It’s said that every cloud has a silver lining, but when you’re watching your child’s heart break, those words feel like cold comfort. This is my story, a journey through my daughter’s repeated rejections and how, together, we are learning to see God’s hand in every closed door.
When we moved to Canada, my daughter set her heart on joining the school basketball team. Year after year, she tried, and year after year, the answer was no. With each rejection, I watched a little piece of her bright spirit dim. I couldn’t help but wonder, why does she have to face this? Why can’t I make it better?
The last rejection hit her hard. She looked at me with tear-filled eyes and said, “I’m not good enough.” That moment shattered my heart. I knew these were not just her words but echoes of the enemy trying to plant seeds of doubt in her vulnerable heart. I felt a fire ignite within me – a fierce need to protect her, to fight those lies with every ounce of my faith.
I turned to prayer, not just for comfort, but as a weapon against the darkness trying to engulf her. I prayed fervently, asking God to shield her mind and heart. I reminded her of her beauty and worth, words that felt feeble against the weight of her pain but necessary. I held her close, whispering that she was more precious than the finest rubies, a masterpiece fearfully and wonderfully made by God.
In those moments of holding my daughter, pouring out my heart in prayer, I clung to Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” This verse became a lifeline, a reminder that even in the midst of rejection, God was working. His plans are greater than our disappointments, His vision far beyond what we can see.
I began to see this not just as a battle to be won but as a journey of faith for both of us. Perhaps God is using these rejections to guide us somewhere new, to open doors we haven’t even imagined yet. Maybe He’s teaching us to rely not on worldly acceptance, but on His unchanging love and plan for our lives.
Slowly, I began to see this season of rejection not as a series of unfortunate events, but as a chapter in a larger story God was writing for us. Perhaps He was teaching us to find strength in vulnerability, to see the beauty in broken dreams, and to trust in His greater plan. Could it be that these rejections were not barriers, but stepping stones to a path we had yet to imagine?
As I watch my daughter now, I see a young woman growing stronger in her faith, learning to trust God’s plan even when it hurts. And me? I’m learning too. I’m learning to lay down my fears at His feet and to trust that He is with us in every step, turning our trials into triumphs, our pain into purpose.
Dear Lord, in our moments of rejection, help us to see Your hand at work. Remind us that our worth is found in You and not in the successes or failures of this world. Guide us to trust in Your plan, knowing that all things work together for our good. Amen.
