Comfort and challenge
Typically, when we are in our comfort zone, life is, well . . . comfortable. Perhaps we are in a quiet place–no deadlines, stress, or urgency placed on us by work or family demands. We might be in cruise mode, not facing any major challenges. If you’re like me, you look forward to those relaxing times because they occur infrequently.
We all need some time in our comfort zone.
This past week I was blessed to attend the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference at Ridgecrest. Over four hundred authors gathered in the idyllic beauty of the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains for five days days of intense learning from expert authors, social media gurus, and marketing geniuses . We met with editors, agents, and publishers, seeking someone to show interest in our work.
We worshipped, ate, laughed, and mingled with others like us–authors.
That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil–this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:13
We had comfort and challenge.
But life is not always comfortable. Nor should it be.
We need challenge to help us grow.
While at Blue Ridge all is not cozy and comfortable. It’s down right scary to sit down with an agent, editor, and publisher and pour yourself out before them–presenting a book proposal–in an attempt to gain their interest and support in promoting our work. While these people are professionals and are mostly kind and polite, they don’t always endorse our work with enthusiasm. Sometimes they tell us our idea is terrible. Sometimes they tell us our idea is great, but is not what they are looking for. Sometimes they tell us to work harder and come back to see them in another year.
Rejection is hard–no matter how kindly presented.
We’ve all been rejected, haven’t we? But contrary to the old saying, I have found that “misery does not love company.” Each rejection is painful. Having practice in rejection does not make it easier to bear. Knowing that dozens of others have experienced rejection does not make another person’s easier to accept. Hearing from someone else they’ve been rejected 10, 100, or 1,000 times does not make our rejection easier to bear.
But one thing that does help us through challenges is the love and support of family, friends, and people that understand what we’re going through. Sometimes what we need most is someone to let us know they care.
One of the best things about gathering at Blue Ridge, or in church, or with our loved ones is…
We know we are cared for, encouraged, and loved.
Encouragement LOVES company!
We’ve all been the beneficiary of a helping hand and a prayer when we are discouraged. We can be that someone for others. It’s not just writers that need an uplifting smile and a listening ear when they receive yet another rejection from an agent, editor, or publisher. In everyday life, there are constant opportunities for rejection.
- We’re not appreciated at work.
- We’re passed over for an opportunity we wanted.
- Our spouse or family always seems to demand more, yet never notices all we do.
- Someone at church seems to be angry at us and we don’t know why.
- We’ve asked someone for forgiveness and they rejected us.
Life is hard sometimes. When we get discouraged, we often want to just give up. But even when life seems to be one long struggle of rejection, we know there is one who will never reject us.
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6
As I write this, I remember this is D-Day, June 6, when in 1944, thousands of soldiers from many countries landed on the beaches of Normandy. Their actions changed the course of history, beginning the journey across Europe to free the continent from Nazi tyranny. Those brave men and women who sacrificed so much in World War II didn’t quit in the face of adversity. They kept going.
Are you experiencing rejection? Are you discouraged? Please let me know how I may pray for you.
Katherine, you are right that no matter what we hear about rejection it is never easy to experience. But we can be thankful that God gives us examples in His word about how His people rejected Him. Everyone rejected Christ at one time or another even His own disciples. He does know how we feel and we can take comfort in His Word. Thanks for this revealing post.
Barbara, thank you for pointing out that God provides us with role models as to how to react to rejection. Like Jesus, we must continue to love those who reject us and always treat them with compassion and respect. In all aspects of our lives, Jesus shows us the way to love our neighbor. We are so blessed!
What a wonderful job summarizing the Blue Ridge Conference and probably other writing conferences as well. It was a roller coaster for me with both ups and downs. My goal is to learn something from both.
Continued blessings to you, Katherine. It was so nice to see you in person.
I agree wholeheartedly, Candyce. It is so important to learn from the downs (i.e. rejections and trials) as it is from the ups (the acceptances and all the joyful experiences we are given). We are blessed to have such a wonderful Savior, teacher, and mentor in Jesus Christ to show us the pathway. So good to see you at Blue Ridge–wish we’d had more time to chat–maybe next year!
This is such an encouraging post, Katherine! and so true that no matter how often it happens, rejections are hard, whether it’s in the writing world or our personal lives with family and friends. Thank you for your insights and helpful Scriptures! Deuteronomy 31:6 is a favorite verse of mine!
Thank you for your encouragement, Kathy. We are blessed to have the spiritual wisdom shared by our Holy Bible to help us through those hard times and to helps us handle joy and success. Both can be a challenge to deal with and still live out the teaching of Jesus–to love others as He loves us.
It is in the challenges that we find the strength to achieve what we never thought could my friend. Thank you for your encouraging words in this post.
Yes, those challenges help us to grow in our faith, but sometimes they are so tough. Thankful that our Lord is always with us and will carry us when we stumble and fall. Wishing you blessings and good health, my friend.
Ahh yes, rejection! And the verse you shared, Deuteronomy 31:6, helps us to pick ourselves up and try again, for we know God goes with us. Thank you, Katherine, for your encouraging post.
Rejection is tough, no matter when or how it occurs. Authors experience rejection often, but everyone else does, too. Perhaps it is a lesson for us to be more loving and kind, in every aspect of our lives as we follow the example of Jesus. Wishing you continued blessings in your ministry, LuAnn.