April 24, 2025 • 39 mins
Send Questions or comments here! We'll respond back in future episodes.
What if the rejection you feel most deeply isn't even real? We all create stories in our minds about how others perceive us, but these narratives often spring from our own insecurities rather than reality. This powerful conclusion to our three-part rejection series explores how living from a foundation of being deeply loved transforms everything about how we navigate perceived slights and actual rejection.
Through an uncomfortably relatable story about a gym encounter gone wrong, we discover how easily we assign thoughts to others they never had and own rejection they never gave us. The problem isn't just external rejection – it's our desperate search for validation in all the wrong places.
God offers us a profoundly different path. When we slow down long enough to abide in Jesus, delight in Him, and dwell in His presence, something remarkable happens. Our empty cups get filled not with mere drops but with overflowing love that changes how we see ourselves and others.
The journey to living loved isn't about manipulating our feelings or forcing positive self-talk. It's about returning to our Creator who formed us, cherishes us, and sings over us. As Zephaniah 3:17 reveals, "The Lord your God is with you, the mighty warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."
Like the disciples who were first called to "be with Jesus" before being sent out, we discover that fullness comes when we prioritize presence over performance. When we operate from the full assurance of God's love, we no longer flirt with worldly validation or misinterpret rejection when it's not there.
Ready to transform your relationship with rejection? Listen now and discover why rejection isn't failure – it's redirection toward the love that's been waiting for you all along.
Contact us at Marriage Life and More and Connecting the Gap Ministries
- Website: https://www.marriagelifeandmore.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ctgaponline
- X and Instagram: @ctgaponline
- You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@connectingthegap
- Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-1351356
- Email us at daniel@connectingthegap.net
- Spotify direct link: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Zg2rss7gRtCfzCggGVYl9
- Apple Podcast direct link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/connecting-the-gap-podcast/id1586240413
Connecting the Gap does not own the rights to any audio clips or bumper music embeds used in the episodes from third party resources.
Thanks for listening and please subscribe!
Sky High Broadcasting Corp.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Daniel Moore (00:08):
In our fast-paced lives, we often find ourselves
in difficult situations ormesses because we are constantly
chasing after the next thingand neglecting our relationship
with God.
It is only through slowing down, abiding in Jesus and
delighting in Him that we canexperience true transformation
and restoration.
By reconnecting with the Onewho can breathe life and love
(00:32):
back into our depleted and deadplaces, we can find peace and
healing in the midst of chaos.
This week, on Connecting theGap, we wrap up our three-part
mini-series on rejection.
We'll get back into that rightafter this.
(01:21):
Welcome to Connecting the Gap.
I'm Daniel Moore, your host.
This is a podcast aboutmarriage, bible and book studies
, and we interview people thathave a story.
Thank you, guys for joining usthis week.
If you're not familiar with ourshow, check out our website at
wwwconnectingthegapnet for allof our platforms, and you can
(01:43):
also reach us atmarriageriagelifeandmorecom.
Our YouTube and Rumble linksare there.
We're also on the ChristianPodcasting app, edify, and you
can also visit us on social atfacebookcom or Instagram at
ctgaponline.
If you're a fan of our show,please subscribe.
Feel free to leave a comment onour platforms, give us a thumbs
up or a five-star review, andwe'd be grateful to you for
(02:05):
doing that, as that helps ourpodcast to grow Well.
As I stated here in thebeginning, we've been in a
mini-series here for the lastcouple of weeks on rejection and
I hope that you guys havegleaned something from that and
enjoyed it.
It's been fun putting ittogether for you.
This week we have part three ofthat series.
It's the final installment forthis go-around, for this little
(02:29):
mini-series here, and we'regoing to go ahead and get
started into that.
This week we're going to wrapup the study on rejection by
talking about living loved.
I once read a story that wasvery interesting.
(02:51):
It said there's a lady at mygym who hates me.
No, I'm serious.
She sees me coming and I canfeel little poos of disdain
chugging out of her ears as herfeet are churning 87 miles per
hour on the elliptical machine.
I honestly don't know how shegoes so fast.
I once tried to keep up withher.
(03:11):
It was awful, and I think thatwas the day that her infuriation
with me began.
Let me back up and confess mysins.
That started this whole thing.
The elliptical machines are setup very close together and are
completely awkward with theirangular moving parts.
Think of a New York high riseand an elephant had a baby.
(03:34):
Well, that's an ellipticalmachine.
Now, can you draw up a picturein your mind of the most
athletic person that you know,the one who doesn't have a drop
of fat on her entire body, noteven at her belly button, which
should be illegal in mycellulite-ridden opinion?
Okay, do you have your person?
Well, that's her.
(03:55):
She's, honestly, stunninglybeautiful.
Then picture a marshmallowdressed in a t-shirt and spandex
pants.
Her ponytail is rather tight,but not much else is.
And that's me, hello world.
So I had to sort of get in herspace just a tad to mount my
machine, and I think I threw offher rhythm.
(04:17):
Well, that was sin number one.
And then I decided to try tostay in sync with her because I
wanted to teach all the folks atthe gym that day, though my
legs and drury might not looklike it, I'm in shape, my heart
can pump with the best of them,and by golly I was tired and
being out elliptical by her.
Well, that was sin number two.
(04:39):
And then there may have been alittle issue with me taking a
phone call while working out.
And then there may have been alittle issue with me taking a
phone call while working outWell.
In my defense, this is not atall my common practice, but a
friend called who really neededme.
I realize now I should havestepped off my machine and taken
the call elsewhere, but I wassort of in a competition at this
(05:03):
point and needed to win thisthing on behalf of every other
marshmallow-feeling woman.
I tried to chat quietly, butwhen you feel like a lung might
very well pop out of your mouthat any minute, it's difficult to
whisper talk.
Well, that was sin number three.
Three strikes and she deemed meout Out of my mind, out of line,
out of control.
She abandoned her ellipticaland huffed over to the treadmill
(05:25):
and she's hated me ever since.
But then the other daysomething occurred, something
odd that stunned me.
She smiled at me and it wasn'tan evil, I'm about to whip your
tail into gym floor kind ofsmile.
Either it was like an oh hey,I've seen you here before, right
?
Kind of smile.
(05:48):
I thought about her expressionthe entire time on the
elliptical that morning.
I mean, I analyzed it up oneside and down the other.
Was it just a stunned reactionkind of thing where she felt
forced to smile because shecouldn't figure out what else to
do?
Or was it I think we could befriends?
Or was it a truce of some sort?
(06:09):
Well, I've decided it wasn'tany of those.
I truly believe it was a simplesmile acknowledging that she'd
seen me but had none of thiscrazy hate toward me at all.
It's all been a perceptionthing on my part.
Let me rewrite the story as Inow believe it actually is.
(06:30):
There's a lady at the gym whoreally enjoys her workouts.
One day, the gal next to hertalked on the phone, so instead
of making a big deal out of it,she just transitioned over to
the treadmill.
She really hadn't thought of itmuch since, and then one day
she saw this same woman in thebathroom and smiled and thought
good for you for getting up thismorning and working out.
(06:51):
End of story.
Obviously, I don't know whatwent through her head as she
smiled, but I think my secondversion is closer to reality
than my first, which has reallygotten me thinking about all the
many times I assign thoughts toothers that they never actually
think, I hold them accountableto harsh judgments they never
(07:13):
make, and I own a rejection fromthem that they never gave me.
Now, I know, not everyrejection is like this.
Some are completely certifiedand undeniable as clear as a
just-cleaned window and thefeeling so intense they can make
you as horrifically stunned asa bird soaring eastward toward
(07:35):
the morning sun, only to slamheadfirst into that clean window
.
The thud feels like it mightjust kill you.
That's true rejection.
But then there's this perceivedrejection like I had with my
fellow gym goer.
I don't even think I was reallyon her radar, but in my mind I
(07:56):
was absolutely in her crosshairs.
And so goes the crazy insideour heads.
Sometimes it makes me remembersomething I saw an author friend
of mine do several years agothat I filed away in my
quote-unquote words I lovenotebook.
She was signing a book.
I peeked over to see what shewas writing.
(08:17):
Her approach was simple Beforesigning her name, she wrote Live
Loved.
Not only an instruction but aproclamation, one that now
arrests my soul and is soapplicable to our discussion at
hand Live from the abundantplace that you are loved and you
(08:38):
won't find yourself beggingothers for scraps of love.
Living loved is a tricky concept.
While living love may seem likean abstract or idealistic
concept, it is ultimately apractice that involves
cultivating a deep sense offeeling like you are worth
something and acceptance.
It is about choosing to livefrom a place of love rather than
(09:02):
fear or insecurity, andallowing that love to guide our
actions, thoughts andinteractions with others.
Living loved can be achallenging notion to fully
grasp and embody.
While we may discuss theimportance of living with a
sense of unconditional lovethrough Christ, many individuals
struggle to understand how toput this concept into practice.
(09:25):
It is common for people toresonate with the idea of
quote-unquote living loved, butfind it challenging to apply in
their everyday lives.
Despite the positive messagethat living loved conveys, the
reality of navigating throughthe complexities and
uncertainties of life can makeit difficult to truly embrace
(09:46):
and implement this mindsetconsistently.
There is a disconnect betweenthe idealized notion of living
loved and the harsh realities ofdaily life.
Idealized notion of livingloved in the harsh realities of
daily life.
It can be daunting to maintaina sense of love and acceptance
towards oneself when faced withadversity, the feelings of doubt
and external pressures.
(10:06):
The struggle to live lovedarises from the disparity
between the desire to embodythis concept and the difficulty
of doing so in the face of theobstacles and challenges that
present themselves on a dailybasis.
Living loved is not aboutachieving a perfect state of
feeling loved at all times.
It is a continuous journey ofdiscovery, growth and acceptance
(10:30):
.
It requires a conscious effortto cultivate a mindset of
compassion, forgiveness andgratitude towards oneself, even
in moments when love feelsdistant or unattainable.
Living loved is about embracingthe imperfections,
acknowledging the struggles andchoosing to approach life with a
(10:50):
sense of worthiness andresilience, despite the
challenges that may come our way.
It's easy to live loved when wefeel loved, but some days we
just aren't feeling it.
It is natural for us to let ouremotions and past experiences
dictate how we feel and react tosituations in the present.
(11:12):
However, it is important toremember that our worth and
value are not determined by theactions or opinions of others.
We have the power to choose howwe respond to negativity and
rejection.
One way to overcome thesenegative feelings is to remind
ourselves of the love andacceptance we have in our lives,
(11:32):
whether it be from friends,family or God.
Knowing that we are loved canhelp us counteract the feelings
of hurt and rejection.
It may also be helpful to takea moment to breathe and remind
ourselves of our worth, and thatcan help us navigate through
difficult emotions.
It is a process to unlearnnegative patterns of thinking
(11:56):
and replace them with positivity.
It may take time and effort,but by consciously choosing to
focus on love and acceptance wecan overcome the tendency to
dwell on rejection andnegativity.
In Zephaniah 3, verse 17,.
It says the Lord, your God, iswith you.
The mighty warrior who saves.
(12:16):
He will take great delight inyou, in his love.
He will no longer rebuke you,but will rejoice over you with
singing.
This verse illustrates the deeplove and acceptance that comes
from God.
When we internalize the messageof this verse, we can find
emotional stability and strength.
Knowing that God delights in us, loves us unconditionally and
(12:40):
rejoices over us with singingcan provide a sense of security
and reassurance.
This kind of love andacceptance can ground us in
times of rejection or hurt,helping us to see ourselves
through the eyes of divine loverather than through the lens of
negative emotions or pastexperiences.
By anchoring ourselves in thelove of God, we can strive to
(13:03):
emulate this kind of emotionalstability in our own lives.
Just as God looks upon us withdelight and sings over us, we
too can choose to approachourselves and others with love,
compassion and a sense ofworthiness.
This can help us navigatethrough moments of negativity,
rejection and hurt with graceand resilience, knowing that we
(13:27):
are deeply loved and accepted.
Believing and acknowledgingthat God is with us and that he
showers us with His love canbring a sense of peace and
comfort in the midst of life'schallenges and uncertainties.
In Zephaniah 3.17, it ismentioned that God will quiet us
with His love, signifying acalming, soothing presence that
(13:49):
can silence the noise of worry,fear and doubt that often plague
our minds and our hearts.
This concept is not limited tomoments of prayer or Bible study
.
Rather, it is a continuous andabiding truth that we can hold
on to throughout our daily lives.
It is about cultivating a deepand personal relationship with
(14:11):
God where we can trust in itsconstant presence and unwavering
love, even in the mostdifficult and chaotic
circumstances.
When we make a conscious effortto invite God into every aspect
of our lives and practicemindfulness of His love, we can
experience a sense of life's upsand downs with a newfound sense
(14:33):
of resilience, knowing that weare supported and cherished by a
loving and ever-present God.
By internalizing the beliefthat God quiets us with His love
, we can shift our perspectiveand approach to life's
challenges, finding peace andstrength in the knowledge that
we are never alone and that weare deeply loved and cared for
(14:54):
by our Creator.
Never alone, and that we aredeeply loved and cared for by
our Creator.
This realization can bringabout a huge sense of emotional
stability and peace thattranscends circumstances and
enables us to face life's trialswith grace and faith.
It is important to approach actsof service, kindness and love
with a genuine and unselfishheart, rather than with the
(15:17):
expectation of receivingsomething in return.
Truly loving others should notbe motivated by a desire for
reciprocity or personal gain,but rather by a sincere desire
to bless and serve those aroundus.
When our actions are driven byulterior motives or hidden
expectations, it can lead todisappointment and heartbreak
(15:39):
when those expectations are notmet.
Giving with strings attachedcan undermine the authenticity
and purity of our intentions,turning acts of love into
manipulative tactics to fulfillour own needs and desires.
To fulfill our own needs anddesires.
Feeling loved is aboutsurrendering to the
unconditional love and grace ofGod, rather than seeking
(16:01):
validation or affirmation fromothers.
It is about finding fulfillmentand security in our
relationship with the Creator,rather than relying on external
sources for validation and worth.
By focusing on our dailysurrender to God and allowing
His love to flow through us, wecan cultivate a genuine and
selfless love for others.
(16:23):
This kind of love is not basedon performance or expectations,
but on a deep-rooted desire toextend grace, kindness and
compassion to those around us,without any hidden agendas.
In essence, true love is notabout what we can gain from
others, but about what we cangive and share with a pure and
(16:43):
open heart.
By aligning our actions withthe unconditional love of God
and surrendering our desires forpersonal gain, we can truly
embody the essence of love andlive in accordance with the love
that has been freely given tous.
Living in a world characterizedby sin and brokenness can often
(17:04):
make it challenging to fullyembrace and experience the love
that God has for us.
The negativity, struggles andtemptations that surround us can
create barriers anddistractions that attempt to
hinder our ability to live inthe fullness of God's love.
However, amidst the chaos andsin-soaked reality of the world,
(17:26):
it is essential to continuallyreturn to God as our Creator and
source of love.
By turning to Him in prayer,meditation, study of His Word
and worship, we can reaffirm ourconnection to the One who
formed us, knows us intimatelyand loves us unconditionally.
(17:48):
In returning to God, we canfind reassurance and comfort in
the fact that His love for usremains steadfast and unchanging
.
His hands are always at work inour lives, constantly shaping
and molding us into theindividuals he has created us to
be.
Just as a potter molds clay,god is actively involved in our
lives, refining us, filling uswith His Spirit and completing
(18:09):
the good work that he has begunin us.
By acknowledging and embracingGod's ongoing work within us, we
can overcome the challenges andobstacles that the world
presents, allowing His love andgrace to permeate every aspect
of our being.
Through regular communion withGod, we can experience
transformation, growth anddeepening understanding of the
(18:33):
immense love that he has for us.
Understanding of the immenselove that he has for us.
In essence, returning to Godconsistently and allowing His
loving hands to guide and shapeus enables us to rise above the
negativity of the world and livein the fullness of His grace
and love.
By surrendering to Histransformative work within us,
we can experience true freedom,joy and fulfillment in our
(18:56):
journey of living loved.
Too many times we like to thinkwe prayed over things, but in
reality, we just worried aboutthem.
It is a common tendency for usto mistake worrying, seeking
advice from those close to usand attempting to solve problems
on our own, for genuine prayerand surrender to God.
In times of difficulty oruncertainty, we often turn to
(19:21):
our own resources, seekingsolutions and comfort from
external sources, rather thanseeking guidance and peace from
our Creator.
When we allow ourselves tobecome consumed by the
distractions and temptations ofthe world, we risk missing out
on the deep and fulfillingconnection that comes from
seeking God's presence and love.
(19:42):
Although worldly pleasures mayprovide temporary satisfaction
and fleeting enjoyment, theyultimately leave our souls empty
and unfulfilled, craving thegenuine and lasting love that
only God can provide.
Flirting with the world in aspiritual sense can lead us down
(20:16):
a path of misguided prioritiesand misplaced affections.
While the world may offertemporary pleasures and
distractions, it ultimatelyfails to provide the deep,
soul-nourishing love and thefulfillment that we truly need.
By prioritizing worldlypursuits over our relationship
with God, we deny ourselves theopportunity to experience the
(20:38):
love, grace and peace that comefrom being in communion with our
Creator.
In the midst of life's chaos anddistractions, it is crucial to
refocus our hearts and minds onGod, the one true source of love
and fulfillment.
By turning to Him in prayer,seeking His guidance and
surrendering our worries andburdens to His care, we can
(21:01):
experience the deep and abidinglove that our souls long for.
When we let go of the fleetingattractions of the world and
embrace the transformative loveof God, we find true peace,
fulfillment and wholeness thatcan only come from His loving
embrace.
God is always ready to providethe answers, comfort and
(21:23):
affection we seek, but often wefail to turn to Him.
We try to accomplish things onour own at a rapid pace, when
God simply wants us to slow downand accept His help.
He already has everythingplanned out and is prepared to
fill any gaps, ease heartache,provide for our needs, answer
(21:44):
questions and solve problemsFully, completely, perfectly in
Him, with Him, by Him.
We need to make a consciouseffort to turn to God and spend
time in His presence, even whenwe are weary and worn from
(22:06):
striving and running after otherthings.
It must deeply sadden Him tosee us searching everywhere for
the love and comfort that he isalways ready to provide us with.
If only we would come to Himdaily, despite our struggles and
busyness.
God longs for us to stop, sitwith Him and experience the love
(22:26):
and peace that only he canoffer.
Our constant striving andsearching for fulfillment
elsewhere only serve to distanceus from the true source of love
and wholeness that God wants tofreely give us.
Imagine a little girl runningwith a cup in her hand, sloshing
out all it contains.
She thinks that what willrefill her is just ahead.
(22:49):
Just a little further shepresses on with sheer
determination and clenched teethand an empty cup clutched tight
, she keeps running toward anagenda he never set and one that
will never satisfy.
She sees him and holds out hercup, but she catches only a few
drops as she runs by him,because she didn't stop long
(23:12):
enough to be filled up.
Empty can't be tempered withmere drops.
The tragic truth is, what willfill her, or what will fill us,
isn't the accomplishment or thenext relationship ahead.
That shiny thing is actually avacuum that sucks us in and
(23:32):
sucks us dry but never has theability to refill.
Like me, a lot of you haveprobably been there before or
are right there now.
There's no kind of empty quitelike this empty where your hands
are full but inside you arenothing but an exhausted shell.
John 15, 7 says If you abide inme and my words abide in you,
(23:57):
ask whatever you wish and itwill be done for you.
This verse emphasizes theimportance of abiding in Jesus
and staying connected to Him.
Similarly, in Psalm 37, 4, itsays Delight yourself in the
Lord and he will give you thedesires of your heart.
7-4, it says delight yourselfin the Lord and he will give you
the desires of your heart.
This verse highlights thesignificance of delighting in
the Lord and finding joy in Him.
(24:23):
In our fast-paced lives, weoften find ourselves in
difficult situations or messesbecause we are constantly
chasing after the next thing andneglecting our relationship
with God.
It is only through slowing down, abiding in Jesus and
delighting in Him that we canexperience true transformation
and restoration.
By reconnecting with the Onewho can breathe life and love
(24:44):
back into our depleted and deadplaces, we can find peace and
healing.
In the midst of chaos, jesusoffers us a different way of
living, one that is not definedby the rat race but by the
slower rhythms of life, such asabiding, delighting and dwelling
in His presence.
These words remind us to trustHim with our place and our pace,
(25:07):
allowing Him to guide us andlead us on a path of restoration
and renewal.
As we learn to be with Jesus,in these slow moments, we can
experience his love and grace inawesome ways leading us out of
our messes and into a place ofpeace and wholeness.
(25:27):
Psalm 91.1 says he who dwells inthe shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of theAlmighty.
This verse emphasizes theimportance of dwelling in the
presence of God and seekingrefuge in Him.
The imagery of being in theshadow of the Almighty conveys a
sense of protection, safety andintimacy with God.
(25:50):
When we choose to slow down,abide in Jesus and delight in
Him, we are essentially dwellingin the shelter of the Most High
.
By intentionally spending timein God's presence, seeking His
guidance and trusting in Hisprovision, we can experience
true peace and security.
Just like being in the shadowof a mighty fortress provides
(26:12):
shelter from harm, dwelling inGod's presence offers us
protection from the chaos andchallenges of life.
As we dwell in the shelter ofthe Most High, we can find
comfort, strength and renewal inHis presence.
This verse reminds us that ourultimate refuge and security can
only be found in God, and byabiding in Him we can experience
(26:36):
the fullness of His love andgrace.
In the slow moments of dwellingin God's presence, we can find
rest for our souls andrestoration for our weary hearts
.
Did you catch the beautifulfilling promise in each of those
verses.
Did you catch the beautifulfilling promise in each of those
verses?
Abiding in Jesus, delighting inHim and dwelling in His presence
(26:58):
.
They all point to the beautifulfilling and alignment that
occurs when we prioritize ourrelationship with God.
When we choose to abide,delight and dwell in Him, our
desires begin to align with Hisbest for us.
As we draw closer to God andseek His will above our own, he
places within us desires thatreflect His heart and purpose
(27:21):
for our lives.
This means that when we ask forsomething in accordance with
His will, he is faithful tofulfill those requests because
they are consistent with Hisbest for us.
This alignment allows us totrust in God's provision and
know that he will satisfy thedesires of our hearts because
(27:41):
they are in harmony with His own.
When we are connected to Godthrough abiding, delighting and
dwelling in Him, we tap into Hisconsistent power and stability.
This connection enables us tofind strength in His presence,
knowing that he is the source ofunwavering support and security
in our lives.
By aligning our hearts with His, we can experience the fullness
(28:06):
of His promises and theabundant blessings that come
from walking in closerelationship with Him.
And this is the fullness of theperson who can truly live loved
.
This was the kind of fullnessthat that woman needed to
properly process the woman atthe gym.
This is the depth offulfillment we require in every
(28:29):
challenge we encounter, and itis precisely the richness we
seek as we fulfill our purposeof spreading Jesus' love in a
world in need of hope.
Mark, chapter 3, verse 14 and 15, says and he appointed twelve,
whom he also named apostles, sothat they might be with him and
he might send them out to preachand have authority to cast out
(28:51):
demons, and he might send themout to preach and have authority
to cast out demons.
This passage shows the dualnature of the disciples' calling
when Jesus appointed them.
The first part of their callingwas to be with him.
This involved spending time inclose fellowship with Jesus,
learning from him and developinga deep personal relationship
with him.
This intimate connection wasessential for the disciples to
(29:15):
truly understand Jesus'teachings, character and mission
.
By being with Him, they wereable to witness His miracles,
hear His teachings andexperience His love and grace
firsthand.
The second part of theircalling was to be sent out to
preach, cast out demons andminister in Jesus' name, after
(29:37):
spending time with Jesus andreceiving His teachings.
The disciples were empoweredand equipped to go out into the
world and share the good news ofthe kingdom of God.
They were given authority toperform miracles and confront
the forces of darkness,demonstrating the power and
presence of God in their lives.
This two-fold calling of beingwith Jesus and being sent out to
(29:59):
proclaim His message is stillrelevant for us today.
Just like the disciples, we arecalled to cultivate a deep
personal relationship with Jesusthrough prayer, studying the
Word, worship and fellowshipwith other believers.
This intimate connection withChrist is essential for us to
grow in our faith, maturity andunderstanding of His will for
(30:22):
our lives.
Additionally, we are alsocalled to go out into the world
and share the love of Jesus withothers, whether it is through
evangelism, serving in ourcommunities or ministering to
those in need.
We are called to be ambassadorsof Christ and bring His light
and hope to a broken and hurtingworld.
(30:43):
By following the example of thedisciples and embracing both
aspects of their calling, we canexperience the fullness of what
it means to be a disciple ofJesus and fulfill our purpose in
advancing His kingdom here onearth.
Fullness comes to us when weremember to be with Him before
we go out to serve Him.
When we prioritize being withJesus before engaging in serving
(31:08):
Him, we open ourselves up to asense of fullness and alignment
with His will.
Jesus desires for our hearts tobe intimately connected with
His before we set out to carryout tasks and assignments for
Him.
This alignment allows us toapproach our daily
responsibilities with a sense ofpurpose, clarity and
(31:31):
intentionality.
Through spending time with Jesusin prayer, worship and studying
His Word, we are reminded ofHis love, grace and truth.
This daily connection with Himenables us to receive the
strength, wisdom and guidancethat we need to navigate the
challenges and opportunitiesthat come our way, that we need
(31:54):
to navigate the challenges andopportunities that come our way.
Jesus graciously extends whatwe need to fulfill our calling
and invites us to partake in Hispresence and grace.
Each day, as we immerseourselves in His presence and
allow Him to replenish our cups,Jesus gently reminds us that
the Christian journey is not arace to see who can achieve the
fastest pace or accomplish themost tasks.
(32:15):
Instead, he calls us topersevere on the path that he
has uniquely marked out for us,trusting in His timing and
guidance by fixing our focus onstaying in love with Him and
seeking His kingdom above allelse, we can experience a deep
sense of fulfillment and purposeas we walk in obedience and
(32:36):
surrender to His will.
Jesus' desire is for us to findjoy and satisfaction in abiding
in Him, rather than strivingfor worldly recognition or
success.
Then, and only then, will Istop flirting with this world
and instead operate from thefull assurance of His love.
(33:00):
It's not a conscious decision inmy mind that I am worthy of
love, nor is it aboutmanipulating my feelings to
believe I am loved.
Instead, it's about a deepunderstanding in my soul that I
was created by God, who lovinglyformed me because he cherished
the very essence of who I am.
Before I even existed.
(33:21):
He saw value in me and declaredme not just good, but very good
and deeply loved.
Hence I have the ability tocultivate a loving atmosphere in
any circumstance that Iencounter.
I do not need to wait, wish orstrive to obtain it.
Instead, I can simply radiatethe love I desire.
(33:43):
In doing so, I am less inclinedto seek validation from the
world, as I have already foundtrue approval from God.
Validation from the world, as Ihave already found true
approval from God.
Additionally, I am less proneto misinterpret rejection when
it is not present, as I am notlonging for external affection.
I am loved.
(34:04):
This should be the Genesisthought of every day, not
because of how awesome I am.
God doesn't base what he thinksabout me On my own futile
efforts.
No, god's love isn't based onme.
It's simply placed on me andit's the place from which I
should live, loved.
(34:27):
The fear of rejection is ananxiety that runs deep inside of
us.
Often we're not even aware ofhow significantly it is
influencing us and affecting us.
When the fear of rejectiondominates us, we make lots of
bad decisions.
When we're insecure on theinside, we miss some of the best
(34:47):
that God has for us.
You will never experienceenough love from people to
successfully and perpetuallyfree you from insecurity and the
fear of rejection.
The only love that can and willdo this is God's love.
If you were to write thedefinition of love, what would
(35:09):
it be?
If you were to write thedefinition of rejection, what
would that be?
Rejection is linked to prideand perfection.
The pride that we have in lifesometimes causes us to expect
perfection in everything we do.
When we are rejected, we takeit harder and, without knowing
(35:31):
it.
We usually turn around andreject someone else ourselves in
similar fashions.
One thing you have to rememberdoors will always close in your
face.
It's up to you to open new onesand move on.
What have you been rejected frombefore?
Not making a sports team or aclub, not getting selected for
(35:56):
something, someone not likingyou back or not wanting to date
you, not feeling like you arepart of a social circle of
people, or feeling like peopledo not accept you?
How did you feel when you gotrejected?
Was you hurt?
Did you feel pity?
Were you shamed, frustrated,confused, upset, unmotivated or
(36:19):
isolated?
Is rejection always bad?
You know, sometimes rejectionwill open new doors.
Can rejection lead to successlater?
Do people who never facerejection and always get what
they want struggle in life lateron?
(36:40):
Have you ever felt jealous of afriend who got something that
you wanted?
Has someone ever made fun ofyou for being rejected from
something?
Why is it so important to pursuehealing for the pain of your
past?
What effect can this have onyour ability to move forward in
(37:00):
the future?
What effect can this have onyour ability to move forward in
the future?
How can you retrain your brainso that you think and care more
about God's approval than theapproval of others?
Well, those are all questionsthat we all probably ask.
The sad reality is that manypeople will take pleasure in
(37:24):
seeing you not get what you wantand get rejected.
You must keep a positiveattitude and not let that get to
you.
Most importantly, you mustpersevere.
Rejection is not failure, it isredirection.
Well, that's going to do it forthis week's episode and that
(37:44):
wraps up our three-part serieson rejection.
Please subscribe to be surethat you don't miss any future
episodes here from Connectingthe Gap.
I'm Daniel Moore.
Thank you, guys, for listeningthis week.
This show really wouldn't bepossible without you.
If you're a fan of the show,please leave a review on Apple
Podcasts, or if you'd like tohelp us out, just take a few
seconds to give us a five-starclick and please subscribe to us
(38:05):
on your favorite platform.
The links for those are in theshow notes.
Well, that's all for this week,and we believe that God's Word
never fails us.
God's Word has stood the testof time and, through Jesus'
death on the cross, he hasconnected the gap.
Aria (38:41):
You've been listening, death on the cross other.
To connect the gap, we upload anew audio podcast every
Thursday and a video version ofit on YouTube and Rumble.
We are also on the Christianpodcasting app Edify.
You can subscribe to ourpodcast on many of the available
podcasting platforms, includingApple Podcast, spotify, amazon
Music, iheart Radio, tuneinRadio and more.
We are also available on yourAlexa-enabled devices.
(39:02):
If you would like to contactour ministry for any reason,
visit our contact page and sendus a message.
We hope you are blessed by thisministry.
This is a production ofConnecting the Gap Ministries.
In our fast-paced lives, we often find ourselves
in difficult situations ormesses because we are constantly
chasing after the next thingand neglecting our relationship
with God.
It is only through slowing down, abiding in Jesus and
delighting in Him that we canexperience true transformation
and restoration.
By reconnecting with the Onewho can breathe life and love
(00:32):
back into our depleted and deadplaces, we can find peace and
healing in the midst of chaos.
This week, on Connecting theGap, we wrap up our three-part
mini-series on rejection.
We'll get back into that rightafter this.
(01:21):
Welcome to Connecting the Gap.
I'm Daniel Moore, your host.
This is a podcast aboutmarriage, bible and book studies
, and we interview people thathave a story.
Thank you, guys for joining usthis week.
If you're not familiar with ourshow, check out our website at
wwwconnectingthegapnet for allof our platforms, and you can
(01:43):
also reach us atmarriageriagelifeandmorecom.
Our YouTube and Rumble linksare there.
We're also on the ChristianPodcasting app, edify, and you
can also visit us on social atfacebookcom or Instagram at
ctgaponline.
If you're a fan of our show,please subscribe.
Feel free to leave a comment onour platforms, give us a thumbs
up or a five-star review, andwe'd be grateful to you for
(02:05):
doing that, as that helps ourpodcast to grow Well.
As I stated here in thebeginning, we've been in a
mini-series here for the lastcouple of weeks on rejection and
I hope that you guys havegleaned something from that and
enjoyed it.
It's been fun putting ittogether for you.
This week we have part three ofthat series.
It's the final installment forthis go-around, for this little
(02:29):
mini-series here, and we'regoing to go ahead and get
started into that.
This week we're going to wrapup the study on rejection by
talking about living loved.
I once read a story that wasvery interesting.
(02:51):
It said there's a lady at mygym who hates me.
No, I'm serious.
She sees me coming and I canfeel little poos of disdain
chugging out of her ears as herfeet are churning 87 miles per
hour on the elliptical machine.
I honestly don't know how shegoes so fast.
I once tried to keep up withher.
(03:11):
It was awful, and I think thatwas the day that her infuriation
with me began.
Let me back up and confess mysins.
That started this whole thing.
The elliptical machines are setup very close together and are
completely awkward with theirangular moving parts.
Think of a New York high riseand an elephant had a baby.
(03:34):
Well, that's an ellipticalmachine.
Now, can you draw up a picturein your mind of the most
athletic person that you know,the one who doesn't have a drop
of fat on her entire body, noteven at her belly button, which
should be illegal in mycellulite-ridden opinion?
Okay, do you have your person?
Well, that's her.
(03:55):
She's, honestly, stunninglybeautiful.
Then picture a marshmallowdressed in a t-shirt and spandex
pants.
Her ponytail is rather tight,but not much else is.
And that's me, hello world.
So I had to sort of get in herspace just a tad to mount my
machine, and I think I threw offher rhythm.
(04:17):
Well, that was sin number one.
And then I decided to try tostay in sync with her because I
wanted to teach all the folks atthe gym that day, though my
legs and drury might not looklike it, I'm in shape, my heart
can pump with the best of them,and by golly I was tired and
being out elliptical by her.
Well, that was sin number two.
(04:39):
And then there may have been alittle issue with me taking a
phone call while working out.
And then there may have been alittle issue with me taking a
phone call while working outWell.
In my defense, this is not atall my common practice, but a
friend called who really neededme.
I realize now I should havestepped off my machine and taken
the call elsewhere, but I wassort of in a competition at this
(05:03):
point and needed to win thisthing on behalf of every other
marshmallow-feeling woman.
I tried to chat quietly, butwhen you feel like a lung might
very well pop out of your mouthat any minute, it's difficult to
whisper talk.
Well, that was sin number three.
Three strikes and she deemed meout Out of my mind, out of line,
out of control.
She abandoned her ellipticaland huffed over to the treadmill
(05:25):
and she's hated me ever since.
But then the other daysomething occurred, something
odd that stunned me.
She smiled at me and it wasn'tan evil, I'm about to whip your
tail into gym floor kind ofsmile.
Either it was like an oh hey,I've seen you here before, right
?
Kind of smile.
(05:48):
I thought about her expressionthe entire time on the
elliptical that morning.
I mean, I analyzed it up oneside and down the other.
Was it just a stunned reactionkind of thing where she felt
forced to smile because shecouldn't figure out what else to
do?
Or was it I think we could befriends?
Or was it a truce of some sort?
(06:09):
Well, I've decided it wasn'tany of those.
I truly believe it was a simplesmile acknowledging that she'd
seen me but had none of thiscrazy hate toward me at all.
It's all been a perceptionthing on my part.
Let me rewrite the story as Inow believe it actually is.
(06:30):
There's a lady at the gym whoreally enjoys her workouts.
One day, the gal next to hertalked on the phone, so instead
of making a big deal out of it,she just transitioned over to
the treadmill.
She really hadn't thought of itmuch since, and then one day
she saw this same woman in thebathroom and smiled and thought
good for you for getting up thismorning and working out.
(06:51):
End of story.
Obviously, I don't know whatwent through her head as she
smiled, but I think my secondversion is closer to reality
than my first, which has reallygotten me thinking about all the
many times I assign thoughts toothers that they never actually
think, I hold them accountableto harsh judgments they never
(07:13):
make, and I own a rejection fromthem that they never gave me.
Now, I know, not everyrejection is like this.
Some are completely certifiedand undeniable as clear as a
just-cleaned window and thefeeling so intense they can make
you as horrifically stunned asa bird soaring eastward toward
(07:35):
the morning sun, only to slamheadfirst into that clean window
.
The thud feels like it mightjust kill you.
That's true rejection.
But then there's this perceivedrejection like I had with my
fellow gym goer.
I don't even think I was reallyon her radar, but in my mind I
(07:56):
was absolutely in her crosshairs.
And so goes the crazy insideour heads.
Sometimes it makes me remembersomething I saw an author friend
of mine do several years agothat I filed away in my
quote-unquote words I lovenotebook.
She was signing a book.
I peeked over to see what shewas writing.
(08:17):
Her approach was simple Beforesigning her name, she wrote Live
Loved.
Not only an instruction but aproclamation, one that now
arrests my soul and is soapplicable to our discussion at
hand Live from the abundantplace that you are loved and you
(08:38):
won't find yourself beggingothers for scraps of love.
Living loved is a tricky concept.
While living love may seem likean abstract or idealistic
concept, it is ultimately apractice that involves
cultivating a deep sense offeeling like you are worth
something and acceptance.
It is about choosing to livefrom a place of love rather than
(09:02):
fear or insecurity, andallowing that love to guide our
actions, thoughts andinteractions with others.
Living loved can be achallenging notion to fully
grasp and embody.
While we may discuss theimportance of living with a
sense of unconditional lovethrough Christ, many individuals
struggle to understand how toput this concept into practice.
(09:25):
It is common for people toresonate with the idea of
quote-unquote living loved, butfind it challenging to apply in
their everyday lives.
Despite the positive messagethat living loved conveys, the
reality of navigating throughthe complexities and
uncertainties of life can makeit difficult to truly embrace
(09:46):
and implement this mindsetconsistently.
There is a disconnect betweenthe idealized notion of living
loved and the harsh realities ofdaily life.
Idealized notion of livingloved in the harsh realities of
daily life.
It can be daunting to maintaina sense of love and acceptance
towards oneself when faced withadversity, the feelings of doubt
and external pressures.
(10:06):
The struggle to live lovedarises from the disparity
between the desire to embodythis concept and the difficulty
of doing so in the face of theobstacles and challenges that
present themselves on a dailybasis.
Living loved is not aboutachieving a perfect state of
feeling loved at all times.
It is a continuous journey ofdiscovery, growth and acceptance
(10:30):
.
It requires a conscious effortto cultivate a mindset of
compassion, forgiveness andgratitude towards oneself, even
in moments when love feelsdistant or unattainable.
Living loved is about embracingthe imperfections,
acknowledging the struggles andchoosing to approach life with a
(10:50):
sense of worthiness andresilience, despite the
challenges that may come our way.
It's easy to live loved when wefeel loved, but some days we
just aren't feeling it.
It is natural for us to let ouremotions and past experiences
dictate how we feel and react tosituations in the present.
(11:12):
However, it is important toremember that our worth and
value are not determined by theactions or opinions of others.
We have the power to choose howwe respond to negativity and
rejection.
One way to overcome thesenegative feelings is to remind
ourselves of the love andacceptance we have in our lives,
(11:32):
whether it be from friends,family or God.
Knowing that we are loved canhelp us counteract the feelings
of hurt and rejection.
It may also be helpful to takea moment to breathe and remind
ourselves of our worth, and thatcan help us navigate through
difficult emotions.
It is a process to unlearnnegative patterns of thinking
(11:56):
and replace them with positivity.
It may take time and effort,but by consciously choosing to
focus on love and acceptance wecan overcome the tendency to
dwell on rejection andnegativity.
In Zephaniah 3, verse 17,.
It says the Lord, your God, iswith you.
The mighty warrior who saves.
(12:16):
He will take great delight inyou, in his love.
He will no longer rebuke you,but will rejoice over you with
singing.
This verse illustrates the deeplove and acceptance that comes
from God.
When we internalize the messageof this verse, we can find
emotional stability and strength.
Knowing that God delights in us, loves us unconditionally and
(12:40):
rejoices over us with singingcan provide a sense of security
and reassurance.
This kind of love andacceptance can ground us in
times of rejection or hurt,helping us to see ourselves
through the eyes of divine loverather than through the lens of
negative emotions or pastexperiences.
By anchoring ourselves in thelove of God, we can strive to
(13:03):
emulate this kind of emotionalstability in our own lives.
Just as God looks upon us withdelight and sings over us, we
too can choose to approachourselves and others with love,
compassion and a sense ofworthiness.
This can help us navigatethrough moments of negativity,
rejection and hurt with graceand resilience, knowing that we
(13:27):
are deeply loved and accepted.
Believing and acknowledgingthat God is with us and that he
showers us with His love canbring a sense of peace and
comfort in the midst of life'schallenges and uncertainties.
In Zephaniah 3.17, it ismentioned that God will quiet us
with His love, signifying acalming, soothing presence that
(13:49):
can silence the noise of worry,fear and doubt that often plague
our minds and our hearts.
This concept is not limited tomoments of prayer or Bible study
.
Rather, it is a continuous andabiding truth that we can hold
on to throughout our daily lives.
It is about cultivating a deepand personal relationship with
(14:11):
God where we can trust in itsconstant presence and unwavering
love, even in the mostdifficult and chaotic
circumstances.
When we make a conscious effortto invite God into every aspect
of our lives and practicemindfulness of His love, we can
experience a sense of life's upsand downs with a newfound sense
(14:33):
of resilience, knowing that weare supported and cherished by a
loving and ever-present God.
By internalizing the beliefthat God quiets us with His love
, we can shift our perspectiveand approach to life's
challenges, finding peace andstrength in the knowledge that
we are never alone and that weare deeply loved and cared for
(14:54):
by our Creator.
Never alone, and that we aredeeply loved and cared for by
our Creator.
This realization can bringabout a huge sense of emotional
stability and peace thattranscends circumstances and
enables us to face life's trialswith grace and faith.
It is important to approach actsof service, kindness and love
with a genuine and unselfishheart, rather than with the
(15:17):
expectation of receivingsomething in return.
Truly loving others should notbe motivated by a desire for
reciprocity or personal gain,but rather by a sincere desire
to bless and serve those aroundus.
When our actions are driven byulterior motives or hidden
expectations, it can lead todisappointment and heartbreak
(15:39):
when those expectations are notmet.
Giving with strings attachedcan undermine the authenticity
and purity of our intentions,turning acts of love into
manipulative tactics to fulfillour own needs and desires.
To fulfill our own needs anddesires.
Feeling loved is aboutsurrendering to the
unconditional love and grace ofGod, rather than seeking
(16:01):
validation or affirmation fromothers.
It is about finding fulfillmentand security in our
relationship with the Creator,rather than relying on external
sources for validation and worth.
By focusing on our dailysurrender to God and allowing
His love to flow through us, wecan cultivate a genuine and
selfless love for others.
(16:23):
This kind of love is not basedon performance or expectations,
but on a deep-rooted desire toextend grace, kindness and
compassion to those around us,without any hidden agendas.
In essence, true love is notabout what we can gain from
others, but about what we cangive and share with a pure and
(16:43):
open heart.
By aligning our actions withthe unconditional love of God
and surrendering our desires forpersonal gain, we can truly
embody the essence of love andlive in accordance with the love
that has been freely given tous.
Living in a world characterizedby sin and brokenness can often
(17:04):
make it challenging to fullyembrace and experience the love
that God has for us.
The negativity, struggles andtemptations that surround us can
create barriers anddistractions that attempt to
hinder our ability to live inthe fullness of God's love.
However, amidst the chaos andsin-soaked reality of the world,
(17:26):
it is essential to continuallyreturn to God as our Creator and
source of love.
By turning to Him in prayer,meditation, study of His Word
and worship, we can reaffirm ourconnection to the One who
formed us, knows us intimatelyand loves us unconditionally.
(17:48):
In returning to God, we canfind reassurance and comfort in
the fact that His love for usremains steadfast and unchanging
.
His hands are always at work inour lives, constantly shaping
and molding us into theindividuals he has created us to
be.
Just as a potter molds clay,god is actively involved in our
lives, refining us, filling uswith His Spirit and completing
(18:09):
the good work that he has begunin us.
By acknowledging and embracingGod's ongoing work within us, we
can overcome the challenges andobstacles that the world
presents, allowing His love andgrace to permeate every aspect
of our being.
Through regular communion withGod, we can experience
transformation, growth anddeepening understanding of the
(18:33):
immense love that he has for us.
Understanding of the immenselove that he has for us.
In essence, returning to Godconsistently and allowing His
loving hands to guide and shapeus enables us to rise above the
negativity of the world and livein the fullness of His grace
and love.
By surrendering to Histransformative work within us,
we can experience true freedom,joy and fulfillment in our
(18:56):
journey of living loved.
Too many times we like to thinkwe prayed over things, but in
reality, we just worried aboutthem.
It is a common tendency for usto mistake worrying, seeking
advice from those close to usand attempting to solve problems
on our own, for genuine prayerand surrender to God.
In times of difficulty oruncertainty, we often turn to
(19:21):
our own resources, seekingsolutions and comfort from
external sources, rather thanseeking guidance and peace from
our Creator.
When we allow ourselves tobecome consumed by the
distractions and temptations ofthe world, we risk missing out
on the deep and fulfillingconnection that comes from
seeking God's presence and love.
(19:42):
Although worldly pleasures mayprovide temporary satisfaction
and fleeting enjoyment, theyultimately leave our souls empty
and unfulfilled, craving thegenuine and lasting love that
only God can provide.
Flirting with the world in aspiritual sense can lead us down
(20:16):
a path of misguided prioritiesand misplaced affections.
While the world may offertemporary pleasures and
distractions, it ultimatelyfails to provide the deep,
soul-nourishing love and thefulfillment that we truly need.
By prioritizing worldlypursuits over our relationship
with God, we deny ourselves theopportunity to experience the
(20:38):
love, grace and peace that comefrom being in communion with our
Creator.
In the midst of life's chaos anddistractions, it is crucial to
refocus our hearts and minds onGod, the one true source of love
and fulfillment.
By turning to Him in prayer,seeking His guidance and
surrendering our worries andburdens to His care, we can
(21:01):
experience the deep and abidinglove that our souls long for.
When we let go of the fleetingattractions of the world and
embrace the transformative loveof God, we find true peace,
fulfillment and wholeness thatcan only come from His loving
embrace.
God is always ready to providethe answers, comfort and
(21:23):
affection we seek, but often wefail to turn to Him.
We try to accomplish things onour own at a rapid pace, when
God simply wants us to slow downand accept His help.
He already has everythingplanned out and is prepared to
fill any gaps, ease heartache,provide for our needs, answer
(21:44):
questions and solve problemsFully, completely, perfectly in
Him, with Him, by Him.
We need to make a consciouseffort to turn to God and spend
time in His presence, even whenwe are weary and worn from
(22:06):
striving and running after otherthings.
It must deeply sadden Him tosee us searching everywhere for
the love and comfort that he isalways ready to provide us with.
If only we would come to Himdaily, despite our struggles and
busyness.
God longs for us to stop, sitwith Him and experience the love
(22:26):
and peace that only he canoffer.
Our constant striving andsearching for fulfillment
elsewhere only serve to distanceus from the true source of love
and wholeness that God wants tofreely give us.
Imagine a little girl runningwith a cup in her hand, sloshing
out all it contains.
She thinks that what willrefill her is just ahead.
(22:49):
Just a little further shepresses on with sheer
determination and clenched teethand an empty cup clutched tight
, she keeps running toward anagenda he never set and one that
will never satisfy.
She sees him and holds out hercup, but she catches only a few
drops as she runs by him,because she didn't stop long
(23:12):
enough to be filled up.
Empty can't be tempered withmere drops.
The tragic truth is, what willfill her, or what will fill us,
isn't the accomplishment or thenext relationship ahead.
That shiny thing is actually avacuum that sucks us in and
(23:32):
sucks us dry but never has theability to refill.
Like me, a lot of you haveprobably been there before or
are right there now.
There's no kind of empty quitelike this empty where your hands
are full but inside you arenothing but an exhausted shell.
John 15, 7 says If you abide inme and my words abide in you,
(23:57):
ask whatever you wish and itwill be done for you.
This verse emphasizes theimportance of abiding in Jesus
and staying connected to Him.
Similarly, in Psalm 37, 4, itsays Delight yourself in the
Lord and he will give you thedesires of your heart.
7-4, it says delight yourselfin the Lord and he will give you
the desires of your heart.
This verse highlights thesignificance of delighting in
the Lord and finding joy in Him.
(24:23):
In our fast-paced lives, weoften find ourselves in
difficult situations or messesbecause we are constantly
chasing after the next thing andneglecting our relationship
with God.
It is only through slowing down, abiding in Jesus and
delighting in Him that we canexperience true transformation
and restoration.
By reconnecting with the Onewho can breathe life and love
(24:44):
back into our depleted and deadplaces, we can find peace and
healing.
In the midst of chaos, jesusoffers us a different way of
living, one that is not definedby the rat race but by the
slower rhythms of life, such asabiding, delighting and dwelling
in His presence.
These words remind us to trustHim with our place and our pace,
(25:07):
allowing Him to guide us andlead us on a path of restoration
and renewal.
As we learn to be with Jesus,in these slow moments, we can
experience his love and grace inawesome ways leading us out of
our messes and into a place ofpeace and wholeness.
(25:27):
Psalm 91.1 says he who dwells inthe shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of theAlmighty.
This verse emphasizes theimportance of dwelling in the
presence of God and seekingrefuge in Him.
The imagery of being in theshadow of the Almighty conveys a
sense of protection, safety andintimacy with God.
(25:50):
When we choose to slow down,abide in Jesus and delight in
Him, we are essentially dwellingin the shelter of the Most High
.
By intentionally spending timein God's presence, seeking His
guidance and trusting in Hisprovision, we can experience
true peace and security.
Just like being in the shadowof a mighty fortress provides
(26:12):
shelter from harm, dwelling inGod's presence offers us
protection from the chaos andchallenges of life.
As we dwell in the shelter ofthe Most High, we can find
comfort, strength and renewal inHis presence.
This verse reminds us that ourultimate refuge and security can
only be found in God, and byabiding in Him we can experience
(26:36):
the fullness of His love andgrace.
In the slow moments of dwellingin God's presence, we can find
rest for our souls andrestoration for our weary hearts
.
Did you catch the beautifulfilling promise in each of those
verses.
Did you catch the beautifulfilling promise in each of those
verses?
Abiding in Jesus, delighting inHim and dwelling in His presence
(26:58):
.
They all point to the beautifulfilling and alignment that
occurs when we prioritize ourrelationship with God.
When we choose to abide,delight and dwell in Him, our
desires begin to align with Hisbest for us.
As we draw closer to God andseek His will above our own, he
places within us desires thatreflect His heart and purpose
(27:21):
for our lives.
This means that when we ask forsomething in accordance with
His will, he is faithful tofulfill those requests because
they are consistent with Hisbest for us.
This alignment allows us totrust in God's provision and
know that he will satisfy thedesires of our hearts because
(27:41):
they are in harmony with His own.
When we are connected to Godthrough abiding, delighting and
dwelling in Him, we tap into Hisconsistent power and stability.
This connection enables us tofind strength in His presence,
knowing that he is the source ofunwavering support and security
in our lives.
By aligning our hearts with His, we can experience the fullness
(28:06):
of His promises and theabundant blessings that come
from walking in closerelationship with Him.
And this is the fullness of theperson who can truly live loved
.
This was the kind of fullnessthat that woman needed to
properly process the woman atthe gym.
This is the depth offulfillment we require in every
(28:29):
challenge we encounter, and itis precisely the richness we
seek as we fulfill our purposeof spreading Jesus' love in a
world in need of hope.
Mark, chapter 3, verse 14 and 15, says and he appointed twelve,
whom he also named apostles, sothat they might be with him and
he might send them out to preachand have authority to cast out
(28:51):
demons, and he might send themout to preach and have authority
to cast out demons.
This passage shows the dualnature of the disciples' calling
when Jesus appointed them.
The first part of their callingwas to be with him.
This involved spending time inclose fellowship with Jesus,
learning from him and developinga deep personal relationship
with him.
This intimate connection wasessential for the disciples to
(29:15):
truly understand Jesus'teachings, character and mission
.
By being with Him, they wereable to witness His miracles,
hear His teachings andexperience His love and grace
firsthand.
The second part of theircalling was to be sent out to
preach, cast out demons andminister in Jesus' name, after
(29:37):
spending time with Jesus andreceiving His teachings.
The disciples were empoweredand equipped to go out into the
world and share the good news ofthe kingdom of God.
They were given authority toperform miracles and confront
the forces of darkness,demonstrating the power and
presence of God in their lives.
This two-fold calling of beingwith Jesus and being sent out to
(29:59):
proclaim His message is stillrelevant for us today.
Just like the disciples, we arecalled to cultivate a deep
personal relationship with Jesusthrough prayer, studying the
Word, worship and fellowshipwith other believers.
This intimate connection withChrist is essential for us to
grow in our faith, maturity andunderstanding of His will for
(30:22):
our lives.
Additionally, we are alsocalled to go out into the world
and share the love of Jesus withothers, whether it is through
evangelism, serving in ourcommunities or ministering to
those in need.
We are called to be ambassadorsof Christ and bring His light
and hope to a broken and hurtingworld.
(30:43):
By following the example of thedisciples and embracing both
aspects of their calling, we canexperience the fullness of what
it means to be a disciple ofJesus and fulfill our purpose in
advancing His kingdom here onearth.
Fullness comes to us when weremember to be with Him before
we go out to serve Him.
When we prioritize being withJesus before engaging in serving
(31:08):
Him, we open ourselves up to asense of fullness and alignment
with His will.
Jesus desires for our hearts tobe intimately connected with
His before we set out to carryout tasks and assignments for
Him.
This alignment allows us toapproach our daily
responsibilities with a sense ofpurpose, clarity and
(31:31):
intentionality.
Through spending time with Jesusin prayer, worship and studying
His Word, we are reminded ofHis love, grace and truth.
This daily connection with Himenables us to receive the
strength, wisdom and guidancethat we need to navigate the
challenges and opportunitiesthat come our way, that we need
(31:54):
to navigate the challenges andopportunities that come our way.
Jesus graciously extends whatwe need to fulfill our calling
and invites us to partake in Hispresence and grace.
Each day, as we immerseourselves in His presence and
allow Him to replenish our cups,Jesus gently reminds us that
the Christian journey is not arace to see who can achieve the
fastest pace or accomplish themost tasks.
(32:15):
Instead, he calls us topersevere on the path that he
has uniquely marked out for us,trusting in His timing and
guidance by fixing our focus onstaying in love with Him and
seeking His kingdom above allelse, we can experience a deep
sense of fulfillment and purposeas we walk in obedience and
(32:36):
surrender to His will.
Jesus' desire is for us to findjoy and satisfaction in abiding
in Him, rather than strivingfor worldly recognition or
success.
Then, and only then, will Istop flirting with this world
and instead operate from thefull assurance of His love.
(33:00):
It's not a conscious decision inmy mind that I am worthy of
love, nor is it aboutmanipulating my feelings to
believe I am loved.
Instead, it's about a deepunderstanding in my soul that I
was created by God, who lovinglyformed me because he cherished
the very essence of who I am.
Before I even existed.
(33:21):
He saw value in me and declaredme not just good, but very good
and deeply loved.
Hence I have the ability tocultivate a loving atmosphere in
any circumstance that Iencounter.
I do not need to wait, wish orstrive to obtain it.
Instead, I can simply radiatethe love I desire.
(33:43):
In doing so, I am less inclinedto seek validation from the
world, as I have already foundtrue approval from God.
Validation from the world, as Ihave already found true
approval from God.
Additionally, I am less proneto misinterpret rejection when
it is not present, as I am notlonging for external affection.
I am loved.
(34:04):
This should be the Genesisthought of every day, not
because of how awesome I am.
God doesn't base what he thinksabout me On my own futile
efforts.
No, god's love isn't based onme.
It's simply placed on me andit's the place from which I
should live, loved.
(34:27):
The fear of rejection is ananxiety that runs deep inside of
us.
Often we're not even aware ofhow significantly it is
influencing us and affecting us.
When the fear of rejectiondominates us, we make lots of
bad decisions.
When we're insecure on theinside, we miss some of the best
(34:47):
that God has for us.
You will never experienceenough love from people to
successfully and perpetuallyfree you from insecurity and the
fear of rejection.
The only love that can and willdo this is God's love.
If you were to write thedefinition of love, what would
(35:09):
it be?
If you were to write thedefinition of rejection, what
would that be?
Rejection is linked to prideand perfection.
The pride that we have in lifesometimes causes us to expect
perfection in everything we do.
When we are rejected, we takeit harder and, without knowing
(35:31):
it.
We usually turn around andreject someone else ourselves in
similar fashions.
One thing you have to rememberdoors will always close in your
face.
It's up to you to open new onesand move on.
What have you been rejected frombefore?
Not making a sports team or aclub, not getting selected for
(35:56):
something, someone not likingyou back or not wanting to date
you, not feeling like you arepart of a social circle of
people, or feeling like peopledo not accept you?
How did you feel when you gotrejected?
Was you hurt?
Did you feel pity?
Were you shamed, frustrated,confused, upset, unmotivated or
(36:19):
isolated?
Is rejection always bad?
You know, sometimes rejectionwill open new doors.
Can rejection lead to successlater?
Do people who never facerejection and always get what
they want struggle in life lateron?
(36:40):
Have you ever felt jealous of afriend who got something that
you wanted?
Has someone ever made fun ofyou for being rejected from
something?
Why is it so important to pursuehealing for the pain of your
past?
What effect can this have onyour ability to move forward in
(37:00):
the future?
What effect can this have onyour ability to move forward in
the future?
How can you retrain your brainso that you think and care more
about God's approval than theapproval of others?
Well, those are all questionsthat we all probably ask.
The sad reality is that manypeople will take pleasure in
(37:24):
seeing you not get what you wantand get rejected.
You must keep a positiveattitude and not let that get to
you.
Most importantly, you mustpersevere.
Rejection is not failure, it isredirection.
Well, that's going to do it forthis week's episode and that
(37:44):
wraps up our three-part serieson rejection.
Please subscribe to be surethat you don't miss any future
episodes here from Connectingthe Gap.
I'm Daniel Moore.
Thank you, guys, for listeningthis week.
This show really wouldn't bepossible without you.
If you're a fan of the show,please leave a review on Apple
Podcasts, or if you'd like tohelp us out, just take a few
seconds to give us a five-starclick and please subscribe to us
(38:05):
on your favorite platform.
The links for those are in theshow notes.
Well, that's all for this week,and we believe that God's Word
never fails us.
God's Word has stood the testof time and, through Jesus'
death on the cross, he hasconnected the gap.
Aria (38:41):
You've been listening, death on the cross other.
To connect the gap, we upload anew audio podcast every
Thursday and a video version ofit on YouTube and Rumble.
We are also on the Christianpodcasting app Edify.
You can subscribe to ourpodcast on many of the available
podcasting platforms, includingApple Podcast, spotify, amazon
Music, iheart Radio, tuneinRadio and more.
We are also available on yourAlexa-enabled devices.
(39:02):
If you would like to contactour ministry for any reason,
visit our contact page and sendus a message.
We hope you are blessed by thisministry.
This is a production ofConnecting the Gap Ministries.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.