Rejection and Selection

The first round of the NFL Draft begins tonight. We finally move on from the mock drafts and find out where players officially end up. Many of the draftees have expectations about which team will pick them, and at what point in the draft their name will be called.

We know the night will be full of surprises, including players who get drafted later than expected and teams that go in different directions at the last minute.

Players often remember how many rounds went by before they were selected, and which franchises rejected them. This can fuel them to play with a chip on their shoulder throughout their entire career.

Many athletes need that extra incentive to prove people wrong and are motivated by making those teams regret overlooking them. However, an alternative mentality is to focus on the franchise that did select them.

Instead of worrying about who said “no," they could be filled with thankfulness for the team that said “yes.” Even if 31 other teams didn’t want them, they could choose to embrace the one that did.

We can all relate to being passed on or being rejected by someone, and might even be motivated to show those people what they are missing. However, when we spend too much time looking back, we miss out on fully enjoying where we are at the moment and who we’re with.

As followers of Jesus, we know we are wanted, chosen, and selected by the ultimate King. Even when we face rejection in our lives, we can handle it with peace because of the thankfulness and blessings that come from being one of God’s children.

Why focus on who doesn’t want us when we can join a transforming and eternal team, and gain tremendous power and joy because of whose we are?

The Bible tells us in Ephesians 1:3-6 (NLT), “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.

“God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son.”

Today, let’s not be discouraged by the job we didn’t get…or disappointed by the person who rejected us…or frustrated by the school that passed on us.

Although these are tough setbacks, let’s not allow them to get in the way of embracing our eternal hope and faith in the God of the universe who does want us. God made a way for us to be with Him, and welcomes us with open arms!

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I still have thoughts and pain about the times I’ve been rejected. Please help me to move forward and focus on the reality that You love me and want me. I pray I’d be filled with thankfulness and peace because of my union with Jesus. In His name, I pray, Amen.