“Do not despair when others reject or even hate you. Remain in love, as I have always been. Then you may win them over.” (Inner Word)
It is certainly difficult to bear when other people reject us. For we were brought into being out of love by our Heavenly Father, and we were created for love. On this path of love, our lives unfold in true harmony. In a way, the rejection and hatred of others call our very existence into question. And this is even more intense when it comes from people who are close to us or once were close to us.
But this must not throw us off course, make us timid, or cause us to close ourselves off. Nor must we allow ourselves to become slaves—always striving to comply with those who reject us in order to gain their favor. This would distort our very nature!
So what is the right response? The Lord Himself gives it! His love for us human beings has never ceased and will never cease. So let us turn our hearts to God and bring to Him all the feelings that have arisen in us through the rejection of others. Through His love, the bitterness will dissolve, the poison will recede, and the pain will be alleviated. As we go through this healing and strengthening process of God’s love within us, we will be immersed even more deeply in His love. From this, a new impartiality will grow toward the people who reject us, and we will learn to meet them in the love of God. This happens without any subservience, but in the dignity of a victorious love. In this way, we may even be able to win them over.