“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” — Galatians 5:22-23
Have you ever felt rejected by your spouse?
That might feel like a harsh question. But if we’re honest, rejection in marriage doesn’t always look like abandonment. Sometimes it shows up in a rolled eye, a dismissive tone, a sarcastic laugh, or simply being overlooked in a moment you were hoping to be seen.
Rejection hurts, especially when it comes from the person we love most.
There’s a sense of security that comes from being fully known and still fully accepted by our spouse. When that’s in place, we can better handle the rejection that may come from the world around us. But what happens when the misunderstanding, rejection, or dismissiveness is coming from inside our marriage?
When we’re wounded, what comes naturally—which is referred to by Paul as “the works of the flesh”—makes its presence known. Anger. Bitterness. Withdrawal. Harsh words. Our reaction is normal. But Galatians 5 doesn’t leave us there. In fact, it draws a sharp contrast between our fleshly reactions and the Spirit-filled responses available to us: love, peace, patience, kindness… even when we’re hurting.
Reflection
When your spouse hurts or misunderstands you, what typically rises up in you—flesh or Spirit?
Do you try to win the argument, or win your spouse’s heart back?
What would it look like to ask God, in real time, for the fruit of the Spirit to guide your response?
Consider
Rejection will come, in marriage and in life. But we don’t have to be defined by how we’re treated. Instead, we can be led by the Spirit, who gives us everything we need to love our spouse with grace, even when it’s hard.
Jesus knows rejection. He endured it so that we would never have to feel alone in it. His Spirit now lives in us, empowering us to choose connection over conflict, and grace over reaction.
Let’s pray for the strength to do that this week.
