3:282 – Wrestling With God

#faithbites #faithjourney wrestling

Setting

Yesterday, we talked about God messing with you. Those times when he puts a fork in your path and makes you think. Today, we are going a little deeper into this.

Have you ever wrestled with God? No, I’m not talking about Greco-Roman or WWE wrestling. This wrestling is when something is heavy on your heart and you are trying to make heads or tails of it.

I am always wrestling with something. Be it the church’s stance on homosexuality, women in the pastoral roles, denominations in the church, and a hundred more. Some think you should wrestle with God. That you should accept everything on blind faith. For those who do, that’s great. For me, I be never been that way. Maybe it’s a character flaw, maybe it’s just the way God me.

Are you wrestling with God? What is on your heart?

Scripture

• Genesis 32:22-29 – That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”The man asked him, “What is your name?”“Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
• Romans 12:12 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Reflection

I have heard the term wrestling with God many times but didn’t know the story of Jacob who became Israel. He physically wrestled with God and was unable to beat him but he kept at it till daybreak even when injured. Why? Because he believed in God and knew the wrestle was good for his soul.

In Romans, we see that we will be tested and through that testing, we will discern was is good in God’s eyes. God wants the best for us but tests us so we can grow.

Remember, everything worthwhile tales work. Just like our faith,we grow through challenge.

Sometimes, it’s tiring to wrestle with God. It not about winning the match but staying in the ring.

How will you continue to engage God in the ring? How will you wrestle with him?

Challenge

Is there anything on your heart? Is God trying to get you into the ring? Step in and go. Struggle with him. Debate him. Listen to him. It will help you grow in your faith.

Prayer

Father God, I am ready to step in the ring with you. Just like your servant Jacob, we want to wrestle. We know you have no plans to harm us and are helping us to grow in you. Give us the strength to take you up on your offer to wrestle. Help us and comfort us as we are wrestling. Remind us, that you want us to learn and have a deeper relationship with you. We love you God. We know you will give up on us, help us to never give up on you. In your name, Amen.