the place where we even will reject others before they can reject us. We downplay our good qualities in deference to all our flaws and refuse to receive the slightest compliment. We cannot believe that anyone would really be our friend, or truly believe in us, because rejection has made its home in our psyche.

Yet it is into this Grace walks. Grace says “come to My throne room and be the center of my attention.” Grace says “let Me enfold you in My arms and thwart the lies from your ears.” Grace says “you are loved and you are worthy just because you are.”

God begins the healing of our trust by calling us to him, just as we are, flaws and fears and all. Jesus says to us: “You did not choose me, but I chose you…” (John 15:16a) He has chosen us. We are not alone.

Shouldn’t We Have to DO Something?

“How could God truly love me?  Why?  What would His motive be?  And if this is true that He wants to be good to me, why don’t I see it?  We feel that because we see Him bless other people that surely He is holding out on me.  I’m not good enough.  I’m damaged goods.  I can’t even walk right, so how could God be pleased with me, let alone really want to know me.

Does this sound familiar?  Even the greatest Christian ministers from time to time struggle with being accepted by God.  We question how God can truly love us with no strings attached.  Shouldn’t we have to do something?” (The Embrace of Grace, page 17)

Why is it so hard for us to understand that God’s love for us is free?  Even for people who love God and have known the Lord for much of their lives still struggle believing that He simply loves us.

Granted, there are things God calls for us to do to live according to his will and bring his pleasure, but this is not how we gain God’s love.  He has chosen to set his love upon us.

“The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV

Who has told us that we must perform for God’s love?

Religion itself can be hard on our understanding of God’s love.  Strange isn’t it?  But the “rules” of religion can get in our way!  Somewhere we learn that to be spiritual means that we have to do this or that just right, that we must perform perfectly or we do not deserve God’s love.

However, it is out of this great understanding of God’s free gift of love that we can ever begin to follow his desires for our lives and live out his plan in the earth.  So the enemy delights in using this weapon against the people of God, paralyzing us, and keeping us from fulfilling God’s plan for our lives, from the beginning.  Why?  Because we don’t really believe He could love us just the way we are.

What do you think?  What lies have you believed that is keeping you from believing that His love is free?