Thank you for joining me today for Day 1 of our Spoken For blog series! I am so excited to walk this journey with you all. May it encourage your hearts as you see how truly loved and desired you are by the One who is ever faithful. If you’d like to order Spoken For click here.
Rejection. Even as I type the word and say it in my head, I feel the sting. In fact, if I let myself, I could easily let that word grab hold of me, making me feel numb and helpless. Can I let you in on a secret? I think rejection is one of my greatest fears. After you’ve experienced it, even though I am healed and free, I can’t say I ever want to experience it again. The thought of having someone that is so close to me walk away, throw in the towel, or just not care anymore, breaks my heart. If I’m logical about it, I know that “IF THIS….THEN GOD.” I know that God will see me through; He’ll hold me in that pain and use it to draw me closer to Himself, and use it to make me complete (James 1:2-4). However, if I don’t tell myself the truth, this fear can easily take over.
We’ve all experienced rejection one way or another- maybe you didn’t get picked to be on the kickball team in elementary school (or were picked last- girl, I feel ya!), didn’t make the team, didn’t get into the school you wanted, or didn’t get the job you’d had your heart set on. And then there’s relational rejection, the worst kind- never good enough for a parent, not included by friends, dumped, or not chosen.
Within all of us, we long to be wanted, don’t we? We want to be chosen and the affection of someone else’s desires. It’s a God-given desire. That’s right, God has given us this longing, and I believe it’s in order to bring us to Himself. The desire of His heart is to wrap us in His strong arms, look at us with tears in His eyes and proclaim, “Yes! I want you. I’ve always wanted you. Oh, how I’ve waited to be with you. You are the one I want. Always. Forever. I’ve never wavered in my desire to be with you, to have you as Mine.”
Let that sink in. God is after you. He wants you. Yes, you the perfectionist, the shy one, the one who struggles with anxiety, who is ashamed of your past, who has messed up too many times to count. You, who loses his temper, the doubter, the lover of things, the one who does things in secret that you would never tell anyone about, the one who has had things done to you that has left you feeling helpless, hopeless and undesirable. HE WANTS YOU. ALL OF YOU. He sees you as you are- everything- past, present and future- and wants you. And not only does He want you, but He has given everything up to have you. Desire shown in action love. He is calling your name. He is holding His arms open to you, eyes on you, heart beating for you.
Are you striving in your own strength, putting your hope in that something, rather than in Him? Are you heartbroken today because of someone’s rejection? Do you see your misplaced hope in someone? Let’s draw near to our Savior today and let Him fulfill that longing within us. You are wanted. You are included. You are desired. Not by just anyone, but by the One who gave up His only Son to win your heart. See what great lengths He has gone to show you how much He loves you?
Check out Spoken For here.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Thank you Alyssa!! You are the best and you are inspirational. Thank you for continuing to share your heart with others. You’ll never know the impact it has made on so many.
Such truth! Thanks for sharing. Rejection does stink. But GOD is has been showing me that rejection (by a person, for a particular job, etc.) doesn’t mean that I’m not good enough, but more that there is a specific place, job, relationship, friendship, etc that IS Just right for me (even if it’s not the one or the way I hoped for), and that it doesn’t mean HE loves me any less, and HE is with me to hold and comfort me in the process through any possible pain…. But I believe that comes easier (well…. that we can take rejection better) when we know who we are in HIM. Which is why I’m super excited about this book! I feel like GOd wants to show girls who they are in Him and His love for them and I’m excited to see how He does so through the pages of this book. Thanks to both you and Robin for opening up in the pages and for letting God speak through you ladies to a bunch of girls who need to hear this truth and begin BELIEVING it and living in that truth! God bless both your families! Alyssa, your little girl is gonna be so blessed to have you as a mom! Blessings!
I have been going through a lot of rejection these past 3 years and when I read your blog I felt the Lord giving me a huge hug. My anxiety reduced and the pain in my chest slowly faded away. I can’t wait to read your book! God bless you and your little family! <3
Oh how this came to me at the right time. I am strong in my faith in God. I don’t have many friends 3 in fact. One lives too far to hangout with and the other two they live too far as well to just hangout with. My church I don’t trust them because they have used my imperfections against me. I want to be wanted for fellowship even to get married again one day. I just cannot find the right people. With girls I get friend zoned from the very beginning. Needless to say I’m lonely for friendships and more. I know I need to triple my time with God not because I have nothing left to seek for. All my life I have been rejected to the point if I’m not rejected by someone or a job it doesn’t feel right. Eventually I get rejected. On this earth I have my mentor and myself that is not including the lord God almighty. All I need is a genuine hug right now. I just need to feel accepted and not get another dagger in my back. Please pray for me. I’m fighting a spiritual war over my mind and my heart alone it seems.
You’re not in this alone. Your comment is the same for me as well. I constantly am the friend left out, and the one left devastated and heartbroken over friendships. Even in a relationship stance, I’m not the one being fought for but rather fighting the person to stay with me.
Regardless of these things,
Jesus will always be there for us. In Hosea, I believe, God asks why we don’t come to Him when we are “wailing on our beds” HE WANTS US! He wants our tears of pain and tears of joy. He loves you so much and has something very special for you. Wait and hope in the Lord. I genuinely will be praying for you.
Hey, Joshua remember you’re not alone on this journey.God is watching over you. He is ready to help you with that mess! Dt.31:6,8
I could have written this myself. Spot on. Thanx.
You couldn’t wipe the smile off my face, God spoke right into my heart through your words. Thank you Alyssa, I can’t wait to read more <3
I think being rejected is by far worse. The more you try to fit in the worse it seems to get. Hard pressed from all sides and yet you don’t seem to see things lighten up. I feel totally used up at the moment and in a place of transition. In a country where God has placed me and been rejected for who I am. I do know this, that there is hope and there is light at the end of this tunnel but for now processing the hurt and pain and dealing with everyday life. Thank you for sharing and making me so aware of who I am in Christ. This is just such a time of drawing close to Him and sitting on His lap and feeling His arms surround me. Thank you for sharing with all to receive healing.
Thank you so much Alyssa! I needed to hear this!
Dear Alyssa,
I found a video of you and your husband last night. It was a Q&A on relationships and I was greatly encouraged by it. Well one thing led to another and here I am at your blog:) Thank you for this post. You’re a beautiful witness for the Lord and your humility and deep love for the Savior is inspiring! Thank you for your post and I look forward to reading your posts to come!
-Julianne
Thank you so much for writing this Alyssa! I first heard you in on youtube,and loved the way to spoke and shared God’s message. It really keeps my attention. Thank you so much!
I am often left feeling rejected or unwanted, and this blog and your other blogs and youtube videos are great reminders to me that He wants me in his Kingdom despite my flaws. Thank you Alyssa, you are an inspiration.
Thank you for this! Bought your book today. Excited to read it and really get a grasp on God’s love for me!
Thanks Alyssa!!!!! I cant want to get your book!!!!!!! I love you and Robin as authors!!! Your books are amazing!!!!!! You are so inspiring!!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!!
Thank you Alyssa!
Just started Spoken For today and I am so excited! God has already shown me so much through just one chapter. Thank you for following His calling in writing this book!
Thank you so much for this! These words were absolutely from God. This made me cry, as I felt it speaking directly to my life. It touched so many areas that I feel I still have wounds in; things that I didn’t even realize were still lingering. But praise God, because He is the fixer and Perfecter of our faith. Don’t know what I’d do without Him. God bless you.
Thank you for this beautiful message!
Anyone, at any point in their life, needs to hear these words to know that just because we have been rejected by worldly things, we are never, ever rejected by God and His eternal love and grace. We need a reminder (sometimes on a daily basis) of His great love and desire to have us.
I love how you worded what God would say to us about wanting us. What He does say to us-we are just too stubborn to hear it sometimes. It really sunk in that everything I have ever wanted to hear from the people in my life is everything I have heard from God my entire life-I have just been deaf to it. This has been a revelation. Thank you so much!