“During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two servant wives, and his eleven sons and crossed the Jabbok River with them. After taking them to the other side, he sent over all his possessions. This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.” “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.” “Please tell me your name,” Jacob said. “Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.” (Genesis 32:22-31 NIV)
You may have wrestled with something all night long, a decision, a direction you are not sure if the Lord is leading you, a dictate (a principle) in the word of God, or you are wrestling with a degree of difficulty in discerning if something you are about to embark on is wrong or right. I have some short advice for you this Friday morning.
Wrestle with God. No don’t fight him all night like Jacob fought with “the man” in the verses above, a theophany of God, but wrestle with Him and get Him involved in whatever is keeping you from losing sleep. At the end of the wrestling match, where your best move is falling on your knees and not letting go of your belief in prayer, you will be able to rise up, blessed right where you were wrestling, rise up rejoicing in the end of the match, and rise up revived by knowing that you can go forward being a blessing to others today and in the future days of your life. When it seems like your prayer move is not working, hold on until you find the Scriptural passage that will help you come out victorious. Think about these things this morning as you end the typical work week. And tonight, sleep peacefully after pondering how the Lord proved to be your Helper. Be blessed!
“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King