Rejection

My apologies for the delay in posts.  I went to Florida last week with my momma, work is crazy, and my iphone is out of commission (stress!).  This will be a pretty quick post, but it’s something I read a few weeks ago and has stuck in my mind.

Rejection…a word most of us never want to have enter our lives.  Rejection essentially means something we wanted, desired, or thought we needed…we don’t get.  Now, I don’t know about y’all, but I hate being told “no.”  My dad actually says I’m relentless when it comes to getting the things I want (definitely not always a good thing!).  For example, when I was 8 I really, really wanted the American Girl doll Molly.  My parents initially told me no.  I prayed for God to bring me Molly every night from August to Christmas Day (when I finally got her).  Also, I made sure I said this prayer out loud and in front of my parents (already using the lawyer skills!).

We all know how rejection works in our normal lives, but what really stuck out to me is what rejection means scientifically.

The Science Stuff:

The immune system protects the body from possibly harmful substances by recognizing and responding to antigens. Antigens are substances (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, or bacteria. Nonliving substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles (such as a splinter) can also be antigens. The immune system recognizes and destroys substances that contain antigens.

 For example, in order for a transplant to work you must have matching MHCs (major histocompatibility complexes) as well as matching antibodies and blood type.

So what?

In the article I read, the author talked linked rejection to grace.  To quote the article, I call this “grace.”  I firmly believe God knows what is best for us and will reward those who wait for Him. Even if we don’t want to, and are faced with rejection again and again.” (here is the link for the original article http://goodwomenproject.com/singleness/rejection).

I’ve been thinking about this concept for like two weeks now.  Like our bodies know how to reject the stuff that isn’t specifically made for us, God knows how to reject the stuff that comes into our lives that He didn’t make for us (disclaimer:  I know that in life we will all  choices that aren’t God’s will for our lives.  There is a long theological discussion we can have about free will and God’s sovereignty).

But really, God knows what’s best for my life.  I might be rejected for a job, or by a friend, or by a guy, or whatever, but ultimately what if those rejections are God’s way of just protecting me from the stuff that He didn’t make for me? We might not always get the answers to the “why” we are rejected and that’s hard, I get that.  I’ve been rejected numerous times and it hurt and it left my trying to understand why I was rejected.  Looking back, I’ve been able to see God’s hand of protection.  I think rejection gives us the opportunity to rely on God even more, “If not this, God, then what?”

^{14 “}Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16 NIV

Disney World!