Genesis 21:14-20 "Then God opened Hagar's eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink." (v. 19, NLT - LASB)
Human rejection is often an extremely difficult thing to face or endure, whether justified or not. Now, conjure up in your mind an instance where you were the subject of someone else's shunning. The methods of dismissing or renouncing by we humans are numerous, so it may have been verbally, physically, mentally or some other means for you. For me an example readily comes to the fore, and much like Hagar in the Bible text used this week: my tendency is to flee, or at least minimally escape emotionally. I'm earnestly trying not to mix the roles of the "reject - or" vs. the "reject - ee" for this discussion, so please bear with me as I see them as both sides of the same coin. Genesis has at least two incidences of Hagar leaving, subsequent to being snubbed, so she was the rejectee due to others' choices. Her habit of avoidance didn't serve her well, even though in the end God had her back. I can map this to the 'Denial' stage of one's grief, whereby it's necessary, but the goal of 'Acceptance' is the healthier stage sought after. Our God, has shown me to bring Him the explicit details of my often tainted thinking.
I tell the story of a discarded husband, i.e., the 'rejectee' whose eyes were opened by God's offering a well of water in the form of Jesus' hope/mercy/love on the life of our, the 'rejector' & my children. In time, I came to own my passive aggressive likelihood in that former marital dyad, as its negative impact only manifests poorly. As with Hagar, despite running, her son Ishmael became the head of the Arab nation; God had a plan; and although my choices may have altered it temporarily, He opened my eyes! I'm grateful that I didn't get what I likely deserved. He's got a scheme for you and this Church too. Let's help Him open our collective eyes and bring life-giving H20 to our thirsting neighbors..... His peace to you, Kevin T. & your Deacons