Although it has been over 30 years, I can vividly remember the sting of rejection as if it were only a week or two ago. I was in fifth grade. My "buddies" were inside my next door neighbor’s house watching a football game on TV. The door was locked, so I knocked to be let in. "There’s no one home," one of the giggly voices inside bellowed out. I was pretty naive and responded, "What do you mean? I see you in there." The voice inside became cutting and cruel, "Go away pest. Can’t you take a hint?"
Rejection. It cuts like a knife. During junior high and high school, it is probably the worst of all the pains that victimize.
I can almost laugh today when I think about my first girlfriend back in seventh grade, but it wasn’t funny then!. We "went out" (whatever that meant) for a few months. One day, she came to school and told her best friend to tell me that she liked my best friend better than she liked me. (Now if that doesn’t describe junior high to the max, nothing will! Whew, how did anyone survive it!) Nevertheless, it cut me to the quick.
Peter and I can always relate to each other. I’m always outside the boat trying to build friendships, relationships, dreams and teams. The wind and the waves are still around. Rejection comes. I look at it and get down on myself. My world caves in and I get depressed. Then I remember this passage and look to my Savior and pray Peter’s prayer,
"Lord help. I’m sinking. I’m lonely; I’m hurting. Please take my hand."
He’s always there. Always. Always. Always there. The same hand that reached out to Peter is there to reach out to you. When you look at the problem and the world falls upon your shoulders, you’re tempted to become angry, drink, rebel, or even become anorexic or suicidal. But, as you look at your Heavenly Father, His amazing love, His forgiveness, His acceptance, you can "walk on the water" and begin to smile again.