1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: Life audio, Does it ever seem like God loves other 2 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:10,559 Speaker 1: people more than He loves you? Maybe it looks like 3 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 1: everything goes their way or their families are all put together, 4 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: not a prodigal insight, and everyone enjoys each other. We, however, 5 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:23,240 Speaker 1: see our lives as a hot mess, unanswered prayers everywhere, 6 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 1: and trouble after trouble. When we equate blessing and favor 7 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 1: with love, we can begin to feel rejected and abandoned 8 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 1: by God when we don't feel blessed or favored by him. Today, 9 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 1: we are going to be talking about overcoming rejection and 10 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 1: abandonment with God's love. Almost all of us carry rejection 11 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:47,840 Speaker 1: and abandonment because most of us have experienced someone walking away, 12 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:51,200 Speaker 1: excluding us or making us feel like we don't belong, 13 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: and those wounds run deep. They're not just hurt feelings. 14 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 1: They can shape how we see ourselves, how we relate 15 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:01,639 Speaker 1: to others, and how we imagine and God sees us. Today, 16 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:04,559 Speaker 1: we want to walk into the truth that Christ's love 17 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 1: actually heals these hurt places. Welcome to your hope filled perspective, 18 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: where it's always our goal to restore hope, renew minds, 19 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 1: and empower listeners to live in their God given identity. 20 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: I'm your host, doctor Michelle Bankson Forard, certified clinical neuropsychologist, author, speaker, 21 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:26,840 Speaker 1: and fellow journer in this trek towards emotional and spiritual wellness. 22 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:29,959 Speaker 1: I'm delighted you've decided to spend a few minutes with 23 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 1: your week with us. Today we are going to be 24 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 1: talking about how to overcome rejection and abandonment with God's love. 25 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: We'll dive into that right after this brief word from 26 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: our sponsor. Abandonment and rejection can be traced back to 27 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 1: the Garden of Eden, not because God sent Adam and 28 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: Eve away, but to the moment when Adam and Eve 29 00:01:55,800 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 1: chose to reject God's way for their own understanding. Since then, 30 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 1: humanity has applied their own understanding of love to how 31 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: they think God should love them. Love isn't about wants, 32 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: but it's about what's best. Does this make it hard 33 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 1: to understand when someone gets what we want? Yes? But 34 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:18,639 Speaker 1: can we learn to trust God's heart for us? Double? 35 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 2: Yes. 36 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: Rejection isn't just a moment, It's a story our hearts 37 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 1: can start telling us, and often on repeat. It says, See, 38 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: You're not enough. See people always leave. See You're not 39 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: worth choosing. The rejection narrative comes from the oldest human experiences, 40 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 1: a parent who wasn't present, a spouse who checked out emotionally, 41 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: a friend group that stopped inviting us, or a church 42 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,359 Speaker 1: that didn't know what to do with our pain. Scripture 43 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 1: tells us in Jeremiah thirty one, verse three, the Lord 44 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: appeared to us in the past, saying, I have loved 45 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,920 Speaker 1: you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with 46 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:02,639 Speaker 1: unfailing kindness. It can be so hard to remember God's 47 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 1: everlasting love when we feel rejected or abandoned by God. 48 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: Joining me for today's conversation is my co host, Jessica 49 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: van Rukeel. Welcome back, jess. 50 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 3: Thank you. 51 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:15,640 Speaker 2: I am glad that we are able to bring this 52 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 2: topic and talk about it. 53 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 1: I personally have experienced rejection when I walked into, say, 54 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: a social situation where I was can I say clearly 55 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 1: not part of the in group or the popular group, 56 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 1: And boy, how it dampened my spirit. It left me 57 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 1: feeling alone. I felt disconnected from people, and I even 58 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 1: started to question God, why did you make me this way? 59 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 1: If I can't fit in with this crowd? Like, what 60 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 1: good am I? Have you ever experienced a time when 61 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: you felt abandoned by God? 62 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 3: Yeah? 63 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 2: I have. I'm I'm resonating with what you just said 64 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 2: and shared your own story because I don't. 65 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 3: I've never been part of the in crowd, popular crowd. 66 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 3: I'm just gonna say, I don't know what that's like. 67 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 2: But I have felt abandoned and rejected by God. It 68 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 2: was during the birth of my third child, and that 69 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 2: labor turned into it was it was just it was 70 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 2: too long, the staff was lacked compassion, and everything that 71 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:25,159 Speaker 2: I prayed for to happen didn't happen, and I felt 72 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:27,720 Speaker 2: so abandoned by God. In that moment, I was in 73 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 2: such physical pain, emotional pain, and I just felt like 74 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 2: God walked out of the room and I was left 75 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 2: there alone. And that was twenty one years ago, and 76 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 2: I still remember what that felt like, and so I'm 77 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 2: glad that we can talk about how that feels today 78 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,479 Speaker 2: for our listeners. Michelle, what kinds of things did you 79 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 2: tell yourself to help you overcome abandonment and rejection with 80 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 2: Christ's love? 81 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: It took a long time, and in all transparency, this 82 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 1: is something I have to keep relearning remembering because let's 83 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 1: face it, as humans, we want to be accepted, We 84 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:09,600 Speaker 1: want to be seen as valued and worthy. We even 85 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 1: want to be esteemed, right. That was part of Eve's problem. 86 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 1: She wanted to have as much knowledge as God and 87 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 1: be like him. And in your story and in mind 88 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 1: just I can see a common thread, and that is 89 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: we often feel rejected or abandoned by God when our 90 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 1: situation didn't go the way we hoped, and so I 91 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:39,239 Speaker 1: think we start to equate those disappointments with God's lack 92 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: of favor. And I've had to realize as I've grown 93 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 1: and matured, and it's not been easy, but I'm just 94 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,480 Speaker 1: not going to be everyone's cup of tea, and everybody 95 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 1: isn't mine. It's also been a learning process that my 96 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: value or lack thereof, in someone else's eyes, doesn't determine 97 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:02,279 Speaker 1: my worth. It feels like it does in the moment, 98 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: but it doesn't. And even those who know me the 99 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: most really only know a small piece of me. But 100 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: it's comforting to know that God knows me completely. What 101 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: have you found has helped you overcome? 102 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 2: I have found that, And I'm thinking back to that 103 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:27,359 Speaker 2: hospital room twenty one years ago. Where my knowledge of 104 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 2: what God said about how He's always with me and 105 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:33,840 Speaker 2: he'll never forsake me with what I experienced in the moment. 106 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:36,840 Speaker 2: They didn't jibe. They didn't match up. 107 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:37,840 Speaker 3: And so I. 108 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:40,839 Speaker 2: Thought, Okay, so if what I know in the Bible, 109 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 2: if I say that it's true, what am I missing 110 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 2: or why am I struggling to apply it to circumstances 111 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 2: that again don't go my way? And so for me, 112 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 2: one of the very very first steps and helping me 113 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 2: overcome that feeling of rejection or abandonment by God was 114 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 2: actually getting to know him better. And it was it 115 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 2: was more about let me get to know his heart. 116 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 2: Obviously I'm missing something. 117 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 3: That's That's really what I needed to do. 118 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 2: So I honestly just dove into scripture and I would 119 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 2: sit with him and I would just talk to him, 120 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 2: and I would accuse him and and I would express 121 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 2: my anger and disappointment and my hurt. And he met 122 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 2: me there in all of that mess and hurt and pain, 123 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 2: and as I continued to be gut level honest with him, 124 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 2: he stayed the same. He met me with grace and kindness, 125 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 2: and he showed me maybe where my thoughts were leading 126 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 2: me away from him, and he gently and lovingly steered 127 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 2: me back to him. And so for me, what really 128 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 2: helped me overcome was getting to know him so that 129 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 2: he was in his rightful place in my heart, not 130 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 2: my expectations, not my understanding of what blessing and favor is. 131 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 3: It was to come to know that I can. 132 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 2: Be fully, completely, one hundred percent blessed and favored by God, 133 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 2: and my life is a hot mess, that my hot 134 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 2: mess doesn't change the fact that I'm blessed and I'm favored. 135 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 1: I think we tend to equate favor and blessing with 136 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 1: earthly outcome. Yeah, and that's where we go wrong. But 137 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 1: what you did by diving into the scripture is a 138 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 1: hard thing to do when you feel rejected and abandoned 139 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 1: by God, because at its root, it requires we get 140 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: over our own pride yep, and realize that maybe there's 141 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 1: something we don't know that we need to know. 142 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 2: And I just want to add just a PostScript to 143 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:56,720 Speaker 2: that story, and I want people to know that it 144 00:08:56,760 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 2: didn't happen in one day. That process took me almost 145 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 2: two years. I would open my Bible and read and 146 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 2: it was like it was dead to me, I would 147 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 2: just read words and be like okay. But I persisted 148 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:13,720 Speaker 2: because I knew, I knew that the answer. I knew 149 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 2: that the answer to all of my angst and all 150 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 2: of my feelings was found in the word of God. 151 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 2: So I persisted, and through that time I learned that 152 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 2: that God is faithful when we are faithful and we 153 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:31,320 Speaker 2: just keep pressing in God's working behind the scenes, he 154 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:34,960 Speaker 2: is making a way when we can see no way. 155 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 2: So I want, I really want our listeners to know 156 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 2: that that that journey for me, helping me overcome was 157 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 2: not did not happen in a day, a week, a month. 158 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 2: It happened over a course of two years. So, friends, 159 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 2: we're going to continue our conversation about how to overcome 160 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 2: rejection and abandonment with Christ's love after we take this 161 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 2: brief break for a word from our sponsor. 162 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 1: Welcome back to your Hope Field perspective. Today we are 163 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 1: talking about how to overcome rejection and abandonment with Christ's love. 164 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:11,959 Speaker 1: It's that time of year when love seems to be commercialized, 165 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 1: but it's so important that we remember that Christ's love 166 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 1: isn't for sale. He already paid the price. His love 167 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:23,400 Speaker 1: is offered freely. Yet just I tend to see two 168 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:27,959 Speaker 1: different responses to Christ's love. It's either considered too good 169 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 1: to be true and therefore must be false, or he's 170 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 1: treated like a vending machine, like we put good behavior 171 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 1: in and we expect to get exactly what we want 172 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: in return. And before the break, you and I were 173 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:47,199 Speaker 1: both sharing about situations and circumstances where we felt rejected 174 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 1: or abandoned, and we equated that to rejection or abandonment, 175 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:56,960 Speaker 1: even from God because our situation wasn't what we wanted. 176 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 1: So either response can lead to feeling rich at or abandoned. 177 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: So let's turn our conversation to how do we overcome 178 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,840 Speaker 1: rejection and abandonment with God's love at the center of 179 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 1: that equation. 180 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:13,240 Speaker 2: Well, one of the first things we can do is 181 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 2: remember Jesus Christ understands rejection. He came to show us 182 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 2: the way back to the Father, and he said in 183 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 2: John chapter six, verse thirty eight, for I've come down 184 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:26,720 Speaker 2: from heaven not to do my own will, but the 185 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:29,680 Speaker 2: will of him who sent me. You see, the Father's 186 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 2: will led him to die on a cross, lay in 187 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 2: a tomb for three days, and rise again so that 188 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 2: we could be reconciled to God and to know his 189 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 2: love for us again. Just as his father was rejected, 190 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:44,960 Speaker 2: Christ knew that he would be rejected. 191 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: That reminds me of Isaiah fifty six, verse three, which 192 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: says he was despised and rejected by humanity, by mankind, 193 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 1: a man of suffering and familiar with pain, like one 194 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:02,679 Speaker 1: from whom people it hid their faces. He was despised, 195 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:07,120 Speaker 1: and we held him in low esteem. So that's such 196 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 1: a good reminder to us that Jesus knows what it 197 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:13,839 Speaker 1: was like to be abandoned by his friends. He asked 198 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:16,960 Speaker 1: his friends if they could just stay awake with him 199 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 1: in the garden, and yet they fell asleep. I can 200 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: only imagine that feeling of rejection and abandonment in Jesus. 201 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 1: He was misunderstood by his own family, and he was 202 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 1: betrayed by one of his closest friends. 203 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, and later in John chapter six, people walked away 204 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 2: from him because they didn't like what he said. 205 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 1: Yeah. 206 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 2: I mean, I've had that happen to me, and I 207 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:45,960 Speaker 2: get all huffy about it. But Jesus had that happen 208 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:47,440 Speaker 2: and he didn't get huffy about it. 209 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 1: Right, He had so much more patience for people than 210 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 1: I do. 211 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 2: And grace so a great model, right, what a great model. 212 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 2: And even in his mostper hour, his disciples scatter, and 213 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:05,800 Speaker 2: one denied knowing him. And when he was on the cross, 214 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:08,080 Speaker 2: he cried out, my God, my God, why have you 215 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 2: forsaken me? When he took the punishment of our sins 216 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 2: rightfully deserved. 217 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 3: So if you've ever felt unwanted, unseen, or left alone. 218 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:20,560 Speaker 2: Abandon I want you to remember that Jesus understands you 219 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 2: are not alone. 220 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: The second thing we can do to overcome rejection and 221 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 1: abandonment is to renew our minds. Christ's love doesn't just 222 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 1: comfort us, it actually redefines us. Rejection tends to tell 223 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:39,200 Speaker 1: us that we're unworthy. Christ tells us that we're chosen. 224 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:44,520 Speaker 1: Ephesians one says we're chosen before the foundation of the world. 225 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: Can you imagine, before anyone had the chance to reject us, 226 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: God declared that we were his. 227 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, and an abandonment says people leave, But God has said. 228 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 3: Never will I leave you, Never will I forsake you. 229 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:01,959 Speaker 2: And in fact, the first of Deteronomy, chapter thirty one, 230 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:05,320 Speaker 2: verse six says, do not be afraid or terrified because 231 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:05,680 Speaker 2: of them. 232 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 3: I have to tell you. 233 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:09,560 Speaker 2: I cannot tell you how many times I've been so 234 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 2: afraid of people's rejection and abandonment that I lose all 235 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:15,120 Speaker 2: courage and common sense. 236 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 1: And the fearing rejection or abandonment ahead of time re 237 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: disposes us. We expect it, so we are more likely 238 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 1: to unconsciously behave in a way that we will be 239 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: rejected or abandoned. I think that's why Romans twelve to 240 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 1: two is so powerful. I know we talk about this 241 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:40,840 Speaker 1: verse all the time, but it's such a life giving verse. 242 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 1: It says, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Basically, 243 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 1: don't expect to be rejected and abandoned because God hasn't 244 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 1: rejected and abandoned us. But our minds are so powerful 245 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: and honestly, what they tell ourselves matters. Because your brain 246 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 1: listens to your thoughts. When you think things like I 247 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 1: can't handle this or I am loved, your brain treats 248 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 1: that thought as important information. It begins to adjust your mood, 249 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 1: your energy, and even your physical reactions based on what 250 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 1: you're saying to yourself. So we need to slow down 251 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 1: and pay attention to our thoughts and not believe every 252 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 1: thought we have Furthermore, repeated thoughts build habits in the brain. 253 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 1: Your brain is always rewiring itself. The question is what 254 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:41,440 Speaker 1: direction is it rewiring. When you think the same message 255 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 1: again and again, your brain builds stronger neural pathways, so 256 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:49,800 Speaker 1: soon your brain can travel down that path faster and 257 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: more automatically. And that's why negative thinking can become a pattern. 258 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 1: But the good news is is that positive thinking can 259 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:02,840 Speaker 1: become one too. It's important that we remember our thoughts 260 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 1: affect our body. Thoughts trigger chemical reactions. Stressful, self critical 261 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 1: thoughts release stress hormones like cortisol. Encouraging hopeful thoughts release 262 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 1: feel good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, and these chemicals 263 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:22,080 Speaker 1: influence all sorts of things like your heart rate, your 264 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 1: immune system, how well you sleep, and more. Your brain, 265 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: though doesn't always separate imagination from reality. If you consistently 266 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 1: picture failure, your brain prepares for danger, and if you 267 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 1: imagine success, your brain gets ready to try. So what 268 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 1: you focus on, your brain starts to expect. Basically, the 269 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 1: messages you repeat become the beliefs you live by. Your 270 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 1: thoughts aren't just background noise, they're actually instructions. Your brain follows. 271 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 2: Wow, I am just so floored by this information. And 272 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 2: every time you talk about this, I come back to Wow, 273 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:08,960 Speaker 2: I actually get to impact what's happening to me through 274 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 2: remember paying attention to what my thoughts are. I can't 275 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 2: tell you how many times where I'm grumpy at the 276 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 2: end of the day and I start thinking, well, oh well, 277 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:23,239 Speaker 2: I suppose thinking bad thoughts, No wonder I'm grumpy, and 278 00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 2: it just it's marvelous. 279 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:26,200 Speaker 3: Our brain is marvelous. 280 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:29,439 Speaker 2: And I love how Scripture already knew that God already 281 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:30,640 Speaker 2: knew that he made us that way. 282 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:34,479 Speaker 1: So but you drew the connection. Yeah, yeah, Why am 283 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:35,520 Speaker 1: I feeling so bad? 284 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 3: Yeah? 285 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:40,720 Speaker 1: Because I was thinking grumpy thoughts. But the trap comes, Jess, 286 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 1: when we do things like scroll social media while we're 287 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 1: standing in line at the grocery store. You and I 288 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 1: have talked about this so many times, and we recently 289 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:52,199 Speaker 1: had an episode on the podcast about us taking a 290 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:56,760 Speaker 1: social media reset because in situations like that, we're not 291 00:17:56,880 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 1: even mindful of what we're thinking, and we've just come 292 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 1: out of all the holidays and that tendency to compare 293 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 1: our family members grumpy faces and pictures to everybody else's happy, happy. 294 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:14,760 Speaker 1: So what you did was take a moment to think, 295 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 1: why am I feeling this way? Well, because I was 296 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 1: thinking this way. The problem comes because we don't do 297 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:22,320 Speaker 1: that often enough. 298 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:26,080 Speaker 2: Oh wow, friends, we are going to take a short 299 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 2: break for a word from our sponsor, but stick with 300 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:32,640 Speaker 2: us to hear practical steps on how to overcome rejection 301 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:34,720 Speaker 2: and abandonment with Christ's love. 302 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 1: Before the break, we talked about remembering that Jesus understands rejection. 303 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:48,600 Speaker 1: We also talked about the importance of renewing our minds 304 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 1: and paying attention to what we're thinking. I want to 305 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:56,439 Speaker 1: turn the conversation towards getting practical and share with our 306 00:18:56,520 --> 00:19:01,280 Speaker 1: listeners and viewers how Jesus Christ loved actually heals the 307 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 1: wounds from rejection and abandonment, and the. 308 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 2: First step is to bring the honest pain to him. 309 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 2: Rejection and abandonment are heavy burdens to carry. They weigh 310 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 2: us down, and it's like there are two heavy log 311 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 2: chains we drag everywhere. Now. I'm living farming countries, so 312 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:20,480 Speaker 2: I know what log chains are, and the links are 313 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:23,240 Speaker 2: like this bigger round and I can't lift them. But 314 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 2: yet that's what I picture when I'm dragging around rejection 315 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 2: and abandonment. It takes so much more energy to just 316 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:34,399 Speaker 2: do our everyday lives. But this is the truth of 317 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 2: the matter. We can't heal what we hide. Jesus invites honesty, 318 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 2: he said in Matthew Chapter eleven, verses twenty eight through thirty. 319 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:46,680 Speaker 3: Come to me, all you who are weary. 320 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:49,679 Speaker 2: And burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my 321 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 2: yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am 322 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:56,159 Speaker 2: gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest 323 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 2: for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my 324 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:04,119 Speaker 2: burden is light. Name what we feel starts our healing process. 325 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 1: That's such an important truth because frequently we feel all 326 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:12,000 Speaker 1: the feels, but we don't stop to think about what 327 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 1: we're feeling. Yeah. The second tip that I would give 328 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:21,160 Speaker 1: is to replace the false story with truth. Every rejection 329 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 1: writes a script in our minds, but Jesus gives us 330 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:28,720 Speaker 1: a new script. You are beloved. John fifteen nine says, 331 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 1: as the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. 332 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:37,480 Speaker 1: Now remain remain in my love. The truth is you 333 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:41,360 Speaker 1: are chosen. Verse Peter two nine says, but you are 334 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:46,680 Speaker 1: a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's 335 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:51,200 Speaker 1: special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him 336 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:54,880 Speaker 1: who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 337 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:59,639 Speaker 1: Another truth is you are adopted. Ephesians one four reminds 338 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:04,719 Speaker 1: us in love he destined us for adoption to sonship 339 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:08,679 Speaker 1: through Christ Jesus in accordance with His pleasure and will. 340 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:12,240 Speaker 1: And another truth that when we feel rejected or abandoned 341 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:14,960 Speaker 1: is so important to remember, is that God says you 342 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:18,480 Speaker 1: are mine. Isaiah forty three one says, do not fear, 343 00:21:18,760 --> 00:21:22,600 Speaker 1: for I have redeemed you. I have summoned you by name. 344 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:24,680 Speaker 1: You are mine. 345 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:30,760 Speaker 2: Those truths we should write those down because that it's 346 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:34,320 Speaker 2: relearning a new script. I mean, rejection and abandonment really 347 00:21:34,359 --> 00:21:38,000 Speaker 2: does tell us a false narrative. And yet it's so 348 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 2: believable because our circumstances seemed to be proving it right. 349 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 2: But to remember that God says that we are His, 350 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:48,240 Speaker 2: that we are chosen, that we are adopted, that we 351 00:21:48,280 --> 00:21:48,880 Speaker 2: are beloved. 352 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:53,520 Speaker 3: Boy, that can really rewrite that false script in our mind. 353 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:53,880 Speaker 1: Now. 354 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:59,040 Speaker 2: Third, God often uses his people to rewrite what abandonment 355 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:04,399 Speaker 2: tried to teach us. Healthy patient, consistent relationships remind us 356 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 2: that presence is possible. It is way too easy to 357 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 2: cut off any future friendships when past experiences with people 358 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 2: have left us wounded. We are not meant to live 359 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:18,520 Speaker 2: life isolated and alone. 360 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:20,000 Speaker 3: I know it can. 361 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:23,440 Speaker 2: Be scary to open our hearts up to relationships after 362 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:26,080 Speaker 2: we've been wounded, but it is worth it. 363 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 3: It's worth it because we. 364 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:31,200 Speaker 2: Might miss out on a wonderful healing experience if we 365 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:34,560 Speaker 2: cling to our fear of rejection and abandonment. 366 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:39,439 Speaker 1: Because rejection and abandonment can cause us to go into isolation, 367 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:43,359 Speaker 1: and that is enemy territory. That's where he wants to 368 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 1: get us. The fourth tip that I would say is 369 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:50,480 Speaker 1: that we have to actually practice remaining in Christ's love. 370 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:55,040 Speaker 1: If for so many of us we quickly vacillate out 371 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:59,320 Speaker 1: of that truth, we forget it, So it requires practice. 372 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 1: John ten four says, abide in me and I in you. 373 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:07,280 Speaker 1: As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it 374 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:11,000 Speaker 1: abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide 375 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:17,840 Speaker 1: in me. Healing comes from abiding, Transformation comes from abiding, 376 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:23,800 Speaker 1: Peace comes from abiding, Maturity comes from abiding. So basically, 377 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:30,480 Speaker 1: we practice remaining abiding in Christ's love through prayer, through worship, 378 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 1: through our devotional time through remembering his faithfulness. The more 379 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:40,760 Speaker 1: we abide in his presence, the less power those old 380 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:41,440 Speaker 1: wounds have. 381 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:46,119 Speaker 2: Yes, abiding sounds simple, but it's a lifetime. It's a 382 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:49,400 Speaker 2: daily habit, a daily progress, and the more we do it, 383 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:54,119 Speaker 2: the more automatic it becomes. Now, finally, start praying every 384 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 2: morning like this, Jesus, remind me you're not going anywhere. 385 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:02,919 Speaker 2: Over time, this simple prayer can start to dismantle the 386 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:06,960 Speaker 2: fear of rejection and abandonment because it helps us trust 387 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:08,520 Speaker 2: in Jesus's steadiness. 388 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:12,800 Speaker 1: Healing doesn't begin with convincing ourselves that people won't leave. 389 00:24:13,480 --> 00:24:17,399 Speaker 1: In fact, healing doesn't guarantee they won't leave. It shifts 390 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 1: our mindset, and healing begins when we realize that Jesus's 391 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:26,440 Speaker 1: love stays. Yeah, if you're listening and carrying the ache 392 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:31,399 Speaker 1: of being forgotten, replaced, or overlooked. But Jessic and I 393 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:32,960 Speaker 1: can relate. We've been there. 394 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:33,400 Speaker 2: Yeah. 395 00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 1: But that's when it's so important to remember that Christ's 396 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:41,119 Speaker 1: love isn't fragile. It doesn't get tired, It doesn't reconsider 397 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:45,360 Speaker 1: whether it wants you, It doesn't change depending on your performance, 398 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:49,119 Speaker 1: It doesn't walk away when you mess up. Just if 399 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:53,439 Speaker 1: a listener or a viewer is resonating with our conversation today, 400 00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 1: maybe they too feel rejected or abandoned, or this is 401 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:01,240 Speaker 1: reminding them of times when they di what hope filled 402 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:03,000 Speaker 1: perspective would you want to leave them with? 403 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 2: Keep picturing when Jesus asked John the Baptist to baptize him, 404 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:13,640 Speaker 2: and we here we have God in flesh being baptized. Yeah, 405 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:17,359 Speaker 2: And as he came up out of the water, Scripture 406 00:25:17,359 --> 00:25:20,959 Speaker 2: says that the heavens opened and a dove appeared in 407 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 2: a voice. God's voice said, this is my son in 408 00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:27,000 Speaker 2: whom I am well pleased. Of course God is pleased 409 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:32,080 Speaker 2: with his son. But this declaration came before Jesus started 410 00:25:32,119 --> 00:25:37,400 Speaker 2: his ministry, before he started down the journey to the cross. 411 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:41,199 Speaker 2: And I think so often in our performance minded world, 412 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:45,200 Speaker 2: we think we got to perform in order to receive approval. Yeah, 413 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:47,679 Speaker 2: but I want to say that the moment that you 414 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:50,919 Speaker 2: receive Christ as your savior and you're reconciled to God, 415 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:53,879 Speaker 2: God is looking at you and saying, this is my daughter, 416 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:56,160 Speaker 2: This is my son and whom I am well pleased, 417 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:59,439 Speaker 2: And that when we are feeling rejected or abandoned, to 418 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:03,240 Speaker 2: go back to that moment and to remember that you 419 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:07,040 Speaker 2: are God's beloved, that he chose you, that he loves 420 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 2: you with an everlasting love, and that he will always 421 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:15,720 Speaker 2: be with you. I want to pray before we close, 422 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:19,040 Speaker 2: Heavenly Father, thank you so very much for who you 423 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:22,000 Speaker 2: are and the fact that you chose us before we 424 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:25,840 Speaker 2: ever thought about choosing you. God, I pray for the 425 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:29,159 Speaker 2: one that is feeling rejected and abandoned. Lord, that they 426 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:31,479 Speaker 2: would look to you, Lord, that they would that they 427 00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:35,520 Speaker 2: would that they would know that you call them beloved, Lord, 428 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:38,080 Speaker 2: that they would know that you call them your own, 429 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:41,320 Speaker 2: that they would know that they are safe and secure 430 00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:45,200 Speaker 2: within the palm of your hand. God. I just thank 431 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:48,560 Speaker 2: you for this conversation. I thank you for your faithfulness, 432 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:50,679 Speaker 2: and Lord, I thank you for what you're going to 433 00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:54,200 Speaker 2: do in the lives of our listeners today. In Jesus' name, 434 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:54,840 Speaker 2: we pray. 435 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:59,199 Speaker 1: Amen, Man, thank you for that. Jessica. Friends, as we 436 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:02,520 Speaker 1: started off this episode saying, Jessica and I have both 437 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:07,400 Speaker 1: experienced feelings of rejection and abandonment, and I would love 438 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:09,600 Speaker 1: to tell you we don't ever struggle with that, but 439 00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:12,679 Speaker 1: we live in a fallen world, and the enemy knows 440 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:16,439 Speaker 1: what has been effective in our lives before, and he 441 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:20,520 Speaker 1: always goes back to those areas that were effective first. Yes, 442 00:27:20,920 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 1: so we continue to have to remember that our worth 443 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:27,280 Speaker 1: doesn't come from the opinions of other people, and that 444 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:30,639 Speaker 1: though other people may reject us or abandon us, we 445 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:34,359 Speaker 1: have to rest fully in the knowledge that Christ never will. 446 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:38,679 Speaker 1: He came, he proved his love, he sacrificed his life 447 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:42,720 Speaker 1: out of his great love, and his love is never ending. 448 00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:46,679 Speaker 1: I hope that you're encouraged by that, and I hope 449 00:27:46,680 --> 00:27:49,920 Speaker 1: that on those days that are difficult, that you'll remember 450 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:54,400 Speaker 1: you are beloved, you are chosen, you are his. That's 451 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:57,399 Speaker 1: our desire for you is that you would return to 452 00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:00,880 Speaker 1: truth because lies can be so convinced, but we can 453 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:05,240 Speaker 1: interrupt that thought pattern, and that's your best defense against 454 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:08,479 Speaker 1: the lives. If there was something in today's episode that 455 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:12,000 Speaker 1: resonated with you, encouraged your heart, or you know someone 456 00:28:12,040 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 1: who's struggling with feelings of rejection and abandonment, which you 457 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:18,399 Speaker 1: please consider sharing this episode with them so they'll have 458 00:28:18,440 --> 00:28:22,040 Speaker 1: a biblically based Hope Field perspective. And while you're at it, 459 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:25,800 Speaker 1: would you please consider subscribing to the podcast and the 460 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:28,480 Speaker 1: follow up blog that goes live every Monday, because we 461 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:33,000 Speaker 1: don't want you to miss another hope filled perspective based 462 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:36,359 Speaker 1: in God's truth. We look forward to having another episode 463 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:39,440 Speaker 1: with you next week, but you know it's our prayer 464 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:42,000 Speaker 1: for you in the meantime that you would have a 465 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:42,960 Speaker 1: hope filled week. 466 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:52,400 Speaker 4: Everyone experiences pain at times. It can manifest physically, emotionally, relationally, 467 00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:58,600 Speaker 4: or spiritually. It can follow tragic accidents, great loss, sudden betrayal, 468 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:04,280 Speaker 4: or unexpected did an unwanted change. Often pain is temporary, 469 00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:07,240 Speaker 4: but what do you do when it isn't? When pain 470 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:11,480 Speaker 4: won't go away, healing does not come, and grief and 471 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:15,640 Speaker 4: hurt settle in to stay. Drawing on her experience of 472 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:20,640 Speaker 4: chronic pain in her years as a board certified clinical neuropsychologist, 473 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:26,120 Speaker 4: doctor Michelle Benkson provides a countercultural perspective on pain, offering 474 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:31,160 Speaker 4: hope without any false promises or empty platitudes. Doctor Benkson 475 00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:35,920 Speaker 4: unwraps the complex emotional aspects of dealing with pain. She 476 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:39,960 Speaker 4: gives you permission to question God, helps you identify the 477 00:29:40,040 --> 00:29:44,000 Speaker 4: lies you've believed about your pain, and reorients your perspective 478 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:48,160 Speaker 4: based on the truth of God's word. Each chapter ends 479 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:53,200 Speaker 4: with a recommended playlist, reflection questions, and a prayer. Your 480 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:57,400 Speaker 4: pain may not change, but your experience with it can. 481 00:29:57,840 --> 00:30:03,520 Speaker 4: Doctor Sondra Dalton's Smith, physician, best selling author and a 482 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:07,880 Speaker 4: host of the I Choose My Best Life podcast, had 483 00:30:07,960 --> 00:30:11,360 Speaker 4: this to say about the Hem of His Garment. Doctor 484 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:15,120 Speaker 4: Michelle Bankson is honest and transparent, and she gives the 485 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:18,920 Speaker 4: reader permission to ask hard questions and practical guidance on 486 00:30:19,080 --> 00:30:21,680 Speaker 4: how to seek God during times when you feel the 487 00:30:21,720 --> 00:30:26,040 Speaker 4: most wounded. A beautiful gift for every person living with pain. 488 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:30,760 Speaker 4: Holy Girth, best selling author of What Your Mind Needs 489 00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:35,320 Speaker 4: for Anxious Moments says pain is inevitable, but enduring it 490 00:30:35,360 --> 00:30:38,960 Speaker 4: alone is optional. Doctor Michelle Bankson is a voice of 491 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:42,200 Speaker 4: hope who will speak into your struggles at helping hand 492 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:45,840 Speaker 4: who will point you to Jesus and a wise guide 493 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:49,320 Speaker 4: who will lead you through what you're facing so you 494 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:53,920 Speaker 4: can embrace more of what our good God has for you. 495 00:30:54,360 --> 00:30:57,200 Speaker 4: Pick up a copy of the Hem of His Garments 496 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:00,640 Speaker 4: for you and a friend wherever books are sold. 497 00:31:04,720 --> 00:31:08,400 Speaker 5: Thank you for joining doctor Bankson for your hope build perspective. 498 00:31:08,920 --> 00:31:12,960 Speaker 5: We hope you are encouraged by her authenticity, vulnerability, and 499 00:31:13,040 --> 00:31:16,880 Speaker 5: biblical truths. If you enjoy today's conversation, when you take 500 00:31:16,920 --> 00:31:20,280 Speaker 5: a moment right now, open up your podcast app and 501 00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:23,040 Speaker 5: look for the subscribe button right next to our podcast 502 00:31:23,120 --> 00:31:24,080 Speaker 5: profile image. 503 00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:27,000 Speaker 6: We think this podcast is best enjoyed with friends, so 504 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:29,960 Speaker 6: tell a friend and click share in your podcast app 505 00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:33,080 Speaker 6: and send a friend our link to share Hope with them. 506 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:36,120 Speaker 6: If you have a comment, question, or suggest a topic 507 00:31:36,160 --> 00:31:38,800 Speaker 6: for a future show, reach out to our staff at 508 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:43,400 Speaker 6: info at Hope Prevails dot org for additional resources, information 509 00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:47,520 Speaker 6: about doctor Bankson's books or free downloads, or to contact 510 00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:50,800 Speaker 6: her to speak at your next event. Please visit doctor 511 00:31:50,840 --> 00:31:54,520 Speaker 6: michelb dot com. Until next time, May you have a 512 00:31:54,560 --> 00:31:56,080 Speaker 6: hope filled week. 513 00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:01,520 Speaker 1: I'd like to take us a second to thank the 514 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:04,520 Speaker 1: team at Life Audio for their partnership with us on 515 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:07,480 Speaker 1: this podcast. If you go to lifeaudio dot com, you'll 516 00:32:07,520 --> 00:32:11,200 Speaker 1: find dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. 517 00:32:11,360 --> 00:32:15,080 Speaker 1: They've got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more.