When Weak Eyes Shape Our Identity

I have a confession. As a woman, wife, and mom, I can allow culture to tell me whether I measure up in the looks and fashion department (which I don’t). I can look for the love of my husband or the perfect behavior and academic achievement of my son to let me know I am worthy. Oh yes, I play the comparison game more often than I like to admit. And I seek God’s forgiveness for looking to things or people to bring fulfillment.

Where Does Our Identity Come From?

And I doubt if I am the only one, I know a gal named Leah who got caught up in the comparison trap. If you are not familiar with Leah, allow me to do a brief introduction. She was the older daughter of Laban, the older sister of Rachel, the beautiful one. You can read part of her story in Genesis 29 and 30. Leah was said to have “weak eyes, but Rachel was beautiful of form and face” (Genesis 29:17).

We don’t know why Leah was said to have weak eyes, but we see the results of comparing herself to her younger, more attractive sister. She got caught up in the manipulation and deception of tricking Jacob into marrying her when he loved Rachel. She put her identity in the love of her husband, which I am not sure she ever received.

She named her firstborn son Reuben, which means “look, a son.” She hoped that a son would cause Jacob to notice and love her. Her second and third sons were named Simeon, meaning “hearing,” and Levi, meaning “attachment.” Leah pleaded for God to hear she was unloved and desired to find fulfillment and her husband’s attachment through her sons.

She soon realizes even three sons are insufficient to gain her husband’s attention. Her fourth son she names Judah and appears to have an “ah-hah” moment. Judah means “praise.” She praised the Lord for her son. There emerges a realization that God has blessed her with a son, which is enough. Gone are lies, deceit, manipulation, and comparison. The blessings of God are sufficient, and she finds gratitude to be a reviving salve for her searching heart.

Our Security and Significance Comes From What God Says About Us

I don’t know where you may be scouring to find identity and significance, maybe in the right look, a healthy body, a prominent job, a rich bank account, an adoring spouse, or perfect children. However, can we learn from Leah that our identity and significance are found in God?

No matter where you find yourself today, may you remember that all things work together for good (Romans 8:28). God still loves you with everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3), and praising Him can bring a healing and hopeful balm to your hurting soul. Gratitude lifts our weak eyes from the pain inside or around us to the one who adores us.

Bible Verses To Remember Who We Are and How God Has Created Us.

• We are created in the image of God for a purpose. Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth (Genesis 1:26).
• We are prerfectly created. For it was you who created my inward parts, you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know it very well (Psalm 139:13–14).
• We are His one of a kind masterpiece prepared before the beginning of time. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God preoared ahead of time for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).
• We all have unique gifts and abilities. Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God producies each gift in each person (1Corinthians 12: 4–6).

Heavenly Father, thank you so much for the unique way you created me. You have given us each special talents and gifts to be used for your glory. I confess my weakness to feel less than or try to find my security and significance in something other than You. I praise you that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Amen.

Blessings until next time,

Mary H.

For further study: The story of Leah and Rachel is in Genesis 29:1–30:24. Why do you think there is so much strife between the sisters? How could each of them handled their circumstances differently? What part did pride and control play? Read James 4:1–3. How would it have played out differently if each had chosen humility and surrender to God? Let’s dialogue on these questions. Send me your thoughts.