THIS TIME I WILL PRAISE
By: Elle Buell
When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.” She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon. Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi. She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.
Genesis 29: 31-35 NIV
Leah was unloved by her husband, Jacob. She didn’t ask to be married to this man; this was her circumstance. She spent years bearing his children, hoping with each baby that somehow her husband would feel more connected to her and show her affection. That love never came from him. However, when Leah bore her fourth son, Judah, she had a new revelation: God’s affection and attention is always available through our praise. When she realized this, she stopped having children.
Our culture and social media encourages us to seek acceptance from our friends, coworkers, spouse, and even our children by love that is measured in “likes,” comments, and shares. We can exhaust ourselves trying to win the hearts of those around us, but all along there is a God who desires our full attention. He is waiting for us to stop reaching for the latest trend or love from this world and turn our eyes fully toward Him. Of course, God desires that we have good relationships and live in community with others, but our validation can never be found in those relationships. We will ultimately only be satisfied by the love of God. Leah’s peace came when she stopped her own efforts to win her husband's attention, and instead turned her own attention toward praising a loving, Almighty God.
When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.” She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon. Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi. She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.
Genesis 29: 31-35 NIV
Leah was unloved by her husband, Jacob. She didn’t ask to be married to this man; this was her circumstance. She spent years bearing his children, hoping with each baby that somehow her husband would feel more connected to her and show her affection. That love never came from him. However, when Leah bore her fourth son, Judah, she had a new revelation: God’s affection and attention is always available through our praise. When she realized this, she stopped having children.
Our culture and social media encourages us to seek acceptance from our friends, coworkers, spouse, and even our children by love that is measured in “likes,” comments, and shares. We can exhaust ourselves trying to win the hearts of those around us, but all along there is a God who desires our full attention. He is waiting for us to stop reaching for the latest trend or love from this world and turn our eyes fully toward Him. Of course, God desires that we have good relationships and live in community with others, but our validation can never be found in those relationships. We will ultimately only be satisfied by the love of God. Leah’s peace came when she stopped her own efforts to win her husband's attention, and instead turned her own attention toward praising a loving, Almighty God.