“‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.’” Mark 12:10–11 (ESV)

On November 7, 2008, a three-story school building in Haiti collapsed. Nearly 93 people, most of them children, were killed, and more than 150 were injured. The builder, a preacher named Fortin Augustin, admitted that he had constructed the entire building by himself. He said he didn’t need an engineer because he believed he understood construction well enough.

But only an engineer truly knows how to lay a strong foundation. A structure can only endure if its base is firm and rightly aligned. The cornerstone is crucial—it determines the building’s strength, direction, and stability.

A cornerstone is not just any stone; it is chosen with great care. Masons select it deliberately because it must be one of the largest, most solid, and most perfectly shaped stones in the structure. Everything else rests upon it.

In the same way, our Heavenly Father has chosen Jesus Christ to be the firm foundation upon which we can build our lives. When we build upon Him, we build on solid rock. So when the rains fall, the floods rise, and the winds beat against the house, it will stand firm because its foundation is secure. But those who build on sand—on worldly wisdom or human strength—will see their foundation crumble when the storms of life come.

As you build your family, your plans, your work, your dreams, and your faith upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, you will remain unshaken.

The same people who once despised or rejected you will one day witness the Lord’s marvelous work in your life. What they once called failure, God will turn into testimony.

Do not be discouraged by rejection. God uses rejection as a tool of redirection—to shape, strengthen, and prepare you for His greater purpose. He will lift you up and make you a vessel of honor in your family, among your friends, and in your ministry.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no heart has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

You may not yet see the full picture, but you are in the process of being built into something beautiful and strong by God’s hands. Thank Him even for rejection—it means He is setting you apart for something greater. Remember, even Jesus Himself was rejected, but that rejection became the doorway to our salvation.

Rejection is not your end—it is the beginning of God’s marvelous work in your life. What others meant for harm, God will use for your good.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for being my Cornerstone and firm foundation. When rejection or disappointment comes, help me to trust that You are working behind the scenes to build something beautiful in my life. Strengthen my faith to remain steady through every storm and help me see Your hand in all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.