Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Life can be painful. God can seem so far away, and it’s easy for us to become discouraged. While no one enjoys suffering, it is a necessary part of the Christian life. During these times, we must seek God for grace and power to overcome every trial and opposition to fulfill our Kingdom purpose.

Hurt is often embedded in the journey of the Christian life. Hurt defined is to cause emotional pain or anguish; to cause damage or distress. While hurt can enter one’s heart by a variety of means, rejection seems to be the most devasting. Rejection is a personal offense that refuses to grant that person recognition or acceptance, to discard that individual as being worthless.

The biblical character Leah (Genesis 29: 16-31) is the perfect example of one who gain strength from God while in her difficult place.

She was devalued by her father
She was rejected by her husband
She was envied by her sister
She was loved by God

Leah was unloved and unwanted mainly because of her physical appearance. While it seems harsh and inhumane to be treated in this manner, be advised many women today deal with this same type of ill treatment. Like Leah, the rejection negatively affects our self-esteem. Sometimes we make excuses and cover up for the people who reject us, because if we acknowledge their cruelty, it hurts too much. Worse yet, we sometimes keep trying to be accepted and as a result face rejection over and over.

The first step to experiencing freedom from this vicious cycle is to be honest with ourselves. There is nothing "spiritual" about pretending that everything's fine, when you are really hurt. Tell God how you really feel. Honest expressions are important to your emotional and spiritual health. Leah finally let go of the unmet expectation and shifted her focus to God's love and acceptance of her. We too must shift our focus to God’s unfailing love. Recognizing how much God loves us will remove the sting of rejection.

That’s Not How my Story Ends…