If you have felt rejected, you are not alone. Jesus was rejected by the “best,” most elite people of His day, the super-religious, smartest, and most well-educated, the Pharisees and Sadducees.
But God did not reject Him—and only God’s view of things matters. Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. The Lord has done this and it is astounding in our eyes.”
Do you know what a cornerstone is? It is a stone so perfect in size, shape, and strength, the whole building can be built off of that—it has perfect angles, so everything can be measured in relation to the cornerstone. It must be flawless, with no cracks or holes or weak spots. If a stone is flawed, the builders reject it. Jesus is saying the leaders of His day considered Him flawed and they rejected Him. But God made Him the cornerstone, the one stone so perfect God’s entire house can be built on it.
God often chooses the most rejected and uses them for His greatest glory. Think of the people Jesus healed and the people into whom He poured His life and words. Why not go to the successful? Because they did not realize their need for Christ.
When you feel lonely, depressed, or rejected, that is when God may be about to bless you the most.
First Corinthians 1:27 says, “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.”
God often uses us when we feel the least useful. Why? Because we are smart? Talented? Strong? No—because we are humble.
God uses humble people.
Embrace your failures. Don’t seek failure of course, but accept it, own it, take responsibility for it, and let God use it to mold you and shape you into a stone that He can use to build His kingdom.
Pray that God will build humility in you. Ask Him to give you a heart that listens to Him, and a heart that is compassionate toward others. Tell Him you are available and willing. Ask Him to send you opportunities and to use you. Ask Him to give you the right words when the time comes so that you can be a blessing to others. Thank Him for the hurts and rejections that make your heart ready to be used by Him.
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Household Words: 