 Media Credit: stock photo Car wash phobias just one of many "fears" we have.
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What are your fears? Snakes, spiders … the dark? For some people, the thought of speaking in front of a crowd terrifies them out of their minds, which I'll admit it's definitely not my favorite thing in life. I have the normal fear of spiders and other creepy-crawlies, but I also have an unnerving phobia of geese and drive-thru car washes (ask me to tell you that story sometime!).
As I've thought about it, I think there is one fear that we all have deep inside; the fear of rejection. We fear what people are going to think of us; we crave acceptance from others and often times go to great lengths just to have that person's nod of approval. For example, a person sits on the outside of the group, all alone and no one will dare talk to them. They may be "different" and when we see that person, the one who doesn't seem to fit easily into the crowd, we reject them as others do so that we will not be rejected. Have you ever experienced this? I know I have been on both sides of the story; at times I have been the outsider and I have been the one to ignore for the fear of what it will look like to others if I am seen talking to that person.
Think back to high school. Okay, I know, for some these are days we'd rather pretend never happened. I went home this past weekend and went back to my high school's football game. As I stood in the concession line at halftime, a group of young high schooler's in front of me held my attention as I reflected back to those days. I felt tension among the group; like they were paranoid and subconsciously knew that every move they made would determine their popularity with the others. I remember those overly self-conscious years of high school when I hoped that I wouldn't mess up or wear the wrong thing.
It doesn't change when you get to college, or when you "grow up" and live in the real world. To me, though, I don't feel the tension as much in college, but it is still there. But, why? Why do we worry about what others think and whether they like us or not? Why are we afraid of rejection? I don't have the answer, but I know someone who has never ignored me but who is thrilled just to hear my voice when I speak to Him … someone who is happy just to know that I am thinking of Him. He is not worried about social status or reputation; in fact, He doesn't even care when I've rejected Him.
You know who it is because he's done the same for you … God. It makes me think of a song from the Backstreet Boys (I know, I know …) but seriously, these lines from the song I think describe God's love for us; "I don't care who you are/Where you're from/Don't care what you did/As long as you love me."
Jesus was rejected by many while on earth, but He didn't care; He still did what was right, not what was popular. And He talked to those who were viewed as "different;" because He loved them. He knew each person was special and a child of His Father. So, it is the same with every person we pass on the sidewalk or who sits next to us in class. It does not matter how rich or poor they are, what social club they're in or not in, the color of the skin, what they've done in the past … it doesn't matter. We all were created by a God who loves us for who we are and who longs for us not to reject Him, but for us to accept Him as He has accepted us.
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