Rejection starts from the womb. It is one of the greatest hindrances to the true potential to individuals and, ultimately, to nations. Simply put, “rejection” means “to refuse to accept, acknowledge, use, believe; to throw out as useless or worthless; discard; to rebuff (a person).” Many mothers, during pregnancy, experienced rejection in many forms. This became so much a part of them and their mindset. As a result, rejection may have been passed on to the child, either during pregnancy or at birth. Some women were abandoned, and some were abused during pregnancy. Some may have been raped and then have become pregnant.
A Spiritual Identity
Psalms 139: 14, Luke 1: 44 and Jeremiah 1: 5 show us that when the child is in the womb, in fact, from the moment of conception, he/she has a spiritual identity. As a result, hearing, feeling, smelling, emotions, and thought patterns are developed during pregnancy. Even the child’s assignments are downloaded during this time. Babies can hear sounds; they respond to the emotions of their mother and to the voice of their father. So, what happens during pregnancy to the mother directly affects the child she carries, and it is embedded in the development of the child.
The Root of Rejection
If a woman becomes pregnant and is rejected by the father of the child that she carries, double damage takes place. The mother may become fearful, disappointed, bitter, desperate, and feels betrayed and alone. This culmination of negative emotions becomes the root of rejection that both mother and child experience. Sometimes, rejection comes from mother to child when the child is the exact image of his/her father who abused or rejected the mother. Further to that, rejection increases when the father rejects the child and deems the child a ‘jacket’ while he fully embraces other children.
Rejection Damages the Soul
Then, it is further increased when that same child attempts to reach out to that father for love, affection and acceptance, and is rejected. So, it becomes an issue throughout his/her entire life, and the cycle continues. Rejection damages the soul, and no medication can fix it. However, Psalms 23: 3 tells us of the healing that is there for the soul – “. . . He restoreth my soul . . .”, and it is when the soul is healed that true peace and prosperity will come.
Negative Words Contributes to Rejection
Negative words contribute greatly to rejection. Proverbs 18: 21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue . . .” Words stick and often carry through to adulthood. Some persons would say that it is better if you hit them than curse them. So, when, for example, influential persons in a child’s life – parents, teachers, other adults – call the children dunce, fat, ugly or worthless, and then declare prison and death on their own children, it carries through with them unless it is broken.
Understand Rejection
Clearly, if we are going to deal with crime, we need to understand rejection. Many of our public officials suffer from rejection. The nation cannot be truly healed until they are healed. Some of them have never been told by anyone that they are loved. Some never had the love of a father expressed to them and their trust has been betrayed. That is why some of them play so tough and cold. They hide behind a mask. A person who suffers from rejection will always be defensive, have low self-esteem and untrusting. Such persons do not allow anyone to get close to them.
A Stronghold
Rejection is a stronghold, and behind every stronghold is a form of bondage. Behind every lie, there is a fear. Behind every fear, there is an idol. Until we deal with the root of rejection, our true potential for greatness will be hindered. Rejection says, ‘you are not good enough’, ‘you are not attractive’, ‘you are not eloquent’, ‘you don’t belong in this category’, ‘no one loves you’, ‘no one cares for you’, ‘you will never make it.’ It is time to ‘mash down that lie’.
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
It is time to recognise and accept that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are great and you are going places. You are the head! You are bright! Walk in victory!
Apostle Dr. Steve Lyston is the apostle that presides over Restoration World Outreach Ministries Inc (RWOMI).
