Feeling Unseen
Day 2: Feeling Unseen Woman of the Day: Leah Key Verse: “When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, He enabled her to conceive...” — Genesis 29:31 (NIV) Lesson
Title: Feeling Unseen There was a time when I felt invisible. Not because I was physically hiding or lost in a crowd, but because I didn’t feel chosen. I showed up, I served, I smiled — and still, it felt like no one really saw me. I remember being at an event where I had poured hours into helping behind the scenes. It wasn’t about the recognition — I wasn’t looking for a spotlight — but when the time came for thanks, I watched as someone else was acknowledged for the work I had done. I smiled politely. Clapped with the rest of the room. But inside? I felt invisible. Forgotten. Unimportant. But there are deeper layers, too. I’ve felt unchosen in my marriage — standing on the sidelines while my spouse chose someone else over me. Even today, when I’m around them, it still stings. I’ve smiled through dinners and family events while holding back tears no one could see. And even earlier in life — not having known my father, apart from 3–4 brief interactions — I carried a different kind of ache. I didn’t feel chosen. I felt like a burden. Something to be tolerated, not cherished. That, perhaps, is why Leah’s story touches something so tender in me.
Leah: The Unchosen Sister Her story is found in Genesis 29. Her father, Laban, arranged for her to marry Jacob — even though Jacob was in love with her younger sister, Rachel. The Bible says Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. But Leah? She had “weak eyes.” In Hebrew, the word “rak” (רַךְ) means delicate, tender. Some scholars think it meant she had a soft appearance. Others believe it was a gentle way of saying she didn’t compare physically to her sister. Either way — Leah knew she wasn’t the one Jacob wanted. She was married through trickery. Given away in a deal. She was present — but not chosen. She’s been labeled ever since as the “unchosen sister.” But let me tell you something — I have three daughters of my own, and there is no such thing as an unchosen sister. I choose each of them daily. I love the intricate differences of each one — their voices, their quirks, their strengths, their struggles. Not one of them is a shadow. Not one of them is second best. And if I, in my limited human heart, can love each daughter so fully — how much more does our Heavenly Father see and love us all, individually and deeply?
But God Saw Leah “When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, He enabled her to conceive...” — Genesis 29:31 The phrase “not loved” in Hebrew is “sane” (שָׂנֵא) — strong language. It means unloved, rejected, even hated. But God didn’t just acknowledge Leah’s pain. He acted. He moved in compassion. He opened her womb — giving her not just children, but significance. God didn’t need Leah to be chosen by Jacob to fulfill His plan. He had already chosen her.
But What About Rachel? Every time I read this story, I’m left wondering about Rachel — the other sister. The beautiful one. The loved one. The chosen one. But what did this really feel like for her? She was deeply loved by Jacob — but could she feel the tension? Did she resent her father for forcing Leah into the marriage? Did she feel guilt or sadness when she saw her sister’s pain? Was there competition? Silence? Distance? Or were there stolen moments of sisterhood — shared glances, quiet apologies, or deep hurt neither could put into words? We don’t know for sure — Scripture doesn’t give us the details of their day-to-day relationship. But we can wonder. Maybe Rachel felt helpless. Maybe she was angry. Maybe she also felt unseen — but in a different way. Sometimes the people we perceive as “blessed” or “favored” are fighting invisible battles we’ll never fully understand. Rachel would go on to have her own struggles — especially with infertility, longing for what Leah had in abundance. They were both women with aching hearts. Different kinds of pain. But pain all the same. 🕊️ What Happened to Rachel? Eventually, God opened Rachel’s womb and she gave birth to Joseph, who would later save his people during famine (Genesis 30:22–24). Later, she gave birth to a second son, Benjamin — but she died in childbirth. “As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni (son of my sorrow). But his father named him Benjamin (son of the right hand).” — Genesis 35:18 Rachel was buried on the way to Bethlehem. Jacob set up a pillar at her tomb — a quiet, sacred place that still holds her name (Genesis 35:19–20). She was loved, yes. But she also suffered deeply.
The Full Picture God sees it all. He sees the Leahs — those who feel overlooked and unloved. And He sees the Rachels — those who look chosen but carry hidden pain. God doesn’t just take sides. He sees the whole story. And He sees you.
Today’s Reflection Questions: Where in your life do you feel unseen or unchosen? Have you mistaken people’s rejection as a reflection of your worth? What would it look like to stop striving for recognition and start resting in God's love? How can you extend grace to someone else who may be hurting silently — even if they look like they “have it all”?
Prayer: Father, thank You for seeing me — not just what I do, but who I am. Like Leah, I’ve carried the weight of rejection. I’ve felt unchosen, unwanted, unseen. But You see every tear. You know every ache. And You call me chosen, beloved, and significant. Help me rest in that today — not striving for the love of man, but standing firm in the love of my Maker. And Lord, help me also see the Rachels — the ones I assume have it easy — and offer them compassion too. Amen.
