Making room for rejection
Laura Digan
December 22, 2025
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John 1: 1-14 (NIVUK)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John’s Gospel is my favourite book in the Bible and John 1 is my favourite passage. It opens with a vision of such overwhelming beauty — the Word, who was there at the beginning of creation, enters this world as flesh and light. How amazing is that! God chooses to come and live among us, AS one of us!
But instead of being met with wonder and glory, this light, the Word, our God, is rejected. ‘He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.’ Heartbreaking isn’t it? And friends we have all been rejected at some point in our lives, haven’t we? So we can all feel the sting of that pain.
But God’s love does not force itself to be welcomed. Making room for rejection means sitting honestly with this tension. By coming to live among us God accepted the risk of being turned away, choosing to be vulnerable instead of powerful.
And if we are honest we can admit that we often resist God, especially when he challenges us, unsettles us or asks us to change. But he still loves us, still reaches out to us.
Making room for rejection isn’t about resignation but about faithfulness. It is still continuing to love and to offer the light of Christ even if it is not received. Because in Christ we see that rejection does not have the final word. He still dwells among us, inviting us and waiting for us to receive and believe.
Prayer:
Word made flesh, give us hearts humble enough to receive you.
When we face rejection, teach us to remain rooted in your love and grace.
May your light dwell within us and shine from us, especially in the darkness.
Amen
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