Have you taken time lately to reflect on your life?
We remember the difficult times in our lives. Those seasons where the rubber hit the road and we thought. “There will be no bouncing back!”. But we did. Then there were those seasons filled with so much laughter and joy, and we never wanted those days to end.
Some blessings came easily, feeling as though they had just been dropped into our lives, probably because they were. God just blessed ”“ even when we did not deserve it. Without us even looking for blessing or expecting it, He blessed.
There were also those seasons where we fought hard for the blessing. You know those days. The days you feel like Jacob wrestling with the angel.
Jacob, poor Jacob. He does his brother wrong and for much of his life, he looked over his shoulder, waiting for revenge to be had by Esau.
And then came the night that changed everything. The night Jacob wrestled with the angel sent by God. Jacob, the fighter, gives the angel a real good fight.
The angel, realized he had a tough rival, touches Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of it socket. Jacob had to be in pain at that point, but remained determine not to give in. Or give up. We are told:
“Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” (Genesis 32:26, NASB)
I wonder how many times we give up without the fight, and miss out on the blessing God has for us. There is an enemy who seeks to steal the blessings God desires to bestow on us. Maybe it isn’t a steal so much as we make it easy for him. We give in, without a fight, surrendering. At times, I think we do not realize how much the blessing is worth the fight.
I hope you will join me at Woman to Woman Ministries HERE as we look at the question: What would happen if we all became wrestlers?
Photo by Misky on Unsplash
Today I am joining … Inspire Me Monday and Remember Me Monday .
I realized recently that I have “commitment issues” when it comes to hard trails–I’m far too likely to give up without a fight when the terrain gets tough. That was a hard realization because of the close parallel between walking (hiking) in life and hiking by faith. Your post has given me more encouragement to walk (hike, wrestle) well, with the perseverance and strength that God provides.
Natalie, your post encouraged me to persevere as well. Your insights on hiking in life and faith were beautiful and most encouraging.
Amen! The victory is ours; if only we have the courage to fight onto the end.
And our God will give us the courage and all we need to fight to the end.
I truly hate the fighting part, but we must face what God brings us to. Some fights are petty and worthy of ignoring. Others are significant and we do wrong to ignore them. We aren’t called to win every fight. We are called to do the right thing on the right side–even if it costs us comfort and more.
So true, Nancy. May God give us the wisdom to fight the right battles.
I sense a need in my own walk to be bolder in the declaration of “I won’t let you go unless you bless me!”
May we all be bolder.
I can so relate as I watch my own Jacob wrestle …but he is winning…growing deeper in the Lord with every battle!
Oh how wonderful, Jan. One battle and one victory at a time. May your Jacob continue to find the strength to keep on wrestling.
This is beautiful Joanne. Blessings.
Much appreciated, Paula!