Rejected
REJECTED
Read Matthew 13:54-58.
Tears streamed down Melanie’s face as she came in the back door. “Nancy is having a birthday party on Saturday,” she cried. “She invited all the girls in our class except me. Mom, why didn’t she invite me? It’s not fair.”
Mom put her arms around Melanie and hugged her. “I’m sorry, honey,” she said. “I know it hurts to feel rejected. We want our friends and family to accept us. When they don’t, our hearts ache.”
Melanie wiped her eyes and looked at her mother in surprise. “Have you ever felt rejected?”
“Do you remember when I wanted to work part-time at the school?” asked Mom. “They hired someone else, so I didn’t get the job. That was rejection, and it hurt.” She smiled. “I got over it, though, and you will too. Maybe it will help to remember that no one felt unloved more than Jesus did.”
“Yeah, but Jesus’ friends didn’t reject Him. It was His enemies who crucified Him,” Melanie pointed out.
“Let’s read something,” said Mom, getting a Bible. Together they read about one day when Jesus taught in the synagogue at Nazareth.
“Does this mean Jesus’ friends didn’t believe Him?” Melanie asked.
Mom nodded. “They rejected Him,” she said. “One of His own disciples betrayed Him. And the others left Him when He was arrested.”
“I guess He does know how I feel right now,” Melanie said, surprised.
“Yes,” Mom assured her. “He understands and cares.”
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you feel rejected when someone says no to you or forgets you? Remember that Jesus knows how rejection feels. He knows and cares how you feel. Let that comfort you, and then think about those who have hurt you and treat them the way you think Jesus would treat them.
TO MEMORIZE:
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
1 Peter 5:7
GOD UNDERSTANDS.
From the book
