Who’s Writing Our Stories?
For years, I clung to the notion that bad decisions led to bad stories and good decisions led to good stories. I desperately and naïvely wanted to believe this was true—that we had some control over our stories. But we know it isn’t true, don’t we?
We live in a broken world, and our stories are often impacted by the brokenness of that world and the brokenness of others. Brokenness manifests in a myriad of ways. It could look like a parent who is physically or emotionally absent, a spouse who abandons, a drunk driver who devastates, a lost job, a promise unkept, or a father who deceptively marries you off to your sister’s fiancé. Yep, that happened in Genesis 29! I am pretty sure that’s not the story Leah would have written for herself.
I used to read this story as Jacob’s deception coming back to haunt him. After all, he was the same guy who deceived his father to get his older brother’s birthright. In Genesis 29, he has been deceived. This interpretation certainly fit my narrative. Bad decisions lead to bad stories.
But what about Leah?
Because she was the older sister, her father, Laban, was determined to marry her off first even if he had to trick Jacob to make it happen. You could label Leah a villain for going along with her father’s plan and marrying her sister’s fiancé. But she could also be seen as a victim, honoring and obeying her father and landing in a marriage where she was overlooked and unwanted. Genesis 29:17 tells us, ”Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance” (ESV). Not only did Leah experience life as the less attractive older sister, but her father’s deception made her the wife of the man who was in love with her beautiful sister. And one week after their wedding, Jacob married Rachel too! Not quite the makings of a Hallmark Channel romance.
Was Leah’s story written by her father?
There was a season when I believed other people were writing my story. This meant that, at times, I was the victim of their bad decisions. This worldview is dangerous. I found myself growing increasingly judgmental and fearful. When a broken promise led to our third move in three years, I wrongly believed that the promise-breaker was writing our story. My faulty belief took me to a dark place where it was hard to access forgiveness and hope. Through this difficult time, I came to a deeper understanding of the importance of thinking rightly about God’s sovereignty, wisdom, and goodness.
Our stories are ultimately written by God.
Eventually, I was able to acknowledge that God is always in control; that he is writing our stories. Other people’s choices do not take the pen out of his hand. Trusting that my story was authored by a wise and good God enabled me to find the blessings written into each chapter, even the difficult ones.
For Leah, God’s blessings came in the form of six sons. Even in her pain, Leah expressed gratitude, praising God for these good gifts.
When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me. (Gen. 29:31-32 ESV)
And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. (Gen. 29:35 ESV)
Leah knew God was writing her story.
I have grown to view Leah not as a villain or a victim but as a victor. She honored her father and endured a forced marriage. She celebrated the birth of each son as a blessing from God, demonstrating her faith in him. Ultimately, it was Leah, not Rachel, who was buried beside Jacob (Genesis 49). We are also told that Jesus descended from Leah’s son, Judah.
For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. (Heb. 7:14 ESV )
Leah was given an enduring role in God’s great story.
Leah’s hope, and ours, rests in a God who is not only sovereign but wise and good. As Sharon Jaynes, author of When You Don’t Like Your Story: What if Your Worst Chapters Could Become Your Greatest Victories writes “Biblical hope is a certainty that our ultimate future rests in God’s capable and loving hands.”
And this is our ultimate future:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” (1 Pet. 1:3-4 ESV)
Friends, God has written our collective story, and the ending is amazing! When we allow this secure hope to shape our perspective, we will not only have confidence in the future but eyes to see the goodness of God here and now. Like Leah, we can become victors in our stories by simply trusting the Author. Embracing the blessings of today and the promises of tomorrow. Sharing our stories with others so that we might encourage them and bring glory to God, the greatest Author of all time.
and her husband of thirty-three years live in Gainesville, FL. They have moved a dozen times, raising three children along the way. They have added a son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and two precious grandsons to the mix. When she is not packing or unpacking, Ann enjoys serving as a mentor mom for MOPS International, joining Bible studies, meeting friends for coffee, taking long walks, and watching lots of football. Ann is passionate about using lessons from her journey to help other women navigate change in their own lives.
Photograph © Kermen Tutkunova, used with permission
