Rejection: It's Just A Part of Life

I'm no stranger to rejection.

I didn't make my high school's soccer team sophomore year.

Thankfully.

It allowed me to be a manager for our track team instead.

And meet some really great people.

I didn't get into one of the colleges I applied for.

I ended up staying in my hometown and going to school.

And that decision allowed me to be near my future husband.

God closes doors.

I've seen him do it a million times.

Not just in my life, but in others, too.

Most recently, it was a house that God shut the door on.

My husband and I had been looking at houses for what felt like forever.

The first house we put an offer in on was rejected.

We countered.

They rejected again.

I said to my husband, "Something isn't sitting well with me. Let's walk away."

One week later, the neighbor's next door were busted for drugs and robbery.

Our search continued.

Then, out of the blue, my in-laws told us about a house.

We went and looked.

And you know what?
That house had everything I'd been praying for, except for the fireplace.

But I told God the fireplace was optional anyway.

Besides it being the perfect house, we were going to buy the property for sale next door that had a storm shelter on it.

We put a low offer on the house knowing that we would pay all the way up to asking price for it.

I bought a few things for my 'future' kitchen.

My husband texted two days later, "House fell through."

"What do you mean?" I replied in disbelief.

This was going to be our house.

We were certain.

"The bank that owns it sent it to auction."

"There's nothing we can do?" I asked.

"I called the bank and offered over asking. They said there's nothing they can do."

My heart literally dropped.

I was in shock for days.

Then, while doing the dishes one night, the tears began to fall.

"I don't understand, Lord. I prayed for this house. Why did you allow this to happen?"

And you know what God did?
What he always does.

He answered.

He reminded me that when a door closes, it's for one of two reasons.

1. It's not God's my best for me.

or

2. He's simply saying, "Not yet."

Closed doors are not accidents.

They remind us that rejection is just a part of this life.

And that it takes courage to step out in faith knowing that God can say, "No."

Thankfully, I know that God only wants the best for his children.

So, we learn patience and remember that what God has in store is so much better than anything we can imagine.

And we carry on knowing that God answers prayers in his time.