Wrestling With God

Been there done that…how many times have you heard someone say that? I wrestled with our Lord on many issues over the years. Everything from how I wanted to live my life to my dependency on the world for all of my needs. While I’d like to say I was a quick study, that simply was not the case. Hard headedness seems to be in my nature…yep, rebellious plain and simple.

But the Lords grace is greater than my stupidity. It took many years, for me to released the future and overall outcome of my life to His will. I no longer concern myself with the ‘big picture’ like I use to. Yes, I still wonder how it will all work out, but I don’t fret over it. You still have to work, you still have to use your brains to figure things out, but the overall outcome is up to Him. My job is to listen and follow direction.

Given our current situation, I could easily worry about how everything is going to work out. Instead we choose to accomplish the work in front of us (writing contracts, making event budgets, year end paperwork, fixing stuff on the motorhomes, etc) and leave the big picture to our Lord. Guess what, all of the big picture stuff is coming together nicely. Two series, one new and one returning to be announced in the next week, streaming a slot car race in Indy at the end of the month and so much more.

I see so many folks struggling with a world gone mad. What’s left is right, what’s up is down, what was wrong is right and what was right is wrong in the eyes of the world. The only way I make it through all the insanity is by listening to direction from my Lord. I can rest in His master plan for my life and the world. How about you?

Blessings

Wrestling With God
by Os Hillman

“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.” – Genesis 32:24

All that Jacob had lived for was coming down to one event – his reunion with Esau. More than 20 years had passed since Jacob had manipulated his father’s blessing away from his brother Esau. During these years God had been changing Jacob from a controller and manipulator to a man who was learning to trust God. He was now ready to meet Esau. However, he was fearful that Esau might take revenge on him and his family for his past sin, so he sent a gift ahead, while he retreated and sought mercy from God.

As an angel appeared to Jacob, he realized the only hope he had was in God. Only if God blessed him would he survive this ordeal. In the past, Jacob would have sought to solve his problem his way. Now, he wanted only God’s way. He wanted Him so badly that he wouldn’t let go of the angel. He was striving with God, but it was the right kind of striving. Jacob was striving to have all God’s blessing on his life. He was seeking God with all that he had. “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” (Gen. 32:25). The only way to overcome the strong will of this man was to physically immobilize him. The angel touched the socket of Jacob’s hip. It was painful; it broke him. This was the final stage of removing the old nature from Jacob. It was the place of complete brokenness and surrender. No longer would Jacob walk in his own strength. He would now have to lean on a cane, symbolic of his leaning on God alone.

It was the final act from God in Jacob’s life that was celebrated with a new name – Israel. No longer would he strive with God or man. The process was now complete. God could now bless this man abundantly. He gave him favor with Esau and restored their broken relationship.

What does God have to do in our lives to remove the controlling and manipulative nature that so often is part of a workplace believer’s life? Perhaps it will require a time of immobilizing, loss of a job, loss of income, loss of health, loss of a close relationship. These are His methods of preparation. Your new nature will not be complete until you’ve stopped striving with God through your own self-efforts. If God is taking you through this process, be encouraged; it is because of the inheritance He has prepared for you. However, the inheritance can only be received when God brings us to total dependence on Him.