Hello, my friend, and welcome to Empowered Faith Media, where we share the perfect love of Christ in an imperfect world.

Today, we’re talking about Leah. You remember her story: Jacob worked seven long years for his uncle Laban so that he could marry the love of his life, Rachel. But after those years of labor, Laban deceived Jacob, giving him Rachel’s older sister, Leah, instead. From the very beginning of her marriage, Leah knew she was unwanted and unloved (Genesis 29:25–31). Having felt this kind of rejection firsthand, I can relate to how she must have felt.

Can you imagine being married to someone who doesn’t want you? To live in the shadow of someone else’s beauty, constantly longing for affection that never comes? Leah’s story is raw and painful, but it is also full of hope, something I didn’t see as a new Christian. Because even in the middle of her rejection, God gave her a purpose.

Leah gave birth to six sons, who became six of the twelve tribes of Israel. And through her son Judah, forty-two generations later, came the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1–3). What the world saw as rejection, God transformed into redemption.

Today, I want to share with you three lessons we can learn from Leah’s struggle. And if you have time, take a moment and journal your answers to the reflection question in each section.

1. God Sees You in Your Pain

“When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive” (Genesis 29:31).

Leah’s story reminds us that God sees what others overlook. While Jacob turned his eyes toward Rachel, God turned His eyes toward Leah. He saw her pain, her tears, her longing, and He moved with compassion. I know that sometimes it is hard to remember that God is always with us, especially when we are going through a painful experience.  But, the same way that he loved and supported Leah, he will help us today.

Insight: Rejection may blind people to our worth, but it never blinds God. When others turn away, God leans in.

Reflection Question: Where in your life do you feel unseen, and how might God be reminding you that He sees you?

2. Our Identity Is Found in God, Not in People

For much of her life, Leah longed for Jacob’s love. Each time she bore a son, she hoped it would finally win his heart (Genesis 29:32–34). How many times have we said to ourselves, If I just perform this task, dress this way, get this degree, join this club,  then they will accept me?  And sometimes you may find yourself accepted, but at what cost? Her breakthrough came when she stopped striving for Jacob’s affection and turned her focus toward God:

“This time I will praise the Lord.” (Genesis 29:35) That son was Judah, the very lineage through which Jesus would come.

Insight: True peace comes when we stop anchoring our identity in human approval and instead rest in God’s love.

Reflection Question: Are you striving for someone’s acceptance instead of living from God’s unconditional love?

3. God Redeems Our Story for His Glory

There was a time when I questioned if God would ever be able to use me in ministry.  But nothing in our lives is wasted.  Every experience, good or bad, is a way for God to show his glory in our lives. Leah’s life looked like disappointment, but God was weaving His redemption plan through her. Out of her rejection came Judah, and out of Judah came Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5).

What others meant for harm, God used for eternal good (Genesis 50:20).

Insight: Your pain may be the very place God brings forth His greatest promise.

Reflection Question: How might God be working in the very area of your struggle to bring about something greater than you can imagine?

You may be asking yourself Am I too damaged, too unlovable? Is my personality too big? Why won’t people just accept me? Leah’s story teaches us that rejection does not define us; God does. He sees us, He calls us His own, and He redeems every broken place for His glory.

So, my friend, if you are carrying grief, rejection, or unjust pain, remember this: the same God who saw Leah sees you. And just like Leah, He can birth purpose out of your pain.

Thank you for spending this time with me. Please share today’s post with someone you love, and don’t forget to download your 40-Day Devotional so we can powerfully connect with God.

My Prayer for Us

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the story of Leah, which reminds us that You see us even when others don’t. You know our pain, You hear our cries, and You love us with a perfect love. Help us stop striving for human approval and rest in the truth that our worth is found in You. Redeem the broken places in our lives and birth Your purpose through our pain. Today, we choose to say, “This time I will praise the Lord.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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