A Prayer to Fight Feelings of Rejection
By Victoria Riollano
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. - 1 Peter 5:8
I know what it feels like to feel forgotten. As a child, I wondered if I would ever be chosen first for a game of kickball, or the one for whom someone would call their “best friend.” I wanted to be liked by the cool boy at school. I wanted to be accepted by certain family members. All of these longings kept me in a cycle of rejection.
I found myself fighting for attention, only to be rejected again and again. This continued even into adulthood, through church hurts and severed trust in relationships. It all kept me wondering how anyone could ever truly love me or care for me.
I wanted to accept that God loved me unconditionally, but I struggled to embrace this truth. How could a holy, perfect, creative, all-knowing God, love me? It took years of searching His word, prayer, and believing His words over me to finally break free of the crippling reality of “not being enough.”
I have a feeling that I am not alone. Perhaps you may relate to this and have experienced the pain of infidelity, the loss of close friendships, or the internal rejection that causes us to put ourselves down. Yet today I want to reassure you that rejection is not new. In fact, it is one of the oldest tricks of the enemy.
In the Old Testament, Joseph was rejected by his brothers and sold into slavery. Hagar was rejected after giving birth to her son. The New Testament is no different – there are countless stories of Jesus himself not being accepted. Many wondered how Jesus - a carpenter’s son! - could be capable of performing such miracles or have people who wanted to follow him.
Although we may experience rejection from family, friends, or society, it is our responsibility to use that rejection not to harbor bitterness, but to run closer to the Lord. Unfortunately, the longer we allow ourselves to stay in a place of rejection, the more it will affect our relationship with others and God. Our self-esteem can become so low that we start to doubt if God loves us and if His words can possibly apply to us! But His Word is clear. We need to only look in His Word for the truth of who are!
We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).
We were worth dying for (John 3:16)
We are chosen (Ephesians 1:4)
This is who we are.
Let’s pray that we will not be defined by the sum of other people’s opinions or the internal insecurities that we wrestle with in our souls. We are who God says we are. Our job is to embrace it.
Lord, I thank you for showing me who you have called me to be. I pray against the rejection that keeps me in bondage and clouds my ability to receive your truth. I ask that you use this week to remind me of your love and your words over me.
I pray for discernment to recognize the enemy’s lies. Give me eyes to see myself how you see me. I thank you, God, that rejection is not from you. I praise you that you love me despite my flaws and shortcomings. Thank you for seeing my heart and molding my life to reflect you.
In Jesus Name.
Amen.
Victoria Riollano is an author, blogger, and speaker. As a mother of six, military spouse, Psychology professor and minister’s wife, Victoria has learned the art of balancing family and accomplishing God’s ultimate purpose for her life. Recently, Victoria released her book, The Victory Walk: A 21 Day Devotional on Living A Victorious Life. Her ultimate desire is to empower women to live a life of victory, hope, and love. She believes that with Christ we can live a life that is ALWAYS winning. You can learn more about her ministry at victoryspeaks.org.
Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
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