A Little Bit of Wrastlin'

Over the course of the last few weeks, I've come to see the story of Jacob wrestling with God in a different light. Whereas, before, I was much more focused on the sheer intensity of hand-to-hand combat between the future Israel and his Lord, lately what sticks out is the tenacity that Jacob showed, even after having his hip wrenched out of socket, to just hang on.

"I will not let you go unless you bless me..."

Genesis 32v.26b

There are plenty of times, in life, where we are wrestling with God. Whether it comes to us being focused on our selfish desires rather than glorifying God, or simply thinking that we know, more than our Lord, what is best for us, we tend to wrestle with Him. Of course, what happens when the Lord is not testing our strength but, rather, is testing our endurance?

I think that there are definite times in life when we are wrestling more out of just holding on to something than out of anger or frustration. There are times when everything seems to be falling by the wayside and all we can do is hang on to what we know to be absolutely firm and solid... Christ, our anchor in this rough and tumultuous world. Like Paul clinging to a piece of driftwood and floating in the Mediterranean, we hold tight to that which keeps us afloat. There are so many different kinds of waves that batter us day-in and day-out, yet we have assurance in knowing that Jesus, as Lord, holds us steady.

Hold on! Hold on! Hold on!

We must be the type of people who hold fast to what we know to be true, and that is this - Jesus Christ is our fortress and rock. We have no one aside from Him.

Why? Oh, Why?

"For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me?" (Psalm 43v.2)

These words strike haunting chords in all of us, as humans. The very idea that a loving God could cause this kind of heartache baffles the majority of us and makes many a person stumble. In a world where so many, especially in the evangelical world, have associated following Christ with always being happy, as though Jesus were some kind of eternal high for our souls, this is a hard concept.

As Believers, we all walk the constant line of thinking for ourselves and our own selfish wants versus seeking God's face and what is bringing Him glory. Often times, our comfort and God's glory are quite opposite, colliding in one of those moments illustrated by crashing helmets on Monday Night Football. What we think is best runs right into that which God knows is best, leaving us to mutter, "I don't think God loves me. If He did, He would have given me..."

Here, in Psalm 43, is a sobering reminder that even those who are our spiritual heroes and sought God's face most had their trying times. David takes refuge in God, yet admits that he feels as though God has rejected him. There is yet another cross-roads in David's life: will he continue to persevere through the rough season, or will he fall into worshiping himself through trusting himself more than God.

In the season I'm in, right now, it can often seem like I'm saying "Why have you forgotten me, Lord?" And yet, through verses like this, I'm reminded that God will come through. This is a momentary season in the years of my life; years that I have committed, for a long time, now, to live in love to my Lord and my God. When things aren't working out the way we think they're supposed to, do we still worship? Who's plans are eternal - mine, or God's? The choice here is obvious... I am only living now in the temporary; I follow the Ancient of Days.