Healing the Wounds of Rejection

Healing the Wounds of Rejection brings together the heartfelt wisdom of Joyce Meyer and Ginger Stache, writing together for the first time. In this candid Q&A, hear from their hearts as Joyce and Ginger share why they chose to write this book—along with personal experiences and deep insights into the pain of rejection, and the healing, freedom, and renewed confidence that only God can bring. Whether your wounds are fresh or buried deep, their stories offer comfort, hope, and a path forward for anyone ready to break free from the lies of rejection and embrace the truth of God’s love.

What prompted you both to write a book on rejection?

Joyce: I have a particularly heavy burden right now to fight back against the damage rejection is wreaking in people’s lives. God has put an urgency in my heart to help people heal from the pain, isolation, and devastation of rejection. This is an extraordinarily timely subject, and I believe God has many important lessons to teach us about how to find freedom and emerge stronger, more confident, and able to trust again.

Ginger: The heartache of rejection is not just Joyce’s story or mine. It’s the story of far too many. I believe an epidemic of rejection is raging in the world today, and it attempts to snatch away our security and distract us from the beautiful things God has planned. I’ve learned so much through my own walk with rejection and connected with countless women who are crying out for that same healing. My desire is for many to realize that rejection is a normal part of life, but you don’t have to accept it as the norm in your life.

Joyce, why did you invite Ginger to write this book with you?

Joyce: I invited her to write with me for several reasons. Ginger brings her own unique experiences with rejection, and together, I believe we can help even more people. She shares my urgency to see others overcome the wounds of rejection, she’s an excellent writer, and she has a beautiful heart for God and for people.

Joyce, a lot of people know your story about rejection, but for our new readers, would you tell us a little bit about your story?

Joyce: I was rooted in rejection from an early age. The first person who rejected me was my father, who abused me sexually. Then my mother, who knew what was happening, abandoned me to that abuse. I felt unloved and unlovable, and it left me with so many problems. Until I was in my early 40s, all the fruit of my life was colored by that rejection.

Ginger, your story of rejection might be new to a lot of people. Can you tell us about your own experience?

Ginger: I’ve experienced rejection throughout life, but I had never experienced the brutal rejection of someone so close until one fateful day many years ago. After 15 years of marriage, my husband’s addiction to pornography clawed its way to the surface, and it became evident that the relationship I thought we shared was only a façade. I felt betrayed and angry, shocked and foolish, devastated and deeply rejected. It not only shook our relationship, but I was stunned by how harshly it impacted the way I saw myself and even my walk with God.

How did you each begin to find healing from rejection?

Joyce: I tried to blame all my problems on my husband, Dave. I always thought that if he would treat me better, pay more attention to me, or spend all his free time with me, then I would be happy. But the truth was that nothing was going to make me happy until I let God work in my life and heal my wounded soul. One day I was praying for God to change Dave, and He stopped me in the middle of my fervent prayer and showed me that Dave was not the problem. I asked Him, “If it’s not Dave, who is it?” I was shocked when He showed me it was me! This left me with only two options: run away, or let God help me deal with my behavior and be willing to change. It was time to begin healing the wounds of my rejection. Over a period of years, God renewed my mind, and I began to think according to His Word. As I did, my life changed.

Ginger: I realized I only had a couple of choices. This situation wasn’t just about my marriage; this was about me. I could allow this scorching rejection to wreak havoc in my life, as the enemy meant for it to, or I could allow God to help me move forward, to heal me, to reveal what He had ahead for me, and to possibly even make me better through this. I chose to move forward. Many years have passed since the day my world came crashing down, and God has brought restoration and healing to me, to my husband, and to our marriage. He’s taught me so many things, including where I find true security. I had to learn to reject the lies that rejection was telling me, in order to experience a new level of God’s love and discover how to deal with rejection in a healthier way. Rejection still hurts when it comes, but it has far less power over me now.

What hope can you offer those who have experienced painful rejection and don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel?

Joyce: Let me assure you that there is great hope on the horizon for you. All of God’s promises are available for all people. And since He has set free people who struggle with the same things you do, He will set you free, too. Make the decision now that if anyone can be healed, you can! I can’t promise you that the journey will be quick or painless, but the pain of change is much better than the pain of staying the way you are if you need healing. God says to you, “…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1 ESV).

Ginger: When you’ve experienced a crushing rejection, hope can feel very distant. It’s like looking at life through a pair of rejection-colored glasses: you see rejection everywhere. Rather than expecting to be hurt, choose to believe what the Bible says and anticipate good things from God and from people. Expect the best. When I committed to doing this many years ago, my outlook changed, and my world became a happier place. Philippians 4:8 teaches us, Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Your hope and joy will grow and you’ll be happier no matter what others do.