sara's week 6

1. WHAT MEANT THE MOST TO YOU FROM THIS LESSON?
Leah and Rachel's obsessions that distracted them from God. it's really jaw dropping to watch these two sisters go back and forth, using any means possible to get back at each other and gain the upper hand. looking back on it, i'm even more amazed at how God so patiently bore the two of them - even though they grew more and more obsessed with what they felt they were lacking, the Lord didn't miraculously make Jacob love Leah, nor did he give Rachel an abundance of children. they seem so blind to the fact that the other sister had what they wanted, but she wasn't any happier with it. surely, when we feel we are lacking something, the Lord is using it to bring us closer to Him, to give Him praise as Leah did, rather than to continue wallowing in how insufficiently He has supplied us. it also sticks out to me how ugly things got, even though these two were sisters. i have recently been struggling a lot with envying my sisters in Christ for the gifts and resources He's given them. may i never grow obsessed and make things escalate into a Leah and Rachel situation!

2. WHAT OFFERED YOU THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OR BLESSING AND WHY?
challenge: to stop coveting what my sister has, and thank the Lord for this opportunity to draw closer to Him.
blessing: when she talks about people being restored without recessarily being together. i have felt conflicted about returning to old relationships that used to be ungodly and hurtful, but i now see that forgiveness and love does not have to mean a resumed friendship. :)

3. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU INTEND TO APPLY (through prayer and the Holy
Spirit) FROM THIS WEEK'S STUDY?
(see above answer for "challenge")

4. PRAYER REQUESTS AND OTHER COMMENTS
i thought it was hilarious how Jacob spontaneously developed "Samsonesque" strength upon seeing Rachel! haha!
also, thank you so much for praying for me and my prayer life! :D the Lord has really been answering me this week, especially through the faithful preaching of His word through various messages/sermons at church and online. i have heard a lot about prayer, but please pray for me that i will DO a lot about prayer!