I’m a ministry ‘rookie’. Less than 10 years.
And there are certain things I don’t understand about church.
We don’t always like to deal with problems.
As Christ-followers, it seems we expect the challenges of life to wrap themselves up and resolve as quickly as the 30-minute sitcoms we grew up watching. When someone reveals a problem we fire a combination of scripture hoping to vanquish it like the foe in a video game. We’re not always comfortable with process when someone deals with life’s twists and turns.
Genesis 32 reveals a story of Jacob wrestling with God. For years I read that story and figured Jacob got what he deserved. You wrestle with God and you’ll walk away with a limp!
Don’t wrestle with God!!
I’m rethinking that now.
God blessed Jacob. Made him the father of nations. Why is that? I don’t know. I have no doubt commentators have written on this for years. I have no new revelations here. But today I look at the wrestle differently.
Jacob never let go of God.
He fought to hang on. It had to be an ugly fight. Not the pansy, stand-back-and-slap-a-little, kind of fight. If he was relentless enough that the angel realized he wouldn’t overpower Jacob… I’d say Jacob was fighting to hang on to God no matter the cost.
I think when God is weeding out deeply rooted stuff there is going to be a wrestle and church needs to be a safe place for that wrestle to happen. What does that mean?
It means messy things like broken marriages, sexual addictions, the loss of a loved one, disease, disability… some will wrestle with God for years as they learn to give their pain/their sin/their will over to Him.
I think the point of blessing came because Jacob never gave up. In fact, that was the moment God renamed him Israel (God-wrestler).
April 20th, 2009 at 8:03 am
The most tragic thing that I see in ministry is when people that I have grown to love simply walk away from the wrestling match with God. The feel the confrontation coming and they simply get up and walk away rather than deal directly with God.
I've never seen that story end well.
April 20th, 2009 at 8:20 am
Wow! Thank you for your insight. I've realized after reading this, where I have been for the past 7 years and why it has gone the way it has gone. I have to say it's been very rough at times but I've never let go. And now I feel I can refocus on the fight of letting go and giving to God my pain. I can't put into words right now what you just spoke into me…but God Bless you and Thank you!!!!!
April 20th, 2009 at 10:48 am
This is good stuff, Gina! I would say I'm wrestling with God on a few things right now… some people would have me think that to wrestle with God is a bad thing, to question, to doubt… but I just can't believe that. I'm glad you said “Jacob never let go of God.” This is what it boils down to. We can question all we need, the key is to not let go of HIM. Thank you for writing this…
April 20th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Wow. So glad these thoughts would speak to you in such a powerful way. A clear move of Him… not mine.
April 20th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Good stuff! I think God made me a fighter for a reason, and I know that he has been there for me in every life twist! I don't always understand it all, and even get mad…but keep believing anyway. Thanks for sharing!