The Leah Lens

"The Lord saw that Leah was not loved, and he enabled her to conceive... 'Because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.'"

— Genesis 29:31-32 (NIV)

Leah’s life was a study in feeling unseen.

She lived in the shadow of her younger sister, Rachel, who was "lovely in form and beautiful." Leah, described only as having "weak eyes," was used as a pawn in her father's deception and married to a man, Jacob, who never wanted her.

His heart belonged to Rachel. Every day of her marriage was a fresh reminder that she was second best, the consolation prize.

In her pain, Leah did a profound thing. She kept turning to the Lord. With each son she bore, she voiced a raw and honest prayer.

First, she hoped a child would make Jacob love her. Then, she acknowledged God heard her. Finally, she declared, "This time I will praise the Lord." Her perspective shifted, the "Leah Lens", from seeking validation from a man who rejected her to finding her identity in the God who saw her.

It was through Leah, the unwanted wife, that God established the priestly line of Levi and the royal line of Judah, the lineage of Jesus Himself. God didn't just see her misery. He placed her at the center of His redemptive plan.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you have an area of your life where you feel overlooked? Maybe it's at work, in your family, or in your social circle. It’s easy to tie our worth to how others see us... or don't see us. Leah's story invites us to put on a new lens. What if you saw your situation through God's eyes? He doesn't measure value by beauty, popularity, or achievement. He sees your heart, He hears your cries, and He can use your most painful places to birth something of eternal significance. Your worth was settled on the cross, not in anyone's opinion.

PRAYER:

God, when I feel invisible and unlovely, help me to see myself through Your eyes. Shift my perspective from seeking human approval to resting in Your unconditional love. Remind me that I am fully seen, deeply known, and purposefully chosen by You. Amen.