Built to Fall Series EP.1

If I have learned anything about people, it is that everyone just wants to feel seen, accepted, and most importantly, loved. And many will do anything to experience it. 

Rejection is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament, acting as a root of emotional heartache for many biblical figures. Some being Leah, David, and Hannah. 

Leah, an oldest sister who desperately seeked love from a man whose heart was already claimed by another, spent several years of her life chasing validation through her womb. Who eventually sought after God’s love and is in the lineage of Jesus.

Hannah was one of two wives of Elkanah who was rejected by society because of her barrenness. The other wife, Penniah, had many children and constantly mocked Hannah. When accused of drunkenness while praying, Eli realized his mistake and blessed her and she bore Samuel, a well known prophet who would later anoint David, the king of Israel.

David, a man who was the youngest of eight sons, was continuously overlooked by his brothers and own father. He later defeated a giant by way of faith and was anointed to be the King of Israel where he reigned for 40 years. 

That same brokenness that was displayed in all three of these individuals, was validated by the One who matters most. 

Feeling disregarded is powerful because it blinds an individual’s identity to see themselves as worthy. And their isolation affirms their hopelessness. 

In rejection the enemy holds our feelings captive, driving us to operate in them rather than in the spirit. It is a never-ending battle in our minds, forcing lies that are against the word of God. And if left unchecked, those lies can become a stronghold. 

The stronghold of rejection is the mental imprisonment of fabrications that tells us we will never be worthy of love– the very lie that contradicts the gospel.

Paul speaks about demolishing any idea that is contrary to the word, giving us the blueprint on how to tear down the stronghold. In 2 Corinthians 10:5: “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” 

So although the enemy will try to capitalize on the seclusion, it is not one of despair as he makes it out to be. However, walking with Christ can feel like a lonely journey. 

• 2 Corinthians 6:17 (KJV): “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord…”
• James 4:4 (KJV): “…know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?”
• 2 Timothy 3:5 (AMP): “ …although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.”

And yet, that same Bible also says

• Hebrews 13:5 (KJV):  “…I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
• Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV): “ for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”
• Matthew 28:20 (KJV): “ I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

As someone who is overcoming this stronghold myself, I got tired of everyone saying that His rejection is my protection. It was hard to grasp when that protection felt like abandonment and desolation.

And the more I fixated on people walking away, the more God revealed that He could give me this satisfaction that no human could ever offer.

I ran my heart like a business, trying to hire people to fix it, rather than turning to the One who created it in the first place. And expected people fit a Jesus-sized emptiness, and questioned what I was doing wrong. When I stopped fighting the isolation and began to embrace it, that is when I found my contentment. 

Not having anyone but Him, allowed me to learn Him for myself and helped me experience the love He always talks about. 

The same love that does not identify us as our flaws. The same love that forgives. The same love that corrects. The same love that is unconditional. And the same love that died for you and me. 

When the world left me, Jesus was longer all I had…He was all I wanted.

Just like Leah, David, and Hannah our wounds will not go in vain. And that pain can be the very thing that God uses to be glorified. As scripture promises,  “… that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.”

If I have learned anything about rejection, it is that the Lord allows for the world to go quiet and feel distant so that His whisper becomes the loudest sound in our life.

A sound that is so sweet, that we would only find contentment in that harmony, rather than the noise of those that do not have the ability to put us in heaven or hell.