What If It’s Not Rejection, but God’s Protection?

I walked slowly to the car, the dark parking lot echoing my mood. Behind me, light spilled from the church hall. The sound of laughter haunted me as I slid into the car. My loneliness grew a little deeper as I closed the door. Why was this happening? But I now know the question I should have asked. What if it’s not rejection, but God’s protection.

I attended the women’s event hoping to make friends in our new church.  But my efforts at talking with people failed miserably.  I was greeted by polite brief responses followed by the person’s rapid retreat. My face burned with the shame of rejection. This was not the antidote to loneliness I expected.  

A tropical storm is arriving in our area as I write this. The sky is dull grey, and rain is blurring the view out my window. Loneliness, caused by rejection, is similar, colors seem less vibrant, the events around me less intriguing. Just what I felt that evening.

I wonder if you are feeling this now. Maybe as a result of changes in your health or family situation. Or perhaps you are at a new job or school.  

A New Plan

When I am lonely, I usually reach out or call out.

In reaching out to the women of my new church, in Omaha, I continued to use an old strategy because it had been successful in my last move. (It was a God-inspired idea which stretched me way out of my comfort zone.)

I had reached out to a few people in that new church and was amazed at the friendships that developed.

But this time I got the order wrong. I reached out before I called out.

God had a new plan for me. I needed to call out to Him for direction. Just like David did in this verse.

“But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
    yes, I prayed to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
    my cry to him reached his ears.” Psalm 18:6 (NLT)

And while He was waiting for me to pray, God was protecting me. What I viewed at the time as rejection was His protection.

During this time of shelter, (from my own ideas), I began to pray.

I called for help. Because I know God wants to hear our concerns, I explained my need for supportive, Jesus loving friends in my new home.

God heard me, just like he heard David and hears you.

But His loving answer was not what I expected – at all.

His response reassured me that He did see me.

However, He wanted me to draw closer to Him, and not others. But not in the way that I had in the past – through leading or participating in Bible Studies.

Instead, just on my own, with Him.

I was afraid that I would become depressed, or at the least socially isolated.

But he encouraged me:

“For I am the Lord your God
    who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
    I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 (NLT)

Now that I had called out, He wanted me to reach out. Not to other like-minded women; but to Him.

And so I did. I studied and spent time being still. Using the skills I had learned in other studies I dived into His Word.

I prayed for new ideas. He took me by the right hand and helped me. Just as promised in Isaiah 41:13.

I discovered a new (to me) radio station that played Christian music. There are many stations to choose from. This is the one I found.

The songs they played reinforced what I was learning, drawing me closer to God. Some songs led me to worship, and celebration and others comforted me in difficult times.

My time spent studying the Bible was rich. My faith grew and matured.

It Really Was God’s Protection

But how was this time God’s protection?

Well, what I did not know then was that several major challenging events would unfold in our lives over several years. I needed the depth of faith that I developed to successfully navigate through them.

I believe if I had joined the women’s ministry at the church, following a pattern that had worked in the past, I would not have been as well prepared. In addition, I would have been tempted to go to them for advice or help.

But during this time of study, I developed a deeper reliance on God. A habit of going to Him first became rooted.

Through His grace, God drew me even closer to my friends from my previous church through phone calls and messages.

And then, in His perfect timing, I joined others in a Bible Study and developed new friendships.

I encourage you if you are feeling lonely, to reach out to God. Tell Him how you are feeling and ask for a solution. It will be one that is tailor-made for your unique situation. Even if it is not, at all, what you expect.

I’m thankful that He showed me that my situation was not rejection, but His protection.

How about you? How have you experienced God’s protection? I would love to hear. Just let me know in the comments below.  

If you are intrigued about calling out to God, you can read about the miraculous result of one woman’s call to Him here.