The rejection hurts excruciatingly more when the person who rejects us is a family member or friend. And a very cruel form of rejection is when this family member or friend betrays us. How can we ever recuperate? How can we feel lovable again?
When our hearts are broken by rejection, it's good to remember that God has made a covenant with each of us that's stronger than a marriage covenant. God promises to love us forever, to be faithful, to never leave us. And God understands rejection. God's people rejected Him over and over.
Hosea the Prophet experienced the people of Israel turning away from God and worshiping the false idols of the pagans and disobeying God's commands by being cruel to the poor. Hosea pictured God as being as hurt and enraged by His people's rejection and betrayal as a rejected husband whose wife has committed adultery.
Yet God's love for His chosen people is so deep that He speaks of leading His unfaithful wife Israel into the desert and speaking to her heart, hoping she will listen. And, in hope that His people will return to Him, God says
"I will espouse you to me forever; I will espouse you in right and in justice, in love and in mercy; I will espouse you in fidelity, and you shall know the Lord." (Hosea 2: 21 and 22.)
A God who has been rejected over and over by those He loves understands our anger and hurt when we are rejected! Our God tells us, over and over, "I will espouse you to me forever!"
What relationship can be more beautiful and intimate than a relationship with a God Who loves you as deeply as a husband or wife! You can tell this God anything, sound off, vent, cry, and, day or night, God hears every word, feels every tear.
This same God later became one of us. And once again was rejected and betrayed and condemned to death on a cross. Jesus, whose people rejected him, whose friends - except for John and the women - ran away and hid so they wouldn't be captured - can look into your tear-filled eyes and say "I understand. And I love you. Always. With as committed a love as a spouse can love you. I will espouse you to me forever! Come to me."
In the arms and heart of the rejected Jesus, we are safe, and loved, and understood, and prized forever. By his wounds, we are healed.