The ‘Ah-ha’ Moment

Have you ever been told “You are not good enough?” You don’t have the talent, skill or you are put down for everything you do? Have you been rejected? Let me tell you a story that’s not just encouraging but life changing! Oh, by the way- It is not a story but a true event or events that made me realise my “Ah-Ha” moment. A few years back, I felt rejection. No matter what I do, there was no sense of appreciation but the bad was pointed out and the good was never told. I was not in a great place. Let’s just say, my self-esteem was low. While I was living in those moments and in that phase; I was having a casual conversation with a sister in Christ Jesus and she happened to tell me something, which stuck with me and she has no idea of how I am ever so grateful for that conversation! This is what she told me; “Regi, have you ever realised, Jesus was humiliated?” I interrupted, I  was like ‘ yeah spat on and being beaten and the sorrowful Passion of the Cross’. She replied, “no not that; you know towards the end of his passion.”  She pointed out the below verse to me. Mathew 27: 39-40 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery.  “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!” The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus.  “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him!  He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”  You see, Jesus was mocked. He was ridiculed. The people in authority, the general crowd all joined in the tease but he bore it all silently. Not falling prey to their criticism, because He knew only in the completion of the crucifixion is the salvation of mankind. That was my Ah-ha moment right there, that conversation changed my life for the better! I pondered on what she told me, in all honesty, if I was Jesus, I would have reacted! Knowing me it would have pretty much gone this way – Whoa, wait a minute now ! Are they mocking and ridiculing me? How dare they?! I am the King of Kings and I’m their creator and I am in complete authority. I would have probably called Arch. Angel Michael and struck them down – That’ll show them! You know, to teach them a “lesson” but Jesus didn’t! He bore it all – The humiliation, the pain and rejection. It made me realise,  just because He was ‘mocked’ it does not take the facts away from Him, for who He is! He is the Son of God; He did  rebuild the temple in 3 days and He also knew even the one’s who mocked and teased him needs saving- His saving, His Grace and His forgiveness! He did not let His emotions be dwindled of what others told of Him, because He knows who He is; He is “I AM”. He knew the purpose of His life on earth. He never allowed the devil or anyone mess up with His emotions or deviate from His purpose. I decided that day, not to let anyone mess up with my emotions; or let my own imagination and or the Devil mess up with my head and take so much control that I can’t even function properly. I may be a reject in their eyes, I may not have the best of skills in their ‘ranking standards’ but it does not take away the fact of who I am; I am a child of God! I can choose to be Jesus here, I can choose to be quiet, I can choose to remind myself of who I am- and embrace His saving Grace. I can choose to not let other’s rejection of me to not deviate my life’s purpose. I can also choose to forgive, pray and love them – Jesus did just that! Those new choices empowered me and to be at Peace. When Jesus left the earth, He gave us His priceless Salvation, His Spirit but he also gave us another gift. In John 14: 27, Jesus says,  “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid”. The Peace Jesus gives is whole and complete – mind you, your circumstances may or may not have changed but You have the power to make the same choices what Jesus did and imitate Him and in knowing fully well, their mocking and rejection of you does not change the fact of who you are – A child of God! Know it, claim it and live it! Oh, Don’t forget to claim that gift of Peace at the ‘check-out’ counter, so that you can go on to become who you are destined to become!