Rejection, it seems, is one of the most powerful forces known to man. I recall several years ago how rejection affected me emotionally, and even physically. It was just after I purchased a shiny new diamond engagement ring for the love of my life (now my wife.) Adrenaline rushed through me every time I even thought about presenting it to her, and I grew increasingly anxious as the special day came closer. But the unimaginable happened right before I could pop the big question.
The let-down was abrupt, and stinging, though she spoke with loving words and concern for me. I couldn’t understand what was happening, but I remember how it felt. Rejection. Disappointment. Grief. Stress. I couldn’t think about anything else. It grew like an infection in my mind and heart, and got in the way of my thoughts. It affected my work. My body grew tired over the next several days, and my appetite disappeared. I slept for a few days straight, and grew increasingly ill. And the culprit was simply a thing called, “rejectionâ€.
Perhaps you can relate to a time in your life when you were rejected, or for some other reason felt unloved. Every human has an innate desire to be loved. Years ago, a study was conducted in which orphaned babies were separated into two groups. The one group was held and cuddled by the nurses on duty, and attention was paid to them regularly. The other group of infants received all the same nourishment and care, except they were not held and cuddled by the nurses. After some time, it was revealed that the infants who were shown love, touched, and caressed, grew healthier and had much less problems in early childhood development than the second group of babies.
One thing is surely true; when you are rejected, you don’t feel very lovable. In fact, you feel that nobody loves you, and nobody cares. You may feel that you’re worth nothing.
But you’re wrong.
In Isaiah 54:10 God says, “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you.â€(NIV)
You see, there is a love that will never end, and it is aimed directly at you. There are two characteristics that make God’s love very different from the love of people.
God’s love is consistent
The love of God will never fail. It will never end. It is “unfailing loveâ€. God isn’t forever changing His mind toward you saying, “I love you†one moment and then, “I detest you†the next. God doesn’t have “bad hair days†like many people around us. If we’re not careful, we allow the inconsistent love of humans to dictate our thoughts about the love of God. God is not unpredictable… He says, “My love for you is never going to end.â€
God’s love is unconditional
The love of people in our lives is often dictated by how much we work to earn it. This love is based on performance and “measuring up†to their standards. See, as humans we naturally love on a conditional basis. We grow up with conditional love, and we pass this requirement on to others. But when the conditions stop being met, what happens? People divorce. They leave each other. They give up. They lash out. They reject.
When we say, “I love you because…â€, that’s conditional love. Unconditional love will express itself when nothing is given in return. Unconditional love is given without requiring anything from the taker. We say, “I love you because you make me feel good.†But what happens when they stop making us feel good? We say, “I love you because you’re beautiful.†But what happens when they lose their beauty? “I love you because you’re talented.†What if tomorrow you meet someone who is more talented?
But God says, “I love you… period. No qualifications, no prerequisites, just love.†You don’t ever have to ask if God will be there for you tomorrow… He just will. You don’t have to question if you’ve worked hard enough, prayed long enough, or said all the right things. He just loves you. His love is not determined by your performance… it’s determined by His grace!
You see, God loves you. He loves you enough that He created you. So much that He died for you. So much that He rose again in victory so that you could have eternal life with Him.
This world may reject you, but God says you are Lovable.
