Have you ever felt rejected? Have you felt the pain of being an outcast? To be rejected is to feel one of the most painful blows against our self-esteem. It questions our worth. In many instances, it brings us a great deal of shame.
But have you ever wondered how Jesus felt? He, too, was rejected. Not all people agreed with Him. When He taught difficult things, many of His followers left Him. The teachers of the law often questioned Him. He was even betrayed by one of His chosen apostles.
Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures,
‘The stone which the builders rejected
was made the head of the corner.’?
…He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it will fall, it will scatter him as dust.” – Matthew 21, WEB-BE
“But this happened so that the word may be fulfilled which was written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.” – John 15:25, WEB-BE
The thing about hope is that it’s a positive force that shines the most when it’s dark. When everything’s going well, we hardly notice it’s there. But when things go against us, when our dreams fade and when we see no immediate reprieve from our troubles, that’s when hope does its best work for us.
"Where Hope Can Be Found"