Some mothers feel unseen and that the sacrifices they make for their families go unnoticed. God sees your efforts and deeply values all you do. He started the family unit from the beginning and desires for it to thrive. You don’t need to be a perfect mother with everything all together. Just being who you are, doing your best with the abilities He’s given you, is enough and He loves you deeply, flaws and all.
Let me introduce you to a woman in the Bible called Leah, who likely knew what it was to feel invisible, unloved, and unappreciated.
Leah and Rachel: Sisters in Contrast
Jacob, the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham, fled from his brother Esau and took refuge with his uncle Laban. Laban had two daughters: Leah, the older, and Rachel, the younger. Jacob was madly in love with Rachel and agreed to work for seven years for her hand in marriage.
On the wedding night, Laban deceived Jacob, giving him Leah instead of Rachel. The darkness and Leah’s veil prevented Jacob from realising the deception until morning.
“When morning came, there was Leah!” (Genesis 29:25)
Laban justified his action with a local custom: the older daughter must marry before the younger. He offered Rachel to Jacob as well—but only after Leah’s bridal week and in exchange for another seven years of labour.
Leah Had “Tender Eyes”
Genesis 29:17 describes Leah as having “weak” or “tender” eyes:
“Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful.” (Genesis 29:17, NIV)
The Hebrew word rakoth (רַכּוֹת) means soft or delicate, while some interpret this as a physical flaw, others suggest it reflects a gentle, soulful nature. Jewish tradition teaches that Leah’s eyes were soft from weeping in prayer, pleading not to be married to Esau, Jacob’s twin brother. Her tenderness was not a weakness, it was the mark of a woman deeply sensitive to God.
The Unloved and Overlooked Wife
Leah entered marriage with no choice and no affection from her husband. One can only imagine her heartbreak, watching Jacob shower Rachel with the love she longed for. And yet, God saw Leah. He acknowledged her sorrow and blessed her.
“When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to have children, but Rachel could not conceive.” (Genesis 29:31, NLT)
Leah sons, each one heart cry
- Reuben – “The Lord has noticed my misery, and now my husband will love me.” (Genesis 29:32)
- Simeon – “The Lord heard that I was unloved and has given me another son.” (Genesis 29:33)
- Levi – “Surely this time my husband will feel affection for me.” (Genesis 29:34)
Each name marked her yearning for love that never quite came. But then came Judah:
- Judah – “This time I will praise the Lord.” (Genesis 29:35)
Here, Leah had a turning point—her aha moment. She shifted her focus from human love to divine love. Judah means “praise,” and from this line came King David and ultimately, Jesus Christ.
Rachel’s Struggle and Leah’s Strength
Rachel had Jacob’s love but not his children, and Leah had his children but not his love. Both women were hurting. Rachel cried to Jacob:
“Give me children, or I’ll die!” (Genesis 30:1, NLT)
Jacob reminded her that only God could open the womb. Rachel eventually bore Joseph and Benjamin, but not before Leah bore two more sons, Issachar and Zebulun, and a daughter, Dinah. Leah also had two sons through her maid, Gad and Asher.
Leah’s Lasting Legacy
Leah bore six sons naturally, two through her maid, Zilpah, and a daughter. Eight of Israel’s twelve tribes came through her and here’s a brief summary of their strengths and weakness:
- Reuben – Lost his birthright, but was Leah’s first.
- Simeon – Fierce, but later absorbed into Judah.
- Levi – From him came the priesthood: Moses and Aaron.
- Judah – The royal line of David and Jesus Christ.
- Issachar – Known for wisdom and discernment.
- Zebulun – Associated with trade and provision.
- Gad and Asher (via Zilpah) – Prosperity and strength.
- Dinah – A painful reminder of how vulnerable women were in a broken world.
Though Leah may have felt invisible to Jacob, God was building a nation through her in the midst darkness that shrouded her.
“The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7, NLT)
Honoured in Death
In death, as in life, Leah and Rachel rested in different places—but their stories still speak.
Rachel, the beloved wife, died in childbirth, and Jacob buried her by the roadside near Bethlehem. Perhaps because her death was sudden and unexpected. Her grave became a place of national mourning. The prophet Jeremiah later wrote:
“Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Jeremiah 31:15
Her sorrow endures in memory, and her tomb symbolises grief and longing.
But God chose Leah, the wife whom man had rejected, and Jacob buried her in the honoured place of Machpelah cave in Hebron, alongside Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Rebekah.
“There I buried Leah.” Genesis 49:31
This was no ordinary resting place. It was the ancestral tomb of the covenant family, a burial reserved for those whom God had deeply woven into the story of redemption.
And there Leah rests—not cast aside, but remembered as a matriarch of Israel, the mother of Judah, through whom would come King David… and Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
💛 To the Mothers Who Feel Unseen
You may not always feel appreciated. Your sacrifices may go unnoticed. You may not feel radiant or celebrated like others.
But like Leah, God sees you. He hears your prayers. And He is building something eternal through your life—even when you can’t yet see it.
“This time I will praise the Lord.” (Genesis 29:35)
Let that be your declaration. The God who saw Leah sees you. And He is still writing your legacy.
If this message encouraged you, share it with a mother who needs to know that God sees and deeply loves her. I’d love to hear your thoughts — leave a comment below.
If you’re navigating pregnancy and want to stay rooted in prayer each week, my devotional A Mother’s Prayers walks with you through every stage. The link below takes you to where you can get a copy. from Amazon or other stores choices below.
Joanne Sojinu, Author, A Mother’s Prayers, Week By Week Devotional For Your Unborn Child
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