Refuse the Pain; Praise His Name

The next time you fall for Satan’s line that “nobody loves me,” think of Leah. As beautiful as that name sounds in English, in Hebrew, it’s not so pretty. Her father, Laban, took one look at his cross-eyed daughter and named her “wild cow.” Her family treated her as such.

Laban was so convinced nobody would marry Leah, he conned a con man named Jacob into giving her his ring, despite his love for Rachel.

When Jacob realized Leah was his lawfully wedded wife instead of the love of his life, Laban cut him a two-for-the-price-of-one deal. It didn’t work out well for any of them, especially Leah. Her entire life revolved around the fact that the people who should have loved her, didn’t.

Jacob and Rachel hated her for her intrusion into their marriage. She became the “ex-wife” who never left. Leah hoped she could make her husband love her, but she was never more than a plaything for him to abuse.

The Bible records that she gave birth to three sons and a daughter, hoping her gift would cause Jacob to treat her like a real wife instead of a cheap prostitute. It didn’t. Finally, when her fourth son was born, Leah had a revelation straight from the heart of God.

“And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she said, ‘Now I will praise the Lord; therefore she called his name ‘Judah’ and stopped bearing children.”  Genesis 29:35

The name Judah means “praise.” Leah stopped mourning over the lack of love from her husband. She started praising God for the love He showered on her with the blessing of five healthy children. She learned to ignore the scorn of her husband and sister to focus on someone bigger than them.

Is this you? Have you been rejected by someone who should love you but doesn’t? Today is a good day to praise the Lord. Focus on His love for you.