Shake the Dust Off
Letting Go When the Door Won’t Open
“Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words, go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”
Matthew 10:14–15
Jesus’s words may seem firm, but they are filled with mercy and clarity.
He sends His disciples not to force faith on anyone, but to offer it freely. And if it is not received, they are to move on, not in bitterness, but in peace.
We often carry the weight of rejection. We replay conversations, wonder what more we could have done, and sometimes let closed doors discourage us.
But Jesus reminds us that we are not responsible for how others respond. Our part is to share with love, and when that love is not welcomed, we can quietly let go.
The image of shaking the dust from your feet is a gentle one. It means not carrying the rejection with you. It means moving forward, still trusting, still believing, still rooted in love. Jesus does not ask us to fight our way in. He asks us to walk with Him, and to trust Him with the results.
If you’ve been holding on to hurt from being unwelcomed or unheard, maybe today is the day to shake the dust off. Not with resentment, but with peace.
Not to give up, but to let God be God.
Is there a place in your life where you feel unheard, unwelcomed, or misunderstood? How might Jesus be inviting you to let go, not in anger but in peace, and to keep walking with trust?
Jesus, when I feel rejected or misunderstood, help me to release the hurt into Your hands.
Teach me to move forward with peace, not bitterness.
Help me trust that You are always working, even when doors close.
Let my heart stay open, and my steps stay close to Yours.
Amen.