Rejection

     This past week was spent at church camp with an amazing group of teens and an awe inspiring Clear Camp staff who were on fire for the Lord.  Wow, to have that drive, that motivation, that energy for the Lord all of the time.  It was a hot, tiring, draining (emotionally and physically), exhausting, spiritually uplifting, spiritually challenging, motivating, all out frenzy of praise and worship for the one true God.

     Bible study and Worship services were offered twice a day.  It would be amazing if we could do this everyday and not have to worry about working.  But just spend our time learning and loving the Lord more than we already do.  Learning about the barriers that we still have in our own journey with the Lord.  The bible studies were designed for each age group as well as for the adults.  And if I haven't said it, they have an amazing staff from top to bottom.

     One of the lessons taught, and seemingly the most moving for the entire group, was a lesson taught on rejection.  We discussed wounds and scars in the spiritual sense.  It was discussed how wound's are sores not yet healed and how some of us choose not to allow our wound to heal because we like the attention.  That hit a nerve for me because I could imagine some I know like this.  There would be some who would say that I fit into this category, and maybe they would be right.  Some wounds just aren't that easy to be healed.  Unfortunately, there are wounds we have had almost our entire lives never having the guidance or the knowledge to understand how to be healed from these wounds. Once healed from these wounds, we will have scars.  Scars are wounds that have been tended to by God and no longer hurt.

    The most devastating rejection that one will endure is the rejection of a parent.  The rejection of parents will devastate you the rest of your life.  Sadly, unless that parent gets right with the Lord and reaches out to the child, the wound will most likely continue.  You see, it's not the child's responsibility to mend the relationship, but it is the parent’s responsibility.  I gave up on my Father ever having anything to do with me years ago.  That rejection was not felt once, but twice—once  as a child, and again as an adult.  Regardless of the age, the pain still cuts deep.

     Unfortunately, any time we choose to love, we undoubtedly risk the possibility of being rejected.  This rejection can be from family, friends, co-workers, or significant others.  Some of us have dealt with rejection our entire lives and we tend to guard ourselves, bailing before we can be hurt. I'm guilty; I've been in this position more times than I can count. It's like we try to fill a vacancy with unchecked fear inviting all kinds of sin into our lives to fill that vacancy.  Some of us choose to fill that vacancy with promiscuity, thinking eventually someone will love us for all of the wrong reasons. Others choose alcohol and drugs to numb the pain.  I'm fortunate that I chose the lessor of these evils with the drinking as a way of numbing my pain, feeling as though somehow I could lose the rejection in a bottle of tequila.  How many years wasted did I have?  Who knows?  It's too many to count.

     With this lesson I've realized that on the horizon is good news.  If you are a child of the King, he has called you, me, and everyone else out of the darkness who chooses to call upon Him. Let God have the time and attention He needs and He will heal the rejection.  It may take some time.  It is hard to give up a crutch you've lived with for so long, because for some of us, how will we survive if others do not feel pity for us?  Once you realize the problem, pray on it, and give it to God.  Let him take this wound that cuts so deeply and turn it into a scar that represents the beauty of His love.  Until you call upon Him, you will never fully realize that He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.  So, on that note, what are you waiting for?  Thanks to Lisa at Clear Camps for this amazing insight.