Rachel - Happy National Infertility Awareness Week

Genesis 29: 31-35 When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, "It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now." She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too." So she named him Simeon. Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." So he was named Levi. She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "This time I will praise the LORD." So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.

Did you know that the week of October 19-25th is National Infertility Awareness Week? I didn't know it either until I started doing research for this post. Apparently this is quite a quandary in America. Over 7 million couples suffer from infertility. In 2006, over $7.1 billion dollars were spent on fertility drugs in the United States alone. This was not just a problem a couple thousand years ago, it still holds true today.

Rachel could not have children. She had gained the love of Jacob, but at this point, that was as far as it went. Her sister Leah, the one who was given to Jacob first was bearing child after child - while Rachel continued in her daily life activities. We know the struggles of women today who want to conceive, but just are not able to - adoption was not a big choice in Bible times. It is sad that these women had to feel their worth was in what they could physically (child bearing) give to their husbands.

God had blessed Rachel by giving her the love of Jacob, but now that wasn't enough. She wanted to have kids to satisfy him. Isn't that the way we are? Thank you God for this, but now I want that. In all the confusion of a busy lifestyle - in all our search to find meaning and purpose - in all our efforts to physically find ourselves worthy - only one thing matters - Jesus. TODAY, let's remember that God's grace is enough. That's all we need, and be content in Him.