A Prayer for When You Feel Left Out
By Emily Rose Massey
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24, NIV).
Recently, I had trouble getting passed some disappointment of not being invited to a special wedding with some younger friends from our church. I found myself growing jealous and resentful when I saw photos of who else was invited. “What! They haven’t known them as long as we have, and they were invited!” I mentioned my frustrations to my husband, and he encouraged me to talk to God about it so it didn’t begin to affect my heart to the point where I became embittered towards our friends. In times like these, it is very easy for offense to take root, and if we are not careful, we begin to see and treat people differently. Even though it wasn’t the end of the world that we didn’t receive an invitation to this occasion, it was very obvious and simple to me- I was still dealing with rejection, and this situation triggered it once again. I felt left out. I was transported back to 6th grade when I spent many days in the cafeteria sitting by myself, eating my lunch alone because I wasn’t asked to sit by anyone. Yet, in this disappointment, I was reminded that there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24, NIV).
Although Proverbs 18:24 doesn’t necessarily say that friend is Jesus, I know that He will always be there for me, even when everyone else fails me. Scripture tells us that God never leaves us or forsakes us in Deuteronomy 31:6. This truth from the Old Testament about our never-changing God is also stated again as a reminder in Hebrews 13, along with this powerful truth that people will fail us, and people may reject us, but we should not fear, for God is on our side. He is our helper.
When we face rejection from others, we must remember that Jesus understands more than anyone what rejection feels like, as He is very familiar with it Himself. Many people rejected Jesus (and continue to do so) while He was here on earth; even one of His very own disciples (Judas) rejected Him and betrayed Him. And just a couple of hours later, another one of His closest disciples (Peter) rejected knowing Him. Three times to be exact. Aren’t you so thankful for Jesus’ forgiveness when we turn our backs on Him? He gives us so many opportunities to repent and make things right in our relationship with Him! His mercies towards us are new every single morning…oh, what love! The Lord understands our pain regarding rejection, and His arms are open wide, so let us be quick to draw near to Him. Lo, He is always with you…even to the end of the age!
Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father,
You know my heart and see my pain before I ever speak a word, but You long for me to make my requests known to You by being honest and intentional in seeking You first, no matter what. Help me to remember that You are near to the brokenhearted and that I can run into Your safety when I feel crushed by my circumstances and disappointments. I know You alone can satisfy my soul more than any other relationship in life. Thank You for setting the lonely in families and for calling me Your child. I don’t want to hold onto this pain of rejection. I want to heal from the wounds of those who have hurt me intentionally or unintentionally. I choose to forgive. Your Son was rejected, even by You, for a moment when He took the punishment of sin, out of love for me. Thank You, Jesus, for being the friend I need who sticks by me no matter what. I love You, Lord. Thank You for always loving me and never leaving me.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/fizkes
Related Resource: Let God Reframe Your Year: A Psalm 107 Year-End Reflection
As we wrap up our year together, I want to invite you into this meaningful spiritual practice: looking back on the year through the lens of Psalm 107 to identify the “fingerprints of God’s faithfulness. In this episode, we'll walk through four redemptive storylines found in Psalm 107—each representing a way God rescues, restores, and reorients His people. Whether you felt lost, trapped, wounded, self-destructive, or overwhelmed by storms, I encourage you to reflect on how God met you in weakness and brought deliverance. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to subscribe to the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
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Originally published Tuesday, 01 August 2023.
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