Shake the Dust Off Your Feet and Keep Moving!

“And whoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when you depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.” – Matthew 10:14

I was listening to a sermon by Joyce Meyers and she said something that caught my attention. She said that most of our pain comes from rejection. Wow did that hit home for me! So much of our pain comes from being rejected by people. We internalize their rejection and carry it with us for far too long, sometimes our whole life. Rejection that cuts us to the core.

The word rejection is defined as:

-verb
1. to refuse to accept, acknowledge, use, believe, etc
2. to throw out as useless or worthless; discard
3. to rebuff (a person)
4. (of an organism) to fail to accept (a foreign tissue graft or organ transplant) because of immunological incompatibility

-noun
5. something rejected as imperfect, unsatisfactory, or useless

After reading these definitions, no wonder we take it so personally! When you read the definition it not only define the word, but how we feel. We all struggle with the pain of rejection in relationships, careers, and every other area of our life. I related to feelings of worthlessness, when my relationship with my daughter’s father ended. I carried that pain around for a long time, and if I’m not careful it can easily creep back into my thought process. Was I any of the emotions I was feeling? Absolutely not! But, the emotions derived from rejection are strictly from Satan. He receives pleasure when you view yourself as a failure, as worthless, and any other negative emotion he can squeeze out of rejection because it takes you further away from God and from seeing yourself as God sees you! The truth is; rejection hurts. It makes you want to curl up and cry your eyes out, it isn’t easy knowing someone doesn’t accept you. But, God does and he’ll never reject or forsake you.

When Jesus sent disciples out to preach the good word, He told them if a town or house doesn’t accept you then shake the dust off your feet and depart that city. Isn’t that great advice!! Don’t sit there pleading your case, trying to make them want you, or conforming to someone you’re not, shake the dust off your feet and keep moving! So much of our pain comes from trying to change the way a person feels about us. I don’t want to burst anyone’s bubble, but if someone doesn’t want to be part of your life, nothing you do can change that. We waste precious energy when we hold onto someone that doesn’t serve us and nor can we serve them. Jesus knew not everyone would accept the disciples, and he tried to prepare them for the rejection they’d surely face. He said bring your peace if they won’t accept it take it back. I think he meant don’t let the rejection you experience steal your peace take it back with you. When we succumb to the pain of rejection we lose our internal peace and become wrought with feelings of self doubt, sadness, and an unquenchable desire to become accepted or wanted. We allow rejection to rob us from a peaceful mind.

If we’re going to move forward on the journey God has awaiting for us, we have to let go of rejection in all its forms, people, places and things. Rejection can be a door of opportunity, it is all in your perception. That fantastic job you didn’t get may be because God is preparing you for a better job. Instead of fighting it flow with it. We’re human so I’m not sure if we can help but to feel pain, but we can’t dwell or get stuck in it’s web. Pray for God to give you peace and take that peace with you when you make your departure. Shake the dust off your feet and keep moving forward. Remember this, you’ll be accepted and loved by many when you let go of those who’ve rejected you. You’re already accepted by God and there is no acceptance more worthy than His.

Copyright © Chere Williams, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved