Recap
Title: You are not rejected! God is for you
Key Text: Isaiah 41:9-10
Rejection is one of the most common emotions in our world today. So often people have faced rejection in their home, or at school and or during their working life.
Many people imagine that if God exists, He is not interested in them and has rejected them or is out to get them. Too many, he is a far-off figure that they struggle to relate to.
It’s true that God is against the evil in this world and the sin in our lives, but the whole truth of scripture is that God wants to rescue people and the world from evil and the consequences of sin. God wants us to experience a personal relationship with Him and to experience fullness of life. In fact, when people come to him, they come into a new world of many different types of blessings.
God will be with you (Isaiah 53, Isaiah 41:9-10, John 14:16-18; James 4:8, Isaiah 54:1, Romans 8:31, Joshua 1:5, Psalm 23:2-4)
God will give you all the strength and help you need (Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 118:5, Psalm 121:1-5, Matthew 6:33)
God will uphold you at all times (Isaiah 41:9-10, Exodus 13:14, Psalm 37:23-24, Psalm 118:15, 1 Peter 5:5-6, Jeremiah 33:3)
Apply
Rejection is one of the most common emotions in our world today. So often people have faced rejection in their home, or at school and or during their working life. (Isaiah 53, Isaiah 41:9-10). We may go through tough times and brokenness in our lives, but we can find great hope, direction and strength in the promises of God. We can discover God’s light in whatever darkness we may face.
People can be insensitive, unforgiving, bitter and mean but God wants you to know He chooses you and has not rejected you.
1. God will be with you
(Isaiah 41:10; John 14:16-18) Too often, when we are dismayed by life, perhaps feeling isolated, or even battling loneliness, we can often look for comfort in physical things.
This may be in other ‘physical’ relationships, this may be in material things like comfort eating, binge watching media or scrolling endlessly on social media. However, the truth is the physical cannot fill the deep spiritual needs in our lives.
When God says, “I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God,” we need to learn how to come into and experience the fullness of His presence. (James 4:8)
Isaiah’s message to God’s people was that despite the present circumstances and personal hardship, actually it was a time to sing and not be sad. (Isaiah 54:1)
(Romans 8:31, Joshua 1:5, Psalm 23:2-4) Draw near to God. Make time for Him. Get up earlier. Go for a walk. Take time in the evening. However, you do it, start making time, meet with God, look for moments to share with Him heart to heart and you will experience His presence and power at work in your life. Read His promises, reflect on them, apply them to your daily life, invite His presence into your life every day and you will see you are not rejected. God is with you and will do great things for you!
2. God will give you all the strength and help you need
(Isaiah 41:10) This prophetic word to God’s people certainly came true. God used Cyrus the ruler of the Persian empire to get the people back to Jerusalem so that they could rebuild the temple. This must have been a shocking surprise to a people who thought they had been cut off and rejected by God. This is why we must hear and receive God’s words. He says, “I will strengthen you and help you.” To God it’s personal.
Where are you looking for strength and help? Look to God. King David learned when you don’t know what to do or where to turn, look to God. (Psalm 118:5, Psalm 121:1-5, Matthew 6:33) This is a reality people are increasingly discovering. When you look to God first, things start to change. You are not rejected. God is your comforter and your provider.
3. God will uphold you at all times
(Isaiah 41:9-10) Rejection can lead us to feel we have to fight and look out for ourselves. Too often we end up trying to ‘take the wheel of life’. We try to take everything into our own hands. It’s true that it is good to work hard. It is good to be responsible and diligent but Isaiah is saying something different here. He reminds us that God is in our corner, fighting for us.
He says that we can be empowered supernaturally by the hand of God. When God puts His hand on your life, you are empowered and liberated to live a free and fruitful life. (Exodus 13:14, Psalm 37:23-24, Psalm 118:15). There is power when we apply the blood from Jesus’ nailed pierced hands. His hands bring blessing and healing. He will uphold us at all times, even in the most distressing of situations.
How do we experience this reality in our own lives? Peter explains this in 1 Peter 5:5-6. This means giving God all of our questions and arguments. This means submitting our will and our ways and seeking Him. It means putting our fears aside and looking to God with faith and discovering how He wants to lead us, liberate us and make a way for us.
God is faithful. He has not rejected you. He will uphold you at all times. God wants you to know that you are chosen, you are not rejected, you do not have to fear. He wants you to know He is with you; He will strengthen and help you and He will uphold you by His hand. When you have experienced rejection, it may be hard to receive a word like this.
Jeremiah 33:3 God gives some helpful advice if this is the case. He says, “‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’
