The root of rejection manifests itself in different ways. As I shared in the last devotional, some choose to try to beat the system, others give in to the system, and some rebel against the system. Today’s devotional is about those who give in to the system.
Give In to the System
Some people deal with rejection by giving in to the system. This group does not fight or compete but just gives up trying to achieve. They quit what they start. They have a victim mentality and an excuse for things not working out. They complain about their problems, hold grudges, and grow bitter. They want more in life, but they don’t see themselves capable of moving forward. Or they think the system is unjust and too powerful for them to overcome it. They lose motivation in life and become lazy, bitter, or depressed. This kind of behavior becomes a self fulfilling prophecy, and it reenforces the lie they have believed.
And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” Exodus 15:24
How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. Number 14:27
The Israelites were in slavery in Egypt for 400 years. The generation that left with Moses grew up in slavery. Up to that point, they had lived their entire lives at the mercy of others making decisions for them. Whenever things didn’t go right, they just complained because they saw themselves victims of circumstances.
God used Moses to rescue the Israelites, but in their hearts they were still victims. They had to believe that God was going to change their lives, but they also had to cooperate with the new season to see the fruit of that change.Unfortunately, the generation rescued from slavery believed the lies and rejected God’s truth. The Lord desired to get them to the Promise Land, but they forfeit that privilege. From those that left Egypt, only Joshua and Caleb saw the Promised Land because they believed God and released their past identity.
I grew up in a culture that did not value women and this impacted our family. Sometimes it was very oppressive, and it felt impossible to overcome. Over the years, I learned to forgive again and again when the feelings of rejection came. I have also learned not to interpret others’ bad behavior as not valuing a woman. There were years that I battled the voice of rejection, but I have chosen not to feed it. Instead, I always ask the Lord, “What do you say about this?” I have greater sensitivity for those who don’t have a voice because they are a woman.
We all may have felt victims of certain situations or were victimized by some people. If we desire not to live with the pain of that rejection, we need to forgive those who have sinned against us. We have to break that cycle of rejection by renouncing the lie and coming into agreement with what God says about us. The Lord defines our true identity. Unlike the rest of their generation, Joshua and Caleb survived the desert. They chose to believe God and came out of agreement with their victimized past and took on their real identity. Choose to believe the Lord this week!
