Are you wrestling with God?

We know we wrestle with Satan all the time. He is always trying to get us off track and crush us. But, what about God? how often do we wrestle with what he wants for our lives. Jacob was the only one who ever wrestled with God and won. "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." Genesis 32:28. The name Jacob means deceiver. Jacob lived most of his life as a manipulator, liar and deceiver. He also had many fears and anxieties despite that God told him he would become a great nation. He had family troubles and struggles. His brother Esau wanted his blood. He left Laban to escape his father in law, only to go directly into Esau's path. He distracted him by sending gifts along with his family to him.

Jacob was now too tired to struggle and had nothing left to his name. He was visited by an angelic being who wrestled with him all night. He received a blow to his hip which crippled him permanently. "And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." Genesis 32:30 despite this struggle, God blessed him for it. Jacob finally realized how much he needed God. He finally confronted all of his weaknesses, sins and fears and laid them at God's feet.

We can learn so much from this story. When it seems like nothing is going right and we have so many outside irritations and struggles; God is waiting for us to give it all to him. Stop wrestling with God's will. Life is never going to be perfect and we need God to help us through everything! "I can do all things through Christ who Strengthens me" Philippians 4:13. We may want to run away from trouble but more trouble is always around the bend. Even if you try to avoid conflict and strife because we live in a fallen world it will always be there. Trust God and know that "All things work for the good of those who love God and are called to his purpose." Romans 8:28. When things get really frustrating, uncomfortable and aggravating; hang on and know that God is about to change it for the better and that includes changing us.

I know I wrestle with God at times. For example, I feel we should find a different church to attend because things are not going well at ours or so it seems. Really, it is my husband's decision on where to go. We had our wedding at this church and have been going for about 8 years. I tell him this and when he decides to stay. I remind him of a  long list of reasons of why we shouldn't stay. In my head, I say "stop it Amber, let him decide". Trust your husband and God. God may want us there, because things may be about to change. God is teaching us and molding us along the way. Maybe we are supposed to make a change to help start a change. So, as Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, follow him all the days of your life and he will make your paths straight."

Thank you Lord for the sacrifice of your only son so that we could be forgiven. Thank you for your grace, mercy,goodness and love. I trust you to work out everything that is not going right in your time. We can put our hope in you and cast all our anxieties and fears onto you. In Jesus name, Amen!