Everyone was there. Today was the day that a number of us were going to be promoted. I could barely contain my excitement.
The anticipation of this moment had been building since we heard that there was going to be a number of us taken aside and given special authority and favor. But who would be chosen?
Would I be one of the ones chosen?
I was confident I would be one of the privileged few. I had worked really hard. I had made this work a top priority. I was passionate about the cause. I had even brought a number of other people on board. I worked well with the other people on the team. And, I’m pretty confident our leader liked me. I had gone out of my way to connect with him and do little things to get his attention.
In addition, I had a good educational pedigree and I came from a good family. My brother was a leader in the same organization so I was confident that would bode well for me as well. Yet I was still extremely nervous as we all stood waiting for the announcement. I felt like a boy on the school yard play ground waiting to be picked for the team…
He gave the motivational speech, which I didn’t really listen to because I was just listening for my name. Then he began: name after name was announced, yet still not mine. After what felt like an eternity he was down to the last position to be filled. It had to be me. I was leaning forward in anticipation that at the sound of my name I would experience the rush of relief, hope, joy and pride as I walked to the front with the others.
But I wasn’t called – I wasn’t chosen – and my world began to collapse around me…
This is how I imagine someone, or many, may have felt the day Jesus chose the 12 disciples. Twelve were chosen to be apostles, but dozens were not.
How would you respond if you were not chosen?
You only have 2 choices: get bitter, or get better.
How about the story of Justice and Mathias in Acts. The disciples needed to fill Judas’ spot so they spoke to both Justice and Mathias to determine who to best fill the spot. Who was God calling to be an apostle? The lot fell to Mathias. Mathias was chosen, Justice was rejected.
Ouch! How would you feel if you were Justice? He missed the first cut when Jesus chose the 12. He had remained faithful and now was his second opportunity to be chosen, only to be rejected again.
How have you reacted when you have not been chosen? We’ve all experienced rejection in all manner of arenas in life: work, relationships, school, sports, church, etc. And, we all have the same choice to make in the midst of the rejection: we can get angry and bitter, or use this to get better.
The easiest choice to make in the face of rejection is to get angry, resentful and bitter. This kind of reaction leads only to further grief. The foundation of this reaction is a lack of understanding of and commitment to the sovereignty of God. It is rooted in a lack of trust in God. It’s a belief that you have to be in control and make things happen according to your plan and desires.
The first emotion we experience in rejection is sorrow. We are hurt and disappointed. Shifting into anger from there comes from our attempt to protect ourselves and lash out at the person who hurt us. However, we can choose by the grace of God to shift not into anger, but into surrender to the Lord’s sovereignty and grace. We must believe that God is big enough in the midst of this situation – we can trust him.
Our disappointment can become His appointment.
By surrendering to and trusting in the greatness and grace of God, we can extend forgiveness and grace to those who reject us, and avoid bitterness to become better. The reality is, God has chosen us.
What have you chosen?
1 Peter 5:6, 7
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
Hebrews 12:15
“See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”
John 15:16
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”
Colossians 3:13
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”