Rejection

"Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected?" -Mark 9:12

Don't be surprised if you are rejected. It is part of learning the way of the cross. In his Gospel, Mark makes note of our Lord's own assertion that He "must suffer many things and" (as if this had to be mentioned especially) "be rejected."

You will find this statement truer every year as you go on, growing deeper in the Lord: if you and I follow the way He went, we will be rejected too.

Anything is easier. To be whipped would be easier.

Have you ever gone through your New Testament, marking the places where the iron of suffering, in one form or another is mentioned? It's wonderfully enlightening. The book is full of joy, I know. But it is also full of pain, and the pain is taken for granted by our Lord and His closest friends.

As the Apostle Paul writes: "Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering as though something strange were happening to you." (1 Peter 4:12). And the Apostle James writes, concerning trials: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers.." (James 1:2)

But what if the suffering, the rejection, comes from those whom we love?

Wasn't our Lord's suffering caused by those He loved?

Oh, what a book the Bible is! If only we would steep our souls in its mighty comfort, we would never go far wrong- we would never lose heart. As Peter elsewhere assures us: "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example...you should follow in His steps" (1 Peter 2:21)

You and I are meant to follow in the steps of our Lord, not avoid them.

And you will find that joy of the Lord comes as you go in the way of the cross. It was a man who had nobody on earth to call his own true constant friend who said, "But even if I am being poured out like... an offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad, and rejoice with all of you" (Philippians 2:10.

It is no small gift of His love, this opportunity to be offered up-something you would not naturally choose, something that asks for more than you would naturally give.

That's the proof of His love. So let joy grow within you when rejection comes- for you are offering to the Lord what He asks you to offer: the chance to show you what He can do.-Candles in the Dark, Amy Carmichael

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These words by Amy Carmichael came to me at timely moment. A time when I needed to be  reminded of this truth.  Who of us has not been rejected at one point or another... and not just rejected by the world, but rejected by someone close. Not to make light of the fact that rejection hurts, it REALLY hurts. However I find comfort in the fact that we have one who understands, who was rejected and betrayed in the worst possible way (and He continues to be rejected by people over and over). He knows my pain, He knows yours. We have one who can sympathize with us. This knowledge does not diminish the pain of rejection, but it makes it easier to bear. The Father knows, "how much we need the comfort of His love to bear our hurts...to help us make it through... until our spirit is 'risen' again in Him."