This is the second installment of my initial post on rejection. If you go back and glance at the last blog title notice that in the first post REJECTION was in caps. This post it is in small font – Make no mistake it is intentional. When we are first rejected we are distraught, discouraged, depressed and feel like dying. Immediately, following rejection if not careful we become filled with resentment. This post will serve as a remedy to remember that RECOVERING is more important than rolling down the raging river of rejection.

How we handle a situation is just as important as what happens to us. I love that quote: “Adversity causes some to break and causes others to BREAK RECORDS.” I’ve come to the conclusion that adversity, stress, trials, nervousness and rejection are more friends than foes. Jeff Bostic, retired Washington Redskin said after winning three Super Bowl rings with Hall of Fame Coach Joe Gibbs that the one Super Bowl loss to Marcus Allen and the Raiders in 1983, taught him more than the three world championships they won!

Rejection should never be the end. Initially, rejection resembles and appears “larger than life” but remember God has the final say since He is the “Author and Finisher” of our faith. Nothing crosses His desk and catches Him by surpise. Regardless, if you are on the mountain or in the valley God sees your proximity but in His wonderful wisdom He also knows your destiny! Rejection is more a comma than a period but when it happens we assume automatically it is an exclamation mark! Your test today becomes your TESTimony tomorrow. Your mess now is your MESSage later and I love the fact that God never wastes a trial. A tragedy turns to triumph when we worship Him in the storm.

The movie “RUDY” is one of my all-time favorite flicks. Anything with patriotism or perseverance is worth the watch in my book and I love the scene depicted above for this post. If we are not careful we are tempted to dig our heels in the ground and prove the world wrong for the way we were mistreated. It is imperative to remember that TWO wrongs don’t make a right. Without queston, all of us can relate to Rudy in the scene above. Not so much for practicing with one of the best sports teams in the world but trying so hard and still coming up so short regardless of your vocation or venue. What the wise man was sharing in this scene with Rudy is that sometimes the only thing that you need to prove something to is not others but self.

My friend in school had a 1985 Mustang LX with the 5.0 litre engine. Ironically, the word on the street is that the economic LX equipped with the V8 engine is faster than the more expensive GT because it weighed less. The LX equipped with the same upgraded engine (standard in GT) was quicker and the only way to differentiate between the two was if the 5.0 emblem was on the side of the car. The LX with no emblem was a six cylinder but the 5.0 told the world that it was the V8. My buddy had the 5.0 engine in his LX but intentionally removed the insignia. Most of us in life are desiring to step up but he was one brother willing to step back. When asked why he did it he said two powerful points: 1) It makes me a sleeper on the street and by going “under the radar” I blow them off the line in a race because they underestimate my car. 2) I know what’s under my hood and that is all that matters.

I have failed in this category a million and one times and maybe you have too. Some in ministry circles today and “self help” gurus implore us to never say anything negative. The fact is we must not only learn to respect but expect rejection at times. Jesus said the storms of life will come but when the Almighty is your Anchor and Christ your Captain you will win regardless of the waves, wind or weather! One lesson we must learn is never share your present success with past critics. They couldn’t comprehend it then and mostly likely they won’t get it now. It is a FACT that you will never get ahead by trying to get back at those that caused pain. Too often, the one you focus on is no longer focused on you. That is why it is imperative that we focus on God because He cares for YOU!

Over the years I have had some Major League helpers and minor league haters. What I mean by that is God strategically put people in my path to help me when some could care less. The key is we need to recover from rejection and become THANKful not resentful. When we are ACCEPTED by God we no longer need the approval of man.

Christ is the classic example. As He was suspended between Heaven and Earth with His dying words He said: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” We live in a fallen world with less than perfect people. Jesus was mocked, ridiculed, beaten and rejected more than any man in the history of humanity. But despite their wicked ways – He never retaliated but returned their rejection into His acceptance. His grief became our grace and despite Him being torn nearly into two we could be made whole. Wow – that will preach!

In closing, Nelson Mandela was shackled in prison for some 28 years. The guards posted at his prison ridiculed and rejected him day and night for nearly three decades. When he was finally free and he walked out no longer incarcerated he had a dilemma. He had two options: Did he resent those that rejected him (knowing they were dead wrong) or did he recover and move forward. Mandela said: “I chose the second.” He went on to say: “If I harbored any hatred to those that wronged me I would walk IMPRISONED mentally although I am now a free man physically.” He went on to note: “Forgiveness is for me as much as it is for those that hurt me.”

It is a fact that those that wronged you may never ask for forgiveness. Therefore, by forgiving others we exemplify Christ’s character and compassion and we grant freedom to self in the process. Ironically, Mandella was named President of his country and at his inauguration it is customary to invite heads of state from various nations to witness the transfer of power. Surprisingly, Nelson Mandela invited the prison guards to sit in the front few rows of his inauguration. His message was twofold: The past is the past and I forgive you. Secondly, I cannot help but think despite forgiving his new “friends” that they were hit head on with the truth that there was no doubt who was in control now.

Ultimately, God is the One in control but He has a Way of flipping the table, turning the tide and granting us double for our trouble! Christ certainly makes the crooked – straight and the cloudy – clear. Like that old song: “I can see clearly now the rain (rejection) is gone.” But the mark of maturity is will you sing God’s praises in the storm even when you cannot see where the Lord leads and God guides?

We must let go and let God have His way in our lives. Freedom cannot come if we are still in bondage from replaying the reel of rejection repeatedly in the mental movie of our lives. But when we RECOVER from rejection we know the real relationship of our Redeemer because despite our sins and shortcomings He found a WAY to forgive us – may we do the same with others. RECOVER from rejection and you will become BETTER and not bitter and then you will really have something to REJOICE over.