FEELING ABANDONED AND REJECTED

 Scripture ref: Ps. 16:11,Matt. 27:46, Luke 23:23, Rom. 8:35-39

Father, 

I reach out to you in my frail state of helplessness.  Whether alone or in a crowd, the feelings of rejection and abandonment continue to gnaw away at my heart like a terminal disease.  It’s a lonely feeling to be rejected.  Waves of anger, discouragement, and self-doubt plague me at times.  I feel like I’m dying inside.  And sometimes I question whether my life is even worth living.  Help me sense Your presence, because in Your presence if fullness of joy.  

My greatest comfort is knowing that You were rejected, too.  Your closest friends, Your family, even the people You sought to save abandoned You when You needed them most.  Despite the love You showed and the lives You touched, they denied they knew You, they betrayed You, and they gave up on You.  Then, as You hung on the cross, You were forsaken by Your Father, almighty God.  

Jesus, thank You for offering Yourself on the cross for my sins.  You suffered the rejection of the Father so I wouldn’t have to.  Please give me a vision of God’s unconditional love and acceptance.  Make real to me Your promise that despite the rejection I experience here on earth, You will never leave me nor forsake me. 

Strengthen me to go on, to rise up from the ashes of my dejection and depression, and draw closer to You and Your love.   By the power of Your Spirit, I refuse to allow the enemy to sow seeds of unforgiveness, bitterness, vengeance, and hatred.  Jesus, instill within me the grace to echo the same words You spoke on the cross: “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do”

Whether or not I am fully accepted again by those who have rejected me, I ask that You will fill me with Your agape love for them.  May I not walk in the fear of rejection, but instead in Your perfect love, which casts out all fear.  Thank You that my value isn’t dependent upon what other people think of me; but rather what You think of me, and I will allow nothing to separate me from Your love.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.