“She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.’” Genesis 16:13 (NIV)

I called my closest friend with joyful expectation. Sunday afternoon was our time to spend together. However, she told me she had promised another friend she’d go to the cinema, and we couldn’t meet. She didn’t invite me to join, nor did she offer me another time to talk or meet.

I felt the rejection hardening my stomach with its icy sting.

Have you felt this sting too? Have you struggled with rejection from your family, friends or co-workers?

Rejection is truly one of the most painful human experiences. It cuts to the core of our being and projects powerful and heart-shattering messages like:

You are not enough.
Your work is not good enough.
You are not loved.
You don't deserve it.
You don't belong.
You are worthless.
You will never measure up.

These harmful messages can damage our identity and relationships if we believe and internalize them.

But God’s Word has a different message. One of my favorite passages in the Old Testament is the story of Hagar — an abused and rejected woman who experienced God's love and care.

Genesis 16 tells us Hagar was the slave of Sarah, Abraham’s wife, who was barren and used Hagar as a surrogate mother. This changed the dynamic in the family, and Sarah began to mistreat Hagar. Rejected and despised, Hagar fled to the desert.

There, God sent an angel with a personal message for her. God Himself manifested His presence with Hagar in a powerful way: He came to this woman and brought encouragement, comfort, vision for the future, and a magnificent promise to bless her family.

Hagar gleaned hope from the angel’s words about God’s love and acceptance of her, and she trusted the message. She heard God saying:

I see you.
You are valuable to Me.
I love you.
I accept you.
I have a plan for you.
I will take care of you.
I will not abandon or reject you.

Hagar gave a name to the Lord right then and there: “‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me’” (Genesis 16:13).

Imagine this for a moment: God sees, understands and loves every part of your being. He sees your past, present and future. God sees the hurt and even the invisible wounds in your heart. He sees the light and the darkness.

And He stays; He does not reject. He sees your true self, and all parts of your story come together as His plan unfolds.

May we accept this gift of being seen and known by God, letting Him heal our wounded hearts as only He can.

Dear Lord, rejection is hard. I sometimes struggle with lies bombarding my mind, and I doubt my worth as a person. Let me experience Your unconditional love and acceptance in a fresh way. Heal my wounds, and impart Your blessings to me. I want to see the One who sees me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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The gift of a deeper revelation of God and His unconditional love and acceptance is just one of the many hidden treasures God has buried in our painful experiences. To learn what God is using your pain for, grab a copy of Hadassah Treu's book, Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings.

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Hadassah Treu is an award-winning international writer, poet, speaker and motivator living in Bulgaria. She loves encouraging people to draw near to God in the dark valleys of life. Grab Hadassah's free e-book, How to Overcome Disappointment and Discouragement, and connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and on her website.

FOR DEEPER STUDY

1 John 4:16a-b, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love” (NIV).

How does rejection make you feel? What lie have you been believing that you can trade for the truth of God’s love and acceptance? Share with us in the comments!

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