The Purpose for Rejection by Josie Rutgos

The Purpose for Rejection

by Josie Rutgos

“Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass”

(Psalm 37:5, KJV).

Writers spend hours hunched over their keyboards with bloodshot eyes, hoping to finish some revisions before bed. Cups of coffee litter nightstands from nights spent pouring over a manuscript. Many hours of labor are poured into their work in preparation for submission to a publisher.

Every writer dreams that their work will be accepted for publication. However, before they receive an acceptance letter, they will likely experience many rejections.

Rejection is a major part of the writing process, but that doesn’t make it any easier. As a writer, I have a hard time understanding the rejection I experience. I often wonder why God would call me to a task if he knows I will face lots of roadblocks.

It is human nature to ask God why. We want to know what our path will look like before we take it, and we want to know that the way will be easy and bright. However, God often calls us to tasks where we may face hardship so that we can exercise our faith.

I cling to two verses when I struggle with these thoughts: Psalm 37, verses 4 and 5. They state, “Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” (KJV).

David, the author of this Psalm, was much like you and me. He often questioned God and wanted to know why. Yet in these verses, he came to an important conclusion. If he continued to hold on to his own plan for his life, he would miss what God had for him.

God has promised to sustain his children, but we need to surrender to his way.

So, even when you face rejection and want to ask why, commit your way to the Lord. His perfect plan for you will come to pass.

Lord, help us not to be bogged down by rejection. Help us to always commit our way to you, and to trust that you will guide our footsteps. Amen.

Josie Rutgos is an aspiring author and journalist from Brooklyn, New York. She is currently a senior in her undergraduate program studying professional writing. Writing is not only an avenue of expression, but a way to glorify God and voice our faith. As she looks forward to the future, Josie hopes her writing will inspire and encourage other young writers like herself.