It has happened to me. Has it happened to you? I was with a group of kids choosing up teams to play a game of softball, basketball or volleyball, and I was frequently one of the last kids chosen. I wasn't a great athlete and was not very tall, and I felt rejected again and again. That's not a pleasant experience for a kid.

Speaking at a small church retreat, Eric Britcher noticed a boy who was handsome, intelligent, and alone. At noon that Sunday they celebrated his 15th birthday. You might ask why he was alone to celebrate. Would you believe that six weeks earlier, his family, parents, and siblings moved out of town unannounced and left his with contact? He had been rejected by the most influential people in his life, and he was alone. Many people feel rejected by someone. Sometimes they feel all alone in their rejection, other times, as illustrated in our drama this morning, groups of persons may feel rejected.

One Bible character who certainly knew rejection was a man named David, though he had been anointed as king and was described as a man with a heart for God. The Psalm we read this morning was very likely written during one of those periods of rejection in David's life. Early in his life David had sort of been rejected and ignored as Samuel, directed by the Lord had come to the house of Jesse to anoint one of his sons as kings. David, the youngest, thought to be the least likely was the chosen one of God. He wasn't even around when Samuel was looking over David's brothers. We are not certain what the specific rejection David was facing as this Psalm was penned. Maybe he was fleeing from king Saul or his son Absalom who had turned on him.

You know as well as I do that rejection is harder to endure when it comes from family, friends, church members, and work associates that we trusted. Out of David's experience he asked twice in verse 1, "Whom shall I fear?" Notice however, that David seeks to provide a positive response to his own questions. It is those means of finding courage when anxiety grips the heart that I would like us to think about for a few moments this morning.

I. Centrality

The source of this overwhelmingly positive response is the centrality, the single central focus with which he began the Psalm and expresses again later. "The Lord is my light and my salvation." Then in verse three David wrote, "One thing I have asked from the Lord, that shall I seek." The Navigator Press paraphrase is, "I'm asking Yahweh for one thing, only one thing."

It was in the person of God that David found his light and salvation. The Lord Himself was central, not a creed, not a philosophy, not an institution. Can you say that for yourself, The Lord is my light and my salvation? Is the Lord Himself central to your life? If yes, that is a great step in facing down your fears, including fears of rejection. Realize what the opposite of light and salvation is as we make such a statement. Darkness, despair, lostness, and brokenness are the condition of the world apart from God. Humankind does not possess light and salvation in himself or herself. This is only found in the true God. To overcome fear of rejection, begin by focusing on the centrality of our Lord.

II. Security

In the centrality of the Lord, David experienced security. Notice how he continues: "I'm asking Yahweh for one thing, only one thing: To live with Him in His house my whole life long. I'll contemplate His beauty; I'll study at His feet. That's the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, the perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic."

Often, even Christians spend much time overwhelmed by fear questions. Carol Kent lists some of them in her book, "Tame Your Fears."
I'm afraid you will leave me.
If I tell you about my past, you will push me away.
If I'm vulnerable with you, I could become embarrassed and humiliated.
I have been betrayed by someone in the past and it won't happen again.
If I don't change my appearance, you will think I'm fat and unattractive, and you might reject me.
I feel unworthy of your love.
The people I trusted most in the past let me down. I wonder when you will abandon me.

Perhaps your experience of rejection would be expressed in different words. Many, perhaps all of us have had some experience of rejection in our lives. That does not mean that we must go one living in the fear of rejection. The good news of the Gospel is that God loves each of us and has sent His Son to take the punishment of our sin. When we sincerely confess our sin and trust Jesus as our Savior we are accepted into the family of God. This acceptance is for all who will receive Christ.

Think about the security and confidence of being with God in His house throughout our whole lives. Marvel at the beauty of our Lord and spend time studying with our master. Such security is a great focus to use in facing down our fears.

III. Intimacy

The focus of security described by David speaks of intimacy with God. This security is more than a place, much more it is a person, a person who desire close companionship with you and me as His children. In verse 8 and following we have a conversation between God and David. The Lord said, "Seek My face." In David's heart He said to God, "Thy face, O Lord, I shall seek." Do not hide Thy face from me, Do not turn Thy servant away in anger, Thou hast been my help; Do not abandon me or forsake me, O God of my salvation! Then David sadly said, "For my Father and my Mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me up. I do not know why David felt forsaken by his parents, but I am glad that he knew that God would not reject him. Recall what David wrote in Psalm 139. Basically he said that he was an open book, there was nothing that God did not know about him, but David knew that God loved and accepted him anyway.

You and I need such intimacy with our God. Really being a Christian is based on a vital relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus experienced rejection, his heart was broken, and He bore the sin of the world as He was crucified to make an intimate relationship between you and Him possible. He wants us to go through life with continuing closeness and intimacy.

IV. Primacy

Focus also on the primacy of a new path of genuine purpose in you life. Allow God to be your teacher. Be teachable. Read and study God's word. Listen to Him and open your heart to the whispers of His love and acceptance of you. Seek Christ as your leader and practice habits that enable you to get closer and closer to Him. Follow His directions to grow spiritually. Focus on the primacy of Christ and all that He has for you as you realize the many people, philosophies, and distractions that could lead you away from Christ.

Conclusion

Even though others we thought cared about us may reject us, God does not reject His children. When such fears grip your heart, face them down focusing on the centrality of God, the security of knowing God, the intimacy of a close relationship with God, and the primacy of God's purposes in your life.

For some of us here today, perhaps rejection is not a common fear. You live in the acceptance of a loving, forgiving, caring, comforting, God. Your life is filled with the intimate presence of Christ. You may have a great ministry to those who are feeling rejected and alone.

What are you doing to be a Barnabas, an encourager? What a great proactive approach to overcome the fear of rejection or just to live victoriously, if this is not a fear of yours. You may be part of God's rescue plan as an encourager.

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