Have you ever felt crushed? Something pops your joy bubble and it hurts deeply. Rejection does this to me.

 

My son John recently went to be evaluated by a PT, and in so many words or less she let me know that she wasn’t keen on working with my son. His challenges were her focus.  In 30 minutes her decision was made, and that was it.

 

My son, John, has autism. I recall a children’s ministry staff member calling me from a local church and telling me to come pick up my son. They said he was, “too much,” and “the teachers didn’t know what to do with him.”

 

A neighbor tells me that she doesn’t believe in autism and that she worked hard raising her 6 children. One of her children was difficult, but now he is doing great because she was firm with him.

 

A family member told me, “You are a weak mother and your husband is a strong father.  He (John) is confused. That is why he behaves the way he does.”

 

Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! How did Jesus endure so much rejection? How did God the Father bear it? They amaze me.

 

When I hurt at others rejection of my son, I think of God and Jesus. People rejected God’s son, Jesus. And when Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins he was still rejected. He suffered and yet people mocked Him, spat on Him, hated Him, whipped Him, didn’t stand up for Him. His Father saw it all. He was a parent experiencing the rejection of His son.

 

I am encouraged that the God who made both my son and me is the one who knows well my sufferings. I am not alone.

 

Isaiah 53:3-4 says, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows.”

 

Jesus understands my pain.  God the Father gets my sorrow when my son is rejected by others. I feel so comforted that He gets it. And this acknowledgment of pain helps me to see Romans 5:3-4 more clearly. Romans 5:3-4 says, “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

 

His love sets me free.

 

Lord, thank you for the love you pour out on us. Thank you that you understand pain and rejection. Thank you that through pain I am learning, and I have hope. I want to love people better. Thank you for your love that comforts and sets me free. Thank you for the hope in you and in Heaven that awaits us.