Guest Post: Pressing on through Rejection

By: Linsey Driskill

When a project I poured my heart and soul into was rejected, it stung. Badly.

While these painful moments happen to all of us, it’s easy to feel alone – thinking we’re the only ones.

But, even C.S. Lewis experienced rejection. Dr. Seuss’ first book was rejected twenty-seven times. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. In 1919, Walt Disney was fired from the Kansas City Star because his editor said he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” Elvis was told he’d be better off driving trucks than singing. Vincent van Gogh was believed to have sold only one painting while alive. One.

While rejection leaves us breathless, with pressing on, comes the possibility of success, a different outcome, and dreams coming true.

Michael Jordan said, “I have missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions, I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I have missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

Sometimes it takes failure to get us where we want to be.

After hearing my project was rejected, I needed alone time to let my tears go. I escaped to the only quiet place in a house full of kids – my closet.

I heard a gentle knock at the door. It was my daughter, Gracie. She wrapped her arms around me, and said, “It’s okay, Mommy.” My seven-year-old daughter comforting ME.

I let her see my tears. It’s okay for our kids to see us cry – to realize we’re human and not always superheroes.

When our kids see us having weak moments and moving past them, they will better be able to accept and move past their own.

These moments don’t mean we’re weak or giving up – it means we’re human. Even Jesus’ soul was overwhelmed in the most difficult season of his life and he said, “Now my heart is troubled.” (John 12:27)

The bigger picture here isn’t necessarily “success” for that dream we have, but that we press on.

For our kids to see that when we face a brick wall, we climb over it.

There is wisdom in discerning if it is time to let go or continue as there is a season for everything. But if we believe the Lord has beckoned us to continue, then we should push forward.

A line in Katie Davis Majors’ book, Daring to Hope, revived my soul:

“When the ministry feels stagnant and there is no astonishing growth to show for long hours of hard work, on days I don’t receive extraordinary answers to prayer, He is still glorified in my faithful pursuit of Him.”

Being faithful brings the Lord joy – not necessarily achieving goal after goal, but the continual pursuit of him and what burdens his and our hearts – one moment at a time.

It’s in the faithful seeking His kingdom comes.

Through my struggle, I also read Jesus’ prayer in John 17:

“Because you loved me before the creation of the world…I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them” (John 17:24-25).

Jesus faced intense heartaches, betrayals, and challenges.

But that didn’t stop him because of his Father’s love.

He continued on.

He pressed on.

We can have life with him, now and forever, because of it.

God also loved us before the creation of the world, so even when we are weak and our hearts are broken in two, we can remain faithful and press on.

Through that dark moment of rejection, look to the Lord – he will fully redeem it and bring forth his glorious light.

Linsey Driskill and her husband live in Virginia with their triplets. She’s passionate about encouraging people in following Jesus and his words, to love God and love others. You can find her at LinseyDriskill.com and on Facebook & Instagram @BeautifulHeartedParenting.