How would you feel if all you heard was “not you”? Each response to a job application – not you. Each opportunity at a relationship – not you. Among your family and acquaintances – not you. These experiences of rejection would have you wondering if you will ever be chosen. Will anyone ever choose you?
The Story: Genesis 29
In Genesis 29, Jacob, needed safety and a wife so he went to the home of his uncle, Laban. He received his nephew, Jacob, because he wanted Jacob to work for him. The two men negotiated that Jacob would work 7 years in exchange for Rachel. After the 7 years, Jacob had relations his new wife. However, when Jacob woke up the next morning, he saw Leah, Laban’s oldest daughter. When Jacob asked Laban about the mix-up, Laban quoted tradition that the older daughter must marry before the younger one. Laban was optimistic as he had a solution. Jacob must work another 7 years to marry Rachel. Because of Jacob’s love for Rachel, he agreed.
Between the two women, Leah wasn’t as pretty as Rachel nor did receive love from Jacob. However, God saw her and opened her womb while Rachel was barren. She conceived a son and believed that this child would bring love from her husband. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case. With her second child, Leah acknowledged that God heard her cry. Yet, her focus turned back to her husband with the birth of her third son. By the time her fourth son arrived, she decided to praise God.
The Lesson
In Genesis 29, we see the rejection of Leah, who only wanted love. Instead she received “not you” from her father and husband. Her father felt that the only way to get rid of her was through deception. Laban thought so little of her that he didn’t think she needed love. Despite Leah’s efforts, Jacob’s heart was with Rachel. After some time, Leah realized that God loved and heard her. Although those close to Leah said “not you,” God said “I choose you.”
God is making the same declaration to us. I choose you. God doesn’t care what we look like because He created us. He hasn’t discounted us because of our personality or mistakes for He knows us from the inside out. There’s nothing about us that God’s doesn’t know. As a result, He chooses us.
Because God chose us, we need to choose ourselves. The time is now to appreciate everything that makes us unique. We’re an original and no longer need to act as a copy. We can’t remain in the box of other people’s opinions. We have a higher calling.
Like Leah, we have insecurities, but we also have choices.
- Allow the insecurities to define and disqualify us from our purpose, or
- Embrace them as part of our uniqueness and move forward into next.
Let’s choose us. Yes, You.
