My worth is
connected to how someone else feels about me. (Genesis 29:31-34)
Leah
had always felt invisible. Maybe a bit overweight, squinty eyes, an overbite,
awkward. People looked right past her to gawk at her gorgeous little sister,
Rachel. Ever since high heels replaced Barbie dolls, Rachel’s social calendar had
been full and big sister had resigned herself to the fact that she would never
be anyone’s first choice. But then dashing Jacob showed up and her heart turned
inside out. Of course, Jacob was crazy about Rachel (who wasn’t?), but Dad pulled
an underhanded switcheroo and Leah ended up in the bridal chamber instead. She
prayed all night that marriage would change Jacob’s mind, but it didn’t. She was
not who Jacob wanted. She was not who anyone wanted. Maybe she was even invisible
to God.
But
then she had a baby boy. “Surely my husband will love me now,” she thought.
Nope. Three more babies, and each time hot tears stung Leah’s eyes as Jacob
smiled at the baby, nodded to her, and walked back to Rachel. Leah had given
him all she had—and it didn’t matter. She didn’t matter. Maybe you’ve been
there. You rescued, surrendered your purity, or deadened your soul hoping that
someone would make you feel valuable. “Surely they’ll love me now,” you
thought, but it didn’t work. You gave all you had and it didn’t matter. But guess
what Leah learned? When her fourth son was born, she named him Judah, which
means “praise.” She’d stopped looking to Jacob for her worth. She realized that
her value was not tied to someone else’s opinion. Her worth came from the One
who created her. God saw her. He valued her. And that was all that mattered.
Who are you expecting to validate your worth?
If it’s anyone other than God, they will let you down.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment