Roots

My pastor has said so many times, "We all want to be accepted!" that is SO true. No matter who you are or your background, we all want somebody or group to want us to be around, want to spent time with us, or want our help.

What if you've got an interview at a new job?! As exciting as it can be, what if they don't hire you?! You can and may feel rejected.. Or as many have put in application to a particular school or college, what if they don't accept you? Are you going to dwell or move on? Many questions and feeling may race through your head..Another example might be as many of us have or will face, when our boyfriend/girlfriend 'bring us home' to meet the parents, so many questions arise "what if they don't like me?" or "what will they think of me?". These or you may have had your own questions that have raced through your head, but we all experience rejection at some point and want acceptance.

On that note, trying to keep up with my in laws bouncing around between all their personalities trying to get them to "accept" me, like me, and wanting them to 'know' that I was/am good for my 'future' husband, I was going 'stir crazy'... Once I became a christian really didn't make it any easier for me considering nearly none of them were Christians or didn't even seem to have the desire to be apart of Gods life the way I did. Just another thing we didn't have in common. After much debating and six and a half years of marriage to 'this' family, I cracked! As if I had lost my mind, dumped all this on my poor husband, squalling and not sleeping for a couple nights, one Sunday morning my pastor said something that would change my outlook forever!! (Paraphrasing)... 'If its not God or your spouse who cares what anyone thinks... if they are negative just DON'T be around them!!' WOW, it was like the clouds opened up and the angels sang!! That spoke to me right where I was!

I am sure God tried to tell me this SO many times before but until I really sought after Him and asked Him questions such as, "why don't they like me?!", "what am I doing wrong?!" that's when my full attention was on Him and I stopped doing it in myself and I could hear what He had been trying to tell me all along. Furthermore, in the midst of dumping all my feelings on my awesome hubby's lap, he asked "why does my moms opinion matter?" that's when I began seeking God and asking Him my questions.

Getting back on track, when my pastor made that statement and I finally heard, I began making plans and focusing on my relationship with God, my husband, and our children. I used to spend so much time and energy into trying to get a couple people to accept me I was neglecting my spiritual life and one-on-one time with my daughters because, I was always down at my in laws home trying to 'reel in' some brownie points! Once I began separating myself, limiting time at there house and so forth, the question my husband asked me continued to ring in my ears... why does it matter what my in law opinion is?.. I kept asking myself.

While sitting in one of our Wednesday night services at church, it hit me like a ton of bricks! The reason I have an issue with acceptance, which is really what it boils down to, is because I've been rejected my whole life! Once the Holy Spirit revealed that to me it couldn't have been any clearer! That was the root of the problem! It made total sense!

Every problem we 'deal' with has a root and until we get rid of the root it will continue to 'grow' and find a way back into our life's, ultimately severing our relationship with our Father and also robbing us of the joy and wonderful life God has called us to have. If we pray God will reveal the root of the problem to us no matter what it is. Ultimately at the end of the day, God just wants to be close to us, nothing separating us from Him. God has already accepted you just the way you are!

I do still struggle with acceptance from people in general but something else God's shown me, I havent fully been healed from my childhood. I just need to continue to press into Him and accept healing and thats when I will be free from any and all issues of rejection! God is the answer and He's already accepted you, now lets pray that that nothing is seperating us from Him... He's chosen you for great and mighty things!