Fear Of Rejection

Psalm 27:1 – The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid? (NIV)

One thing I have struggled with in my life has been the fear of rejection. I just never wanted to face rejection. When I was in high school, I never had a date, because I was afraid of being rejected. I never played sports in school, because I was afraid of rejection. I couldn't stand not making the team so I just didn't participate. So when I was younger I was pretty much a loner. If I were not involved in anything, then I would not have to deal with rejection. As I have become older, my fear of rejection is pretty much gone. It was not because I looked back at my life and said, "I missed out on a lot; I should live some." The main reason my fear of rejection is gone is because of my relationship with the Lord now. As today's reading says, "The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear?" I have learned that my fear was holding me back. With the Lord, my fear has gone, because he has not rejected me. He has accepted me for who I am. He loves me for who I am. With the Lord being my salvation, I have nothing to fear, because it is in him that I have life.

My fear was that of rejection, but there are many other types of fear people deal with. Some people may fear death or sickness. Some people fear uncertainties. Fear will eventually imprison us in its hold. My fear imprisoned me in a protective world of solitude. With the Lord we are made free from the imprisonment of fear. We are liberated because he is our life.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are our life and our salvation. With you may we never be prisoners of fear. May your bright light, which is the life of men, be our guide. In Jesus' name. Amen.