Just for Women Wednesdays- The Cure for a Jealous Woman

"When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. 

                 So she said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I'll die!"   Genesis 30:1  

Can you imagine being married to a husband that had another wife? Now imagine that the other wife was your sister! To top it off, your sister had no trouble having children while you remained barren! Imagine the deep pain, the inner turmoil that would exist. It would be too much to bear day in and day out! How would you feel about yourself? What kind of thoughts would run through your head? Imagine with me how the sight of Rachel's sister, Leah, blessed upon blessed to have children might have taken her to a very conflicted place as she herself remained barren.


The story of Rachel's struggle to have children is one that speaks to all women. Why? Because at the root of her desire is the sin of jealousy. Women struggle with jealousy. There, I've said it. You can feel better now knowing you aren't the only one!!! Jealousy is not just about not having children. It's about wanting what others have. Jealousy crops up in the most unexpected places. You can have your quiet time with Jesus and then midday be wherever...Wal-mart, Chick-Fil-A, the mall, vacation, the park, work, church and even inside your home and a jealous thought can arise. Maybe it's a cute outfit you admire and you can't afford a new outfit. Maybe it's another's woman's physical fitness you admire and you can't seem to discipline yourself to get yourself to the gym. Maybe you want to be married, or if you are married, maybe you want to have children. Maybe you want to stay home if you work, and work if you stay home! Wherever jealousy presents itself, hold fast dear one, and be encouraged!!! There is a cure for jealousy- Jesus. The more time we spend with Him, the less time we spend being jealous! 


Jealousy is a rebellious thought. Have you really thought about it like that? We have become so comfortable laughing off our jealousy. But inside, there is turmoil. There is unconfessed sin. Jealousy goes against choosing to think about truth. It is rooted in pride and envy which focuses on YOU instead of on GOD.

A commentary describes the jealousy of Rachel saying:              

"Envy is grieving at the good of another, than which no sin is more injurious both to God, our neighbour, and ourselves. But this was not all, she said to Jacob, give me children or else I die - A child would not content her; but because Leah has more than one, she must have more too; Give me children: her heart is set upon it. Give them me, else I die, That is, I shall fret myself to death." (Source:http://bible.cc/genesis/30-1.htm)

Wow! Did you catch the phrase, "grieving at the good of another." These words reveal the depth of jealousy Rachel had for Leah. Rachel proclaimed she would "die" if she didn't have children. Listen, dear sister, the words that come out of our mouth, reveal the state of our heart. They reveal what we really are thinking inside our heart.


What do you do with jealousy? What do you do with those inner thoughts of envy that can swim around in your head if you let them? Here are four ways to walk you through that jealous thought.

1.Turn Away from Jealousy 

Don't turn your eyes and then keep walking in jealousy....TURN your body and go the other way!!! What is the other way? Go straight to your Bible and start reading. Searching God's truth will begin filling your mind with good thoughts instead of rebellious thoughts. 

2. Confess Jealousy Quickly 

Take the jealous thought captive. When a criminal is taken captive, a mugshot is taken of him or her. Do the same for your jealous thought? Take a mugshot of it. Name the jealous thought on a piece of paper and put it in a place where you can see and be reminded of it. Delaying your jealous feelings instead of confessing them quickly will continue a mindset of jealousy. It will stifle your relationship with God. If you continue in a mindset of jealousy, you are becoming friends with the rebellious thought and giving it permission to return. Jealousy will eat you alive on the inside and eat up all the good truths and leave you bitter. Don't let it find a comfortable place in your heart. 

3. Pray for Your Jealousy

Just because you pray one time about jealousy, doesn't mean it won't return. Keep praying and fill your mind with scripture instead of jealous thoughts. Get your mugshot out and look at it and bring it back to the LORD. If you are jealous of another woman, pray for her by name and thank God for all the things He is doing in her life (Romans 12:15). Rejoice with her!! Jealousy has no company with Jesus.

4. Accept Where You Are

The more we spend with Christ, the more we become like Christ. God has placed you where you are. He is working!!! Embrace the life He has given you at present. Instead of focusing on what you don't have, focus on what you DO have. 

Dear one, jealousy WILL find it's way into your life. The question is, "what will you do with it when it presents itself in your mind and heart?" Roman 12:15 instructs us to "rejoice with those who rejoice." Rejoice with that other woman who is physically fit and be inspired by her to get yourself back to the gym. instead of being jealous of her, learn from her. Rejoice in the good things that are going on in their lives. Learn from other women instead of compete with them. 


Last, don't let jealousy steal your day. Life is TOO short to be a jealous woman.