Free God Is Not Mad at You: You Can Experience Real Love, Acceptance & Guilt-free Living by Joyce Meyer Page B

of the world’s most successful people and many world leaders are people who have a root of rejection in their life. That means they have experienced feelings of rejection that are so deep it has affected their entire manner of thinking, feeling and behaving throughout their lives. The rejection they feel is at the base of all their decisions and it colors theirentire life. They are so determined to prove they are worth something that they try harder than others and do eventually succeed, at least in business, ministry or politics. But quite often, though not always, they are
not
successful at being fully formed, healthy human beings. “Who” they are is based on what they “do,” and if they ever stop doing it, they are once again worthless in their own estimation. We must all beware of letting our value rest in what we do, because no matter what it is that we do, the day will probably come when we won’t do it any longer.
    We must all beware of letting our value rest in what we do, because no matter what it is that we do, the day will probably come when we won’t do it any longer.
    Not everyone with a root of rejection is successful in climbing to the top of their profession; in fact, they may go to the opposite extreme and withdraw from life in general. They decide that if they never try anything, then they can’t be rejected for not succeeding. One thing is for sure, however we respond to the damage done by severe rejection, it is always in a way that is out of balance. We either work too hard, or we don’t do anything at all. We either have no friends, or we try to have more friends than anyone in order to prove to ourselves that we are acceptable. We buy nothing for ourselves because we don’t think we deserve it, or we make the pursuit of things our main goal in life in order to feel complete.
    Our real success and value in life is not found in climbing what the world calls the ladder of success. It is not in a job promotion, a bigger house, a better-looking car, or being in the right social circles. True success is knowing God and the power of His resurrection. To know that He loves you unconditionally and that youare made acceptable in Jesus, the Beloved Son of God Who died for you to pay for your sins. True success is being the best you can be, but never having to be better than someone else to prove that you are valuable.
    A book called
The Hidden Price of Greatness
relates the stories of many great men and women of God who were used by Him in mighty ways. We can learn some powerful truths by looking at the background of these individuals. The book explains how childhood suffering often sets the stage for a life of struggle. For example, David Brainerd’s father died when David was eight years old. His mother died when he was fourteen. And even though he inherited a sizable estate, he lost the parental love and affection that is so essential to a child’s happiness and security.
    Brainerd, like many abandoned, rejected, neglected and abused children, felt an unusual burden of guilt—almost as if he had been responsible for his parents’ deaths. The author relates that the Holy Spirit repeatedly tried to make real to David Brainerd that his sufficiency was in Christ. Apparently he would get some insight and try to practice it for a little while, but would go right back into the “works and suffering” mentality as he tried to be perfect in himself.
    Brainerd died at the age of twenty-nine. Although he had a powerful ministry that is still spoken of today, he had become an invalid—too ill to preach, teach or pray. The young man had utterly exhausted himself, trying to serve God perfectly.
    I certainly understand this, because I’ve experienced my own version of Brainerd’s dilemma. Fortunately, I learned the truth in time to stop me from continuing to abuse myself in my effort to be acceptable to God. I did suffer for a long time, even though the Holy Spirit was working in me and revealing truth to