If there’s anything that keeps us from living our lives fully for Jesus, the fear of rejection is definitely at the top of the list.
Whether we’re afraid of being rejected by friends and family members, those we’re trying to share the gospel with, or even coworkers or others we interact with on a daily basis, this fear can not only hinder our ability to tell others about Jesus, but sometimes, it keeps us from living out our faith at all.
We hear so much, especially today, of Christians being persecuted and giving their lives all over the world for sharing their faith, but we sit in our comfortable lives and let this one simple fear keep us from even telling those closest to us about Jesus.
The Fear of Rejection
Let’s start by talking about the fear of rejection itself. This fear, just like any other fear, is usually about something that hasn’t even happened yet.
While it’s not the case every time, many times, we are afraid of what we think will happen without any evidence that it will actually happen.
We think our friends will think we’re weird or our family will stop wanting to spend time with us if we start speaking out about our faith, but we may not have any evidence that this has happened or that it is going to.
How silly is it to shape your life around something that may not even happen?
What if it has happened?
Ok, but what if we have shared our faith with our friends or family and they have rejected us or it’s hurt some of our relationships?
Let’s look at some examples from the Bible.
Joseph
If you’ve never read the story of Joseph, in Genesis 37, I’ll sum it up for you. Joseph was one of the youngest of Jacob’s sons, and he just happened to be born to Jacob’s favorite wife, which also made him a favorite. He received special treatment from his father, which made his brothers wildly jealous.
Joseph had the unique ability to interpret dreams and one day, Joseph had a dream that represented his family bowing down to him as a leader.
When he told his brothers about this, of course they were enraged and sold him as a slave to some traders who were headed to Egypt. He eventually becomes the slave of an official, gets falsely accused of trying to make a move on the official’s wife, and is thrown into prison.
Some men who worked in Pharaoh’s palace were also in jail and had their dreams interpreted by Joseph. One of the men was brought back to work in the palace and when Pharaoh had a dream no one could interpret, the man remembered Joseph and brought him to work for Pharaoh, where he was eventually placed as second in charge of all Egypt.
See, the moral of the story is that Joseph was rejected by his own family for trying to fulfill the calling that God placed on His life. And though he had to endure difficult times, God ultimately rewarded him for it by giving him a family, stature, wealth, and his own family eventually came back around and lived with him in Egypt.
Jesus
Now let’s look to the biggest story of rejection in the Bible: the story of Jesus. This story is told in multiple accounts throughout the New Testament. And Jesus experienced just about every form of betrayal possible.
In Luke 4, starting in verse 14, Jesus returned to His hometown, where news was spreading of His ministry. He got up to read a scroll to the crowd about His calling and after saying that they would reject Him, the crowd grew angry and tried to drive Him off a cliff.
"All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way." LUKE 4:28-30 NIV
All four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) give an account of how Jesus was rejected by his own disciples, the crowds of people and the officials from the time he was betrayed by Judas to His crucifixion on the cross.
"Early in the morning, all the chief priests and elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor. When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 'I have sinned,' he said, 'for I have betrayed innocent blood.'" MATTHEW 27:1-4 NIV
Furthermore, Jesus was rejected by one of His closest friends in a moment when it mattered most.
"Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, 'This man was with him.' But he denied it. 'Woman, I don't know him," he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, 'You also are one of them.' 'Man, I am not!' Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, 'Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.' Peter replied, 'Man, I don't know what you're talking about!' Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: 'Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly." LUKE 22:54-62 NIV
What Scripture Says About Being Rejected
It may be surprising to hear, but the Bible actually tells us to consider it a blessing, and pure joy to be rejected by this world. It usually indicates that we’re doing something right.
"Bless are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 'Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.'" LUKE 6:22-23 NIV
God basically tells us to shake it off when we are rejected and just keep going on the path that He has set up for us.
"If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town." MATTHEW 10:14-15 NIV
And when all else fails, we don’t have to be afraid when others reject us because God promises to always be with us.
"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." ISAIAH 41:13 NIV
So Do Not Fear For I Am With You
God says,
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish." ISAIAH 41:10-11 NIV
Therefore, we don’t have to fear rejection because even if we are rejected, God is always with us. He’s guiding us and ready to defend us when we need Him. Stand firm on His Word and lean on His understanding and guidance and He will see us through any situation we face.
