Sooner or later, rejection occurs in each of our lives. These agonizing experiences can be like knife wounds that never heal, draining us of incentive and leaving us lifeless. We can allow our hurt feelings to fester, leading to anger, bitterness and devastation, or we can rise above the painful rebuff, learn from it and grow beyond it.

We can decide we're not so terrible as that person might have us believe, and ask God what He wants us to learn and, if necessary, to change. God can turn a rejection into an opportunity to enlighten us about our weaknesses and strengths.

It's normal to feel hurt when we're rejected, but if we take action against it, it won't take root and be able to destroy us. Use the experience to learn, grow, and become more like Christ. Use rejection as an opportunity to exercise forgiveness.

Were you rejected in some way today? Don't jump to the conclusion that the rejection is always personal. Find out the cause, if you can, and it may surprise you to find it had little, if anything, to do with you.

Being accepted by people is good, dear friend, but remember that it is even better that we are accepted by God: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world...Having predestinated us into the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved" (Ephesians. 1:4-6).

Heavenly Father, how wonderful to be accepted by You when men sometimes reject me. I choose from tonight on to allow people the freedom to reject me without letting it hurt me. I will forgive them and do forgive them now. I thank You for Your unending love for me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.