Grasping for Love

August 31, 2025

We were made for love—but we often grasp for it in all the wrong ways. Jacob thought Rachel’s beauty would heal his loneliness. Leah thought bearing children would earn her husband’s affection. Both were left unsatisfied. In Part 4 of Grasping for God, we’ll see that the love we truly long for can’t be found in romance, success, or family approval—it can only be found in the God who sees, hears, and loves us in Christ, the true Bridegroom who will never leave or forsake us.

Listen to Podcast

Passage

The ##Hope## for One True Love (Genesis 29:15-21)

The ##Disillusionment## of one true love. (Genesis 29:22-34)

The ##Fulfillment## of One True Love (Genesis 29:35)

Principle

What you worship will either ##disappoint## you or ##redeem## you – and only ##God## can ##redeem## you.

Practice

Name the " ##Rachel## " you’ve been grasping for – and ##lay## ##it## ##down## .

Small Group Questions

Use this outline for personal reflection, as a couple or family devotion, or with a small group.

HANGOUT

Have you ever been in a season where you were working hard but felt like you were running in place? How did that season shape your faith—or your frustration?

HEAR

Read Genesis 30:1-24

What do Rachel’s and Leah’s responses to barrenness reveal about their identity and security? How do both women’s actions reflect the same grasping spirit we’ve seen in Jacob’s earlier story?
How does God show Himself faithful even in the middle of rivalry, manipulation, and desperation?
In what ways does this chapter challenge the idea that God only works through “ideal” family situations?

Read Genesis 30:25-43

Why do you think Jacob wanted to leave Laban at this point? How does Jacob’s unusual breeding strategy reflect his mix of cleverness and dependence on God?
Where do you see God’s hand in Jacob’s prosperity? How can we discern the difference between God’s blessing and our scheming?

Read Genesis 31:1-21

How does God’s command to return home connect with His earlier promise to Jacob at Bethel (Genesis 28)?
What do Jacob’s actions in preparing to leave say about his faith and his fears?
Have you ever sensed God calling you to a significant change while circumstances around you were still unsettled? How did you respond?

Read Genesis 31:22-55

What does the covenant between Jacob and Laban reveal about their relationship? How does this moment bring closure to years of conflict, mistrust, and grasping?
Where do you see God protecting Jacob and preserving His promises through these events?

HUDDLE

Where in your life are you tempted to scheme, manipulate, or overwork in order to feel secure? How might you shift from grasping for control to trusting God’s timing and provision? Share honestly, invite accountability, and pray for one another—asking God to replace restless striving with a deeper reliance on His grace.

Daily Reading

As you read each passage, ask yourself the following questions. What longing is expressed in this passage? Where does this passage redirect that longing? What might God be saying to me today?

Day 1: Genesis 29
Day 2: Genesis 30:1-24
Day 3: Genesis 30:25-43
Day 4: Genesis 31:1-21
Day 5: Genesis 31:22-55
Day 6: John 4:1-26
Day 7: Colossians 3:1-17

Think Deeper

Have you ever tried the “Romantic solution” to satisfy the longing of your soul?
Have you ever felt the pressure of someone expecting you to “complete them”?
How might putting Christ at the center of your life eliminate the pressure on a spouse or close friend?