Whenever someone talks about their articles being rejected by newspapers or magazines, I tell them that I call this a God given time, the time to prepare for bigger opportunities. I have lived long enough to know that rejection is not the end of the road; it is often the signboard pointing to the right one.
When my own articles were turned away years ago, I remember feeling crushed. I thought I had written masterpieces, that editors were blind to brilliance. But later I realized my grammar was shaky, my ideas half-baked, and my writing lacked polish. Those rejections were heaven’s red signals saying, “Wait, sharpen your tools, and be ready for the green light.”
Many of us want the destination without the discipline. We crave the platform without the preparation. But God is wiser. He hides us for a season to shape us. He makes us wait, not because He has forgotten us, but because He wants us to grow into the people who can handle the blessing when it comes.
Jesus, before beginning His ministry, spent thirty years in obscurity, learning in Joseph’s workshop. Thirty years of wood, nails, and sawdust before three years that changed the world. If even the Son of God waited, who are we to complain?
When David was anointed to be king, he did not get the crown immediately. He went back to tending sheep. Imagine that, a future king herding animals while waiting for his time. But it was in those quiet fields that he learned courage, patience, and trust in God. So, when the giant Goliath appeared, he was not afraid. Preparation had already built his faith.
The trouble is that most of us mistake delay for denial. We grow bitter when doors stay closed, instead of using that time to build our strength. I have seen writers who, after one rejection, stop writing altogether. And then there are those who keep improving, learning, reading, praying, and when their time comes, no editor can stop them.
A closed door is not a punishment. It is God’s protection from premature exposure. If the door opened too soon, we would stumble. If success came too early, pride would destroy us. But when we have used the quiet years to grow deep roots, no storm can uproot us later.
So, if you are in a waiting season, do not despair. Keep writing. Keep working. Keep believing. God is preparing you for a greater platform than you can imagine. When His time comes, the same editors who once rejected you will ask for your byline.
The world sees rejection as failure. Faith sees it as training. Because only those who prepare in silence can one day speak with power.
Your waiting is not wasted. It is your time to prepare…!
The Author conducts an online, eight session Writers and Speakers Course. If you’d like to join, do send a thumbs-up to WhatsApp number 9892572883 or send a message to bobsbanter@gmail.com
