HOW TO WRESTLE WITH GOD

Is there a way to wrestle with God?  How do we wrestle with God? Are we even supposed to wrestle with God?

Yes…these are the questions I have been personally wrestling with the past two weeks.  😉

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WRESTLE?

Wrestling has been in the forefront of my mind on many levels lately.  On a literal, visceral, and very real level I have been on the sidelines watching my son wrestle the past few months.  My son took up the sport this year as a junior in high school.  The last time he wrestled he was in fourth grade!  

As a mom, I thought it was hard for me to watch him battle it out as a little guy…it is even harder now at 195 pounds. The photo above is of my son and his opponent.  I chose a photo where you cannot distinguish their faces on purpose. One, it was the one condition my son gave to allow me to use the photo. Two, to protect the other wrestler. Three, because it is not to show who wrestled or who won, but to highlight the struggle.

To wrestle means to contend by grappling with and striving to trip or throw an opponent down or off-balance; to combat an opposing tendency or force; to engage in or as if in a violent or determined struggle.

So as I have sat there writhing in my seat, covering my eyes, and wincing at every twist and turn my son takes on the mat, there has been a parallel form of wrestling going on deep in my heart and soul.  

This struggle began when someone in one of my Bible studies referenced the verses in Genesis 32 where Jacob wrestles with God.  I had to go back to reread the story.

JACOB WRESTLES WITH GOD

GENESIS 32:24-28

 But Jacob stayed behind by himself, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he couldn’t get the best of Jacob as they wrestled, he deliberately threw Jacob’s hip out of joint.

The man said, “Let me go; it’s daybreak.”

Jacob said, “I’m not letting you go ’til you bless me.”

The man said, “What’s your name?”

He answered, “Jacob.”

The man said, “But no longer. Your name is no longer Jacob. From now on it’s Israel (God-Wrestler); you’ve wrestled with God and you’ve come through.”

Genesis 32:24-28 (The Message)

What a strange wrestling match!  God came down in human form to physically brawl with a man all night long?  What is going on here?

WHY JACOB WRESTLES WITH GOD

To refresh your memory, Jacob was the twin brother of Esau.  Jacob was the one who schemed with his mother to take away Esau’s rightful inheritance as the older brother by getting his father (Isaac) to bless him instead.  It worked.  Jacob got a double blessing, Esau got nothing, and Jacob fled in fear of his brother.  

At this point in his life, Jacob is tired of running.  He is on his way home to find his brother and hopefully make peace.  But he is a little freaked out because his estranged brother, Esau, is coming to meet him — with 400 men. Not as the welcome wagon, but more like the smackdown revenge party.  Jacob sends half of his family ahead and intends to spend the night alone — maybe to strategize, pray, and call out to God for help.  But a strange man shows up and wrestles Jacob till daybreak, totally interrupting his plans. At some point during this weird contest, Jacob realizes that he is wrestling with God.  Jacob continues fighting even after his hip is dislocated, refusing to let go until God blesses him.  God seems pleased by his perseverance and pleading and indeed blesses him in the end.

I read an insightful explanation from Jon Bloom at desiringgod.org:  

“Take note of what God did when he wrestled Jacob. Jacob began the night dreading Esau’s arrival. He was full of fear and desperation. But he ended the night of struggle with God’s blessing and a renewed faith. All of our struggling with God in faith leads to peace.”

HOW WRESTLING IS SO PERSONAL

When I look at my own struggles, doubts, and fears, I realize that I have been wrestling with God too.

It is not pretty, tidy, or easy.  It is hand-to-hand, up close and personal, and in your face uncomfortable. It has caused me to stay up all night and push through the day with aches and pains.

But it is okay. It is making me stronger. It is forcing me to hold on for that blessing. It is the arena where faith + life intersect.

 Like I mentioned earlier, was not easy for me to watch my son wrestle. I never got used to it. But I have such great admiration and awe for each and every kid who bravely walks into the middle of that ring.  I have sat in many arenas, stands, and fields watching my kids play baseball, football, basketball, and rugby, but none of them can quite compare to being alone against your opponent with nothing but your own body, will, and strength to get you through.  As they like to say…

There are no losers in wrestling, just winners and learners.

ARE YOU WRESTLING WITH GOD?

Maybe you have been wrestling with God lately.  And you are asking yourself:

• Why does it always have to be a struggle?
• Why do I have to be out here on my own with everyone watching?
• Why is God making me work so hard?
• Why can’t He just bless me the way He does with others?

I have had these thoughts too. But maybe God has more blessings in store for us through the wrestling than without it. Does that make sense?

Remember, it was God who sought out Jacob and initiated contact.  

• God pursued
• God connected
• God blessed.  

What did Jacob do?  He engaged in the struggle, he did not give up, and he refused to let go until God blessed him.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF IF YOU ARE WRESTLING WITH GOD

I think we need to ask ourselves:  

• What do we need from God right now?  
• Where do we need to see His peace, provision, and protection?  
• Who are we bringing before Him?

Are we willing to grapple, fight, wrangle, and contend for these things?  Or do we just expect Him to give everything to us?

Maybe God is asking you to meet Him in the ring today.  To come with your anxiety, doubt, fear, and anguish. To show up, engage, and fight until you sense His presence, hear His voice, or feel His peace.

I do not for a moment believe God is reluctant to bless us, but I do believe that there is much we can learn, own, and hold onto in the struggle.

Wrestling may never become one of my favorites, but I can appreciate the confidence, strength, character, and discipline it is developing in my son.  I think I may also be starting to see that as I wrestle with my own issues regarding my faith and my life, God is trying to build these very same qualities in me.  It may not always look pretty, but the blessing will be mine in the end.

A PLACE WHERE WE CAN WRESTLE WITH FAITH + LIFE

If you desire to join a community where you can meet others who are also wrestling with issues of faith + life, I would love to have you as a fellow traveler. Sign up by filling out the form below, and you will receive weekly blog posts, monthly newsletters, free faith resources, and more!

If this post spoke to you in any way, would you mind leaving a comment, sharing it on social media, or even letting a friend know? It would be encouraging to hear from others who are also wrestling with God!