Unpainted Toenails

I know we are supposed to be praying, but all I see are my unpainted toenails. I am miles away from joining my small group in this beautiful time of praying to our Heavenly Father.  As I glance around the circle through squinted eyes, because I don’t want anyone to see me peeking, I see pink toenails, red toenails, and even purple. Then I look down at mine and see jagged edges on my plain nails.  Why can’t I have pretty feet like everyone else? Why don’t I take the time and money to have my toes painted?  They must have everything all together, I mean, just look at those toes. Why don’t I have it all together? What is wrong with me?  I have just compared myself to my friends because of my toenails.  I told myself that they are better than I am and there must be something wrong with me.  Have you ever done this?  It is an easy trap to fall into, comparing yourself to someone and feeling like you don’t measure up.
We see this happening all throughout scripture.  Cain and Abel.  Esau and Jacob.  Leah and Rachel.  These two sisters shared a husband.  As we read their story in Genesis 29:16-24, we see that:

1. Leah had weak eyes and Rachel was beautiful. Genesis 29:17 (NIV)
   
2. Jacob loves Rachel and agrees to work for 7 years if he can marry her. Genesis 29:18 (NIV)
   
3. Jacob was tricked to marry Leah when he thought he was marrying Rachel. Genesis 29:23 (NIV)
   
4. Jacob agrees to work for 7 years to marry Rachel.  Genesis 29:27 (NIV)
   
5. Jacob and Rachel are married. Genesis 29:28 (NIV)
   
6. Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah.  Genesis 29:30 (NIV)
   

The stage has been set to have these two sisters compare themselves to each other as they vie for Jacob’s affection.  And Rachel and Leah certainly took it to a new level.  

1. Leah gave birth to 4 sons while Rachel was barren. Genesis 29:31-35 (NIV)
   
2. Rachel envied her sister.  Genesis 30:1 (NIV)
   
3. Rachel demands Jacob give her children. She gives her maidservant to Jacob so she could build her family.  Genesis 30:3-8 (NIV)
   
4. Leach gave her maidservant to Jacob so as not to be out done by Rachel.  Genesis 30:9-12 (NIV)
   
5. Rachel sold her time with Jacob to Leach for some mandrake.  Leah gives Jacob 2 more sons and a daughter.  Genesis 30:14-21 (NIV)
   
6. Rachel finally gives Jacob a son.  Genesis 30:24 (NIV)
   

Matthew Henry, in his commentary on this scriptures says, “Rachel cannot live peaceably with Jacob. Rachel frets. She envied her sister. Envy is grieving at the good of another.  She considered not that it was God that made the difference, and that though, in this single instance her sister was preferred before her, yet in other things she had the advantage.”  Rachel focused on how her sister was being favored by God and Jacob because she was barring his sons.  She demands that Jacob give her children.  Not just one, but many.  Matthew Henry also says, “She did not apply to God by prayer, but to Jacob only, forgetting that children are a heritage of the Lord, Psalm 127:3 . We wrong both God and ourselves when our eye is more to men, the instruments of our crosses and comforts, than to God the author.”
 “When my eyes are more to men then to God.”  Wow.  I did that.  I had my eyes on (wo)men and their toes instead of on my God.  It is so easy for us to lose our focus on God.  The world tries to pull me away all the time.  It wants me to compare myself to others and think I don’t measure up.  
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts,God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand -  when I awake, I am still with you. Psalms 139:13 - 18 (NIV)
God formed me.  God knows my days.  I am precious to God.  Not because of the polish on my toenails, but because of who He made me to be.  Because of who He wants me to be.   Because He is always with me.  The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

God delights in me.  He rejoices over me with singing.  Unpainted toenails and all. My God is good and gracious.  He wants me and you to know that He made us just the way He wanted us and He doesn’t make junk.  We need to stop comparing ourselves to the ladies around us and start looking up to the God who created us.  For when we focus on God and His plan, we can join our sisters in fellowship, prayer time, and worship. We will bask in all the  joy and blessings God has in store for us.