You were born to belong. Belonging is one of the deep desires of our hearts. Because we live in a fallen world. All of us have been rejected, left out, chosen last or laughed at. Think school. And many of us have scars. Deep scars of rejection.
The problem is that rejection is one of the scars that really doesn't heal. The scars look healed, but when you are touched in the same place, the wound reopens.
The deep desires of our hearts were placed there by God. They are not to be disciplined, denied or ignored. Heart desires cannot be filled by people or things. There are God sized holes in our hearts that only he can fill. Philippians 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Psalm 37:4 Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. And Proverbs 13:12 but desire fulfilled is the tree of life. Rejection comes when we try to get people to fill our need to belong. We offered ourselves to be a friend, to be loved by someone, or just to be part of a team or some group.
And they said, no, I don't want to be your friend, I don't love you, you're not good enough to be on the team, etc. Through experiences like these, our minds form beliefs, scripts that run around in our minds warning us not to offer friendship, love, or try to be part of a group or team. These beliefs bring with them strong memories of the pain of failed friendships, broken hearts, and not making the cut for the team. These emotional memories drive our beliefs and create fear of rejection.
They rob us of rich, full lives in relationship with others. Look for the lie. Replace it with truth activation.
God wants to replace your experiences of rejection with the ultimate acceptance and belonging to him.
Listen to these words. Read these words aloud.
Then read them again slowly. Let them sink into your heart.
Take them as you would medicine for pain. When you're hurting, take some more. There are no side effects.
1 John 4:4. I have called you by name. You are mine.
1st Corinthians 7:23. But you belong to God, my dear children. See, I have written your name on the palms of my hand.
John 10:27, 29.
My sheep. Listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I, give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand.
Every part of you is approved, accepted, and loved. You're a son, a daughter of God. You belong. It doesn't get any better than that. No matter what happened to you in the past and, uh, no matter what you're going through right now, this is what is true.