Everone, regardless of who we are, or the status we have in life, will have experienced feelings of being ‘left out’. For example, you can feel left out in your marriage, with family, with friends, at school, in the workplace, and in so many other ways.

Feeling left out can be one of the most horrrible experiences. You can go from being the most popular person in your group to suddenly being ostracised. Some folk never seem to be included in anything.

Nearly half of modern-day Americans admit to experiencing feelings of being left out. That’s 47% of the population, and obviously, this will be reflected in differing measures in every nation.

With social media, we have become the most connected we have ever been in human history. Yet, Facebook, Twitter, Tik Tok, etc, can be lonely places too. You may have friends, family, work colleagues, etc, who for one reason or another, do not stay in touch with you or do not communicate with you on these sites.

You can join groups on these platforms because you share a common interest with others in these groups. Yet, you suddenly can be blocked or thrown out of these groups. This can leave you wondering why (or perhaps you know); nevertheless, you experience hurt and rejection as you would in the real world. Humans are a social species and rejection hurts as it goes against everything we are, as interactive beings.

According to the website ‘Healthline’, this is what you should do if you experience being left:

1) Accept your emotions (the feelings you have from being rejected or left out).

2) Avoid jumping to conclusions (overthinking why others have left you out, whether deliberately or if they may have innocently forgotten you).

3) Explore the signals you are giving out to others.

4) Communicate your feelings if you can.

5) Remind yourself you have much to offer.

6) Do something that you enjoy or makes you feel good.

7) Extend an invitation to yourself.

8) Talk to someone supportive.

9) Get to know people.

10) Talk to a therapist if necessary.

Let us remember also, that Jesus himself, experienced feelings of rejection and being left out. Yes, Jesus had his diciples and followers, but he also experienced the full range of human emotions. Imagine being Jesus, when towns and villages and even members of his family, rejected his message. It says in Scripture, that many Jews (his own people) rejected him, (though he came for everyone).

And lastly, his torment in the Garden of Gethsemane, where it seemed even his own Father rejected him. He died a horrible death on the cross, which to his enemies had to be the final rejection of his message and total humiliation of everything Jesus stood for. Yet, on the third day, as he predicted, Christ rose and appeared to his diciples. They too would have felt ostracised and fugitives, fearing any minute that knock on the door might be from the Roman or Jewish authorities who had come to arrest them.

Jesus gave hope to all those that accepted him. His heart was open to welcome and love the penitent sinner, and ultimately, offer them eternal life, where they would never experience the hurts of this mortal world ever again.

This promise of love and acceptance is not just for 2,000 years ago. You can access Jesus today and you will find in him a loyal friend who will never let you feel left out or lonely. Yes, humans can be fickle and troubles will come. However, Christ will be with us in those situations and give us the support no one else will give us.

Finally, then, let us look at scripture that addresses the issues of rejection, feeling left out and loneliness:

Psalm 27:10: “For my father and mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in”.

Luke 6:22: Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man”.

Psalm 147:3: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds”.

God bless you

Nick x