Rejected

Today I went to the store to pick up some things.  As I was standing in line to pay, I saw a picture of a celebrity on the cover of a very popular magazine.  This celebrity is a man who was married to a "cougar" many years his senior.

Recently, news of "trouble in paradise" distupted this high profile marriage leading to divorce.  This post is not about cougars, infidelity, or younger women.  It is about what was sparked in me when I saw this photo.  The photograph on the magazine cover was the [male] celebrity with a woman closer to his age.  Since his wife was almost double his age, there was much criticism about the difference.  Her oldest daughter and him were much closer in age.  Now, that is behind them and it is all for naught.  

However, when I saw the picture, it took me back to the effects the news had on his wife.  When it was discovered that the marriage was over, his wife did not do well.  That can't be news that we do well with but this was different. 

This was a personal afront. Stop and think about it.  Have you ever been chosen last, been overlooked, not been heard in a room full of people?  Have you ever been rejected?  It's one thing to reject a project or a product or an idea...I'm talking about personally rejected? 

My heart went out to this lady when I saw the effects that rejection had on her.  I could only imagine the questions beginning with why?  He was saying "I don't want you and  I don't need you" and it's difficult to recover from that.  She chose to enter into a lifestyle that not only affected her thoughts and decisions but were also a threat to her very life. 

I would venture to guess that we have all been there at one time or another.  Rejection is the most painful things one can experience.  It says "You are not worthy"  "I don't need you" "You don't count."  For too many, it is easier to lay down and believe that.  Some will not let themselves recover from that lie. 

The bottom line is that not everyone is going to accept you, not every one is going to be compassionate and not everyone is going to care.  When Christ was talking to his disciples, he was describing the coming of the Son of Man.  He told them that *first, He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
[Luke 17:25]

If you are in a situation where you have been "rejected" take heart in knowing that there is an option to staying in the lie.  The Son of God himself was rejected and later exalted to the highest place.  While your heart may be broken remember, man can not out do what God has promised and He has promised a better tomorrow. 

When you feel rejected, reject it!  

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus; Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but made himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became ovedient to death, even death on a cross!  Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father.   Philippians 2:5-11

*That word, first, is indicative that there is more to come.  First he was rejected but then he was exalted.