“So, Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me, and expel me from my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?” ~ Judges 11:7
REFERENCE:
Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of a former president of the United States, once said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” is true if you want to win against rejection. Rejection happens when you let people’s negative words or actions get to you and rob you of your sense of worth and dignity. If you don’t let it, rejection can’t get you. It’s how you respond.
We are learning how to respond to rejection from Jephthah, a man rejected by his family and community and forced into exile. Let’s take further lessons on responding to rejection:
a. Refine Your Skills: The better you are at something, the more desirable you are. Whenever Jephthah went on a raid, he improved his planning, strategy, and execution skills. He put himself in a position where he could always practice his gifts until he became skillful. Improve your looks, demeanor, dressing, writing, get training, practice your speaking skills, etc. If you become relevant in a field, it will be difficult for people to refuse, resist, or reject you.
b. Refuse To Be Bitter: Although Jephthah reminded the elders of Israel of their hatred, he did not hold it against them but rose above the pain of his past. Forgive the person who jilted you; it is not about them but about you. Malice gives the devil fertile soil in your heart to sow seeds of stagnation and cycles of repetition. Refuse to be bitter; choose to be better.
c. Retain Your Worth: You will not rise from rejection to victory if you do not see the value you bear. The main thing rejection wants to take from you is your self-worth; hence, do all you can to retain it. Don’t allow your failure or success to define you; don’t subscribe to men’s opinions. Don’t undermine, undervalue, or underprice yourself; neither settle for a low life or mediocre relationship. Of course, Jephthah was with bandits, but his sense of worth remained. Sometimes, you may have to take steps backward in life; please keep your self-worth intact.
God continuously extends an opportunity to every man to right the wrongs in his life, have a second coming, and redeem himself so that the glory of his latter is greater than his former. That opportunity comes on the heels of rejection; it will take the right response to become victorious. We will take the concluding lessons from Jephthah’s response to rejection.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Proverbs 22:29, I Corinthians 10:30, and II Corinthians 4:8-10
PRAYER:
+ Father, I receive grace to rise above rejection, find my sense of worth in You, and work at improving myself for You to find a better vessel in me. No matter what life has thrown at me, I confess today that I AM BOUNCING BACK, in Jesus’ name.
