Isaiah 48:10
“See, I have refined you, though not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction” (NIV)
I was going through something that many people go through these days. I was trying to blend a family together. My fiancée had three children from a previous marriage, and I had three as well. All of us made eight. I had always longed for a large family and was thrilled. The only problem was that his ex-wife hated me, and had managed to turn her friends and even her pastor against me. When I saw the mental effect it was having on her children, I decided to be the bigger person. I wrote her an email offering peace and working together for the sake of her children. I also wrote to her friends and her pastor to offer my olive branch as a sister in Christ to all.
Imagine my utter shock, when I was totally rejected. No reason given. Silence speaks louder than war. She upped the manipulation of trying to make her children dislike me. She was winning. Why? I prayed to God, Why? I knew he had brought me and my fiancée together, and I knew it was for a ministry for his glory. Why were things going so wrong?
Then one night, I signed onto my facebook. These brothers and sisters in Christ had reported me for harassment on facebook for emailing them my offer of peace. I wanted to throw my hands up in defeat and despair. I had followed what I believed God was telling me, the words of John 15:16-17, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other” (NIV). I had tried to love these people and was rejected by even a pastor. I went back to read the verse again. Had I missed something? I had to see. John 15:18 caught my eye, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (NIV). I did throw up my hands. In praise! How awesome to bear suffering for doing God’s will!
The problem will be between others and God to face. In times of adversity such as this, we must remember that it is not God who rejects us, but Satan. We must be ever vigilant of Satan’s tricks. Satan will use anybody to try to make you lose your faith.
Ephesians 6:11 tells us to, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes” (NIV). We must be mindful of this, and do this everyday. Satan comes at us from all angles. He can and will try to destroy our faith at work, at home, and yes, even through some churches. He knows no conscious and knows no boundaries.
Ephesians 6:13-14 tells us, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place” (NIV).
My days of evil and attack have come. Yours will too. When they do, remember that you are God’s daughter. He formed you with His own hand, and He loves you. Stand firm. Know you are in His will. God wants you to be His daughter, His warrior. He wants you to fight the good fight for Him. He needs you to. You are His child, He loves you.
Rejection is hard. It hurts. The rejection I had from this church family hurt me. I had no idea that a pastor would reject as I had never experienced it. I can only think of Jesus. When Jesus stood before the religious leaders of His day, being rejected by His own people, His heart must have been breaking. Yet, He put on His armour and he stood firm. It is because of this that we all have the opportunity to be saved through His precious blood that He spilled on the cross.
So in my dilemma, I will follow the example of Jesus. I will stand firm in the armour and will of God, in constant prayer for protection from Satan. God will lead me. This is just a refining that I must go through. I thank Him. I praise Him that He finds me worthy to refine me through affliction. Who am I to be worthy to suffer pain for God? I am His child, His daughter, and I will gladly do it. I will suffer this pain of rejection and praise Him! How great that is! My Father believes I am worthy to suffer for His name. I am blessed. My cup runneth over…
When your day of rejection comes, whether it is in a personal relationship, at work, or just out in the world, stand tall and stand firm. You are a daughter of the King. Praise Him even in life’s storms.
Lesley Duckworth MA
Copyright- 2012
“See, I have refined you, though not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction” (NIV)
I was going through something that many people go through these days. I was trying to blend a family together. My fiancée had three children from a previous marriage, and I had three as well. All of us made eight. I had always longed for a large family and was thrilled. The only problem was that his ex-wife hated me, and had managed to turn her friends and even her pastor against me. When I saw the mental effect it was having on her children, I decided to be the bigger person. I wrote her an email offering peace and working together for the sake of her children. I also wrote to her friends and her pastor to offer my olive branch as a sister in Christ to all.
Imagine my utter shock, when I was totally rejected. No reason given. Silence speaks louder than war. She upped the manipulation of trying to make her children dislike me. She was winning. Why? I prayed to God, Why? I knew he had brought me and my fiancée together, and I knew it was for a ministry for his glory. Why were things going so wrong?
Then one night, I signed onto my facebook. These brothers and sisters in Christ had reported me for harassment on facebook for emailing them my offer of peace. I wanted to throw my hands up in defeat and despair. I had followed what I believed God was telling me, the words of John 15:16-17, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other” (NIV). I had tried to love these people and was rejected by even a pastor. I went back to read the verse again. Had I missed something? I had to see. John 15:18 caught my eye, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (NIV). I did throw up my hands. In praise! How awesome to bear suffering for doing God’s will!
The problem will be between others and God to face. In times of adversity such as this, we must remember that it is not God who rejects us, but Satan. We must be ever vigilant of Satan’s tricks. Satan will use anybody to try to make you lose your faith.
Ephesians 6:11 tells us to, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes” (NIV). We must be mindful of this, and do this everyday. Satan comes at us from all angles. He can and will try to destroy our faith at work, at home, and yes, even through some churches. He knows no conscious and knows no boundaries.
Ephesians 6:13-14 tells us, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place” (NIV).
My days of evil and attack have come. Yours will too. When they do, remember that you are God’s daughter. He formed you with His own hand, and He loves you. Stand firm. Know you are in His will. God wants you to be His daughter, His warrior. He wants you to fight the good fight for Him. He needs you to. You are His child, He loves you.
Rejection is hard. It hurts. The rejection I had from this church family hurt me. I had no idea that a pastor would reject as I had never experienced it. I can only think of Jesus. When Jesus stood before the religious leaders of His day, being rejected by His own people, His heart must have been breaking. Yet, He put on His armour and he stood firm. It is because of this that we all have the opportunity to be saved through His precious blood that He spilled on the cross.
So in my dilemma, I will follow the example of Jesus. I will stand firm in the armour and will of God, in constant prayer for protection from Satan. God will lead me. This is just a refining that I must go through. I thank Him. I praise Him that He finds me worthy to refine me through affliction. Who am I to be worthy to suffer pain for God? I am His child, His daughter, and I will gladly do it. I will suffer this pain of rejection and praise Him! How great that is! My Father believes I am worthy to suffer for His name. I am blessed. My cup runneth over…
When your day of rejection comes, whether it is in a personal relationship, at work, or just out in the world, stand tall and stand firm. You are a daughter of the King. Praise Him even in life’s storms.
Lesley Duckworth MA
Copyright- 2012