Overcoming Rejection

“Peace be with you.”

“Let’s Pray: Father, may your will be done. Jesus, may your word be proclaimed. Spirit, may your work be accomplished in us we pray. Amen”

Introduction.

Jesus demonstrates his confidence and acceptance in the face of rejection from his hometown by knowing who he is and the purpose for which he was called. The question we need to ask is: How does knowing oneself and the purpose for which you were called help us overcome rejection? For answers to this, we turn to the calling of Jeremiah.

What We Learn About Identity and Purpose: Jeremiah 1:4-10

1. Our true identity is established by God.

Jeremiah 1:5a- “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

God knows us better than we know ourselves or than anyone else could. When others say, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” (Luke 4:22), they reveal their limited understanding of who Jesus truly is. God, however, knew Jesus before He was even formed (Jeremiah 1:5). Our identity isn’t shaped by others’ opinions or our own self-perception. It’s defined by God who created us and knows us fully. Just as Jesus was confident in His identity as the Messiah, affirmed by God’s declaration from Heaven, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him, I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17), we too must draw our confidence from God, who knows us best.

2. Who we are determines how we are made.

God created you based on what He knows about you.

God’s intentional design shapes who we are. Each of us is handcrafted by God with a specific purpose. This leads us to know that everyone matters because each of us is not only handcrafted but specially selected for a particular purpose in accomplishing God’s Will.

Paul reminds us that God does not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” , meaning that our design equips us to handle challenges. Even in the face of rejection or opposition, we can trust that God’s design for us is purposeful. We are created to rely on Him, and that dependence becomes a source of strength.

3. God determines not only who we are and how we are made, but also what we will do.

Jeremiah 1:5b- “And before you were born I consecrated you;”

Jeremiah 1:5c- “I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Our purpose is divinely appointed BEFORE you even take your first breath. God has specific tasks for each of us to accomplish, according to His will:

Ephesians 2:10 NASB 95

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

When we embrace this divine calling, we find fulfillment and satisfaction. This understanding gives us the confidence to press on, even in the face of opposition and rejection, because our purpose isn’t from others or ourselves—it comes from the authority of God.

When others might make you feel like you don’t belong, God tells us that that is never true. Our place in this world was determined long ago before we were born. It is when we lose sight of this that we become insecure and doubt our place in this world.

Our place in this world encourages to take part in what God is doing. However, there are many forces in this world that will strive to keep you from taking part in God’s work and seek to remove your place from this world.

4. Recognizing our identity, our design, and our purpose can be difficult.

Jeremiah 1:6 “6 Then I said, “Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.””

Like Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:6), we often struggle with feelings of inadequacy. We may not feel equipped for the task or may recognize our own weaknesses. But this is part of God’s design. Our weaknesses are intentional.

Jeremiah reveals his lack of experience and inability to perform the duties that God has hand-selected him for.

2 Corinthians 12:9 NASB 95

9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. He uses the weak to shame the strong, showing that His power is sufficient for us. When Jeremiah expresses his doubts, God reassures him that his inadequacies are part of the plan.

God has allowed us to experience weakness so that his power would be made perfect in us, so that we would come to know that our accomplishments are achieved only when we are working in His Power and for His Purposes.

5. God give us His strength in our Weakness.

Jeremiah 1:7 “7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak.”

Jeremiah 1:9 “Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.”

God empowers us in our weakness and encourages us to move forward. Just as God affirmed Jeremiah’s calling He affirms us, promising that despite our limitations, His purpose for us will not fail.

6. God will deliver.

Jeremiah 1:8- “Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,” declares the Lord.”

God assures deliverance from opposition. Consider Jesus’ deliverance from opposition and rejection in Luke chapter 4. He walk right through those who sought to destroy him and he went on to fulfill his purpose.

7. When we embrace who we are, how we were created, and our purpose, God activates us for service.

Jeremiah 1:10 “See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant.”

It often takes time for us to fully embrace our God-given identity and purpose. We might try to force our way into our calling, rather than waiting for God’s guidance. But when we accept who God says we are and what He’s appointed us to do, He activates us for His mission. Jesus, after being affirmed by God (Matthew 3:17), immediately began His ministry, facing rejection and opposition but pressing on in confidence. Likewise, when we embrace our calling, we are sent out to fulfill God’s purposes, drawing strength from His affirmation as we face the challenges ahead.

Conclusion:

Jeremiah’s calling offers a powerful example of embracing our true identity and purpose in Life will help us overcome opposition and rejection that we face from others. Jesus, in His ministry, exemplifies the same truth—knowing who He was and why He was sent gave Him the resolve to endure rejection and opposition. This resolve is something He passes on to His disciples as He sends them out on their mission (Matthew 10:16-23). Just as Jesus and Jeremiah were equipped for their calling, we too can find strength in our identity and purpose, no matter the opposition we face.

The Church is the place where your true identity and purpose are meant to be embraced. You are equipped with purpose to serve in the church. You true identity is realized when you are in the church and living in community with others who embrace who God has made them to be. The church is the one place where we can live out of our identity and purpose.

1 Peter 4:10–11 NASB 95

10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

In the world you may have jobs come and go without guarantee, friends and family may come and go but the Church remains and her purpose is set. Just because you have a job and relationships that you enjoy and are good at doesn’t mean that you are living into your identity that God has given you and the purpose that He has appointed for you. The identity and purpose that God reveals here pertains to his Kingdom. You are first a child of God, and called according to His purpose. Which might mean that you have to get a job to pay the bills but that doesn’t necessarily accomplish your purpose. It is a means to your calling not your calling. We can see what kinds of purposes we are called to:

1 Corinthians 12:4–11 NASB 95

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.