The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode: Day 15: Leah Feels Unloved (2026)
Date: January 15, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz

Main Theme

This episode dives into the messy, complex family narrative of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel from Genesis 29-30, exploring themes of longing for love, human brokenness, and how God works through imperfect situations. Fr. Mike also touches on Job's continued suffering and hope, along with wisdom from Proverbs. The core reflection centers on Leah’s pain of feeling unloved, the universal human experience of longing for acceptance, and a reassurance that God’s love persists even amid chaos and sorrow.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Scripture Readings Overview

• Genesis 29-30:
  • Jacob arrives at Laban’s house, falls for Rachel, agrees to work seven years for her, is deceived into marrying Leah, then marries Rachel after another seven years of labor.
  • Birth of Jacob’s children through Leah, Rachel, and their maids, including the drama involving mandrakes.
  • Jacob’s negotiations with Laban over livestock and his increasing prosperity.
• Job 19-20:
  • Job’s lament about God’s absence and human isolation; Job’s powerful declaration: “I know that my Redeemer lives.”
  • Zophar’s harsh response, emphasizing the brief success of the wicked.
• Proverbs 3:5-8:
  • Trust in God, acknowledge Him, avoid self-reliance, and seek wisdom.

2. Reflection on the Messiness of Jacob’s Family

• Fr. Mike highlights the deeply dysfunctional dynamics: deception by Laban; sibling rivalry; Rachel’s beauty and favored status vs. Leah’s pain; the use of servants as surrogates.
• The repeated biblical pattern: God’s people do not have clean, easy lives, but God still works through their brokenness.
  • Fr. Mike (19:51): “This is the family from which Jesus came. There’s all these messes, all this dirtiness, all this brokenness... And yet God works through all of this brokenness.”

3. Leah’s Wound: Feeling Unloved

• Leah yearns for Jacob’s love, believing each new child will win his affection. Her naming of sons reflects her hope for love, which never comes.
  • Fr. Mike (21:02): “Leah is the one who was tolerated by her husband. And this is one of the wounds so many people have... Sometimes the people in our lives that we think they should love us, and they don’t. They just tolerate us.”
• A spiritual parallel: Many interpret their relationship with God as mere “tolerance” rather than genuine love.
  • “This is sometimes what a lot of people envision God does with them, is just simply tolerates them. As opposed to, God truly loves you. God truly loves you.” (21:33)

4. Leah’s Turning Point

• After her fourth son, Judah, Leah shifts focus from seeking Jacob’s love to praising God:
  • Genesis 29:35 read at 22:05: “This time, I will praise the Lord. Therefore she called his name Judah.”
• Fr. Mike points out the spiritual lesson: true freedom comes not from earning love, but recognizing God’s love is given, not won.
  • “She thought what she could do would make herself more lovely, make herself more lovable. That’s this trap that so many of us fall into.” (21:51)

5. The Reality of Human Brokenness

• Jacob and Laban’s “gamesmanship” over wages, trickery with livestock and marriages; the repeated messiness—yet God remains present, working through and not in spite of human flaws.
  • “It is really rare that anyone has a completely clean life where everything is super simple, everything’s super clear... Even those who are being used by God to build His kingdom.” (23:14)

6. Job’s Honesty and Hope

• Briefly noted: Job’s honesty in suffering, misunderstanding by friends, yet confident hope in God as Redeemer.
  • Job 19:25, read at 11:43: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at last he will stand upon the earth… then from my flesh I shall see God.”
• Fr. Mike foreshadows that God will ultimately rebuke Job’s friends for their wrong assumptions.

7. Encouragement to the Listener

• Fr. Mike emphasizes that feeling unloved or being in messy circumstances does not exclude anyone from God’s love or purpose.
  • “Please know that you’re not alone in your brokenness. You’re not alone in your grief, you’re not alone in your sorrow, you’re not alone when you feel unloved because you are loved.” (24:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Leah’s Heartbreak:
  • “Leah is the one who was tolerated by her husband. And this is one of the wounds that so many people have... Sometimes the people in our lives that we think they should love us, and they don't. They just tolerate us.” (21:02)
• On God’s Transforming Love:
  • “This is sometimes what a lot of people envision God does with them, is just simply tolerates them. As opposed to, God truly loves you. God truly loves you.” (21:33)
• On Messiness and Redemption:
  • “It is really rare that anyone has a completely clean life... Even those who are being used by God to build his kingdom. It’s so rare that I would say it doesn’t exist.” (23:14)
• On Prayer and Community:
  • “Let’s keep praying for each other. Please pray for me. I’ll be praying for you. And pray for each other. This community of people going through the Bible... you’re not alone.” (24:10)
• Scripture Highlight – Job’s Hope:
  • “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at last he will stand upon the earth...” (read at 11:43)

Key Timestamps

• Genesis Reading Begins: 01:25
• Jacob Meets Rachel and Laban: 02:00
• Jacob Is Deceived into Marrying Leah: 04:30
• Birth of Jacob’s Sons (Leah’s Pain): 06:50 – 08:35
• Mandrake Story/Family Rivalries: 09:10
• Jacob Prospering Despite Laban: 11:00
• Job Reading Begins: 11:30
• Job’s Lament and Declaration of Faith: 11:43
• Zophar’s Response: 13:35
• Proverbs Reading: 17:07
• Fr. Mike’s Reflection (Main Commentary): 18:12
  • Discussion of Messiness: 19:51
  • Leah’s Pain and Spiritual Reflection: 21:02 – 21:51
  • Leah’s Turn to Praise (Judah’s Birth): 22:05
  • Encouragement to Listeners: 24:10
• Closing Blessing: 24:30

Summary Takeaway

Fr. Mike guides listeners through the fraught and painful experiences of Jacob’s family, especially Leah’s yearning for love—a reality echoing human experience through the ages. His reflection assures listeners that God does not merely tolerate them, but loves them deeply, working powerfully through imperfect, messy circumstances. The episode closes with encouragement: no matter how unloved or broken you feel, you are part of God’s story, and you are not alone.