When Love Let's You Down

Pastor Janet Peterson
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Penang, Malaysia
PRINCIPLES OF FAITH

Lets reflect for a moment my precious brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus on Genesis chapter 29. Jacob had worked seven years to earn Rachel's hand. He didn't realize until he lifted the veil on his wedding night that he had been deceived. He had married the sister, Leah, who was not Miss Malaysia or Miss America or even Miss Israel. So he had to work seven more years to get Rachel, the one he really wanted. Now he's got two wives. The Bible says (vs 30), "he loved also Rachel more than Leah." 

But Leah, like every woman, had a very deep love hunger.

Genesis 29:31 reads, "And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren." (vs 32) "And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.." 

Interesting isn't it? She's looking to this man for the love and the identity she needs and she's coming up empty.

Well, soon after she finally has another baby, Simeon (vs 33). And it says in (vs 34), "And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi."  

Again the man does not give her what she needs. Finally in verse 35, " And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, " Now will I praise the Lord....:'" Do you see the picture here? Leah had hoped to find her identity in Jacob's love, but finally, after three times of counting on a baby to secure her man's attention, she didn't get it, so she refocuses her love hunger from Jacob to Jehovah; from her husband to her Heavenly Father.

There's many a woman who has been disappointed by a man; hurt by a man. There's frustration, there's bitterness. If you're a woman, maybe you've been hurt by a father whose love or approval you could never seem to win, or maybe a boyfriend or a husband has let you down like Jacob did Leah. Or maybe you've been abused or betrayed, abandoned. It could be that you've had positive relationships with the men in your life but they still haven't been able to be all you need.

Leah, like so many women, was looking at the wrong place for identity. No woman was ever meant to derive her identity and worth from the approval of a man. 

She finally said, "I'm going to turn to the Lord." Maybe you ought to do that. The coat that reflects a man's identity didn't fit the woman in his life. She was never meant to find her identity in being his girl by wearing his coat. Every woman is headed for disappointment and chronic insecurity if she's trying to define herself by some man in her world.

It's a liberating day when you discover that no man could do for your worth what the Lord can do. Grasp this beloved, God loved Leah; her man didn't. He gave her His divine blessing when her man wouldn't give his.  Learn from Leah. Don't waste time trying to find your identity in the fickle, fragile love or approval of people. Look beyond them to the Lord. Start drawing on Him for all you need. 

Say to yourself "The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want."

Beloved, your identity is that you are a unique, masterpiece creation of a loving God. If you've given your life to Christ, you're a daughter of the King. He thought you were worth dying for. What you get from any man is just a bonus.

Maybe you've never experienced the love of Jesus for yourself. If you want to have that begin for you today, bring your love hunger to the only One who will never disappoint you or ever disappear on you, your Savior, your Shepherd, your beloved Jesus Christ.