The Wrestling Match – From the Edges – Morning Devotional

The Wrestling Match –

Prepared by Pastor Calvin Cook –

January 16, 2024

Scripture Genesis 32:23-30  After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 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. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”

But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” 29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

In following up on the last two days devotionals and asking the question “What is beating us down?” and “What or why are we hurting?” –  I have been brought to a new question of what are we wrestling with?

A couple weeks ago I was preaching in the 8:30AM Worship and all of a sudden, I felt great pain in my hip, an excruciating pain, my mind while trying to keep focused on the sermon was racing with different questions as to what the problem was and why it happened when I was basically standing still. The pain continued for the remainder of the morning and was noticeable to others as I was limping. Finally, after spending some rest time and some Advil the pain subsided in the evening.

Throughout this time, I remembered the story of Jacob from scripture. This morning these thoughts were refreshed in my mind as I asked the question what we are wrestling with. We are all trying to overcome something, beat the odds against something, that it seems we are constantly wrestling with something that will either consume us and destroy us or make us stronger in faith and to trust to God more.

We know we are hurting, but do we know how to find healing? We know we are beat down but do we know how to be built back up? We waist time in wrestling matches that we are never going to win when God has so much more planned for us and desires a whole new life for us.

I am observing the struggle and wrestling match of many with faith and what to have faith in.  I can see it that there are many who are searching for more and against all odds will win the battle when they realize the first wrestling match that must be won or lost is the one with God. That God, through Jesus Christ through the presence of the Holy Spirit is involved and we will not be able to win that match. It is time to surrender!

Jacob received a new name. All of us receive a new name once we have received the hope and peace that is received in a life in Christ.  Surrendering isn’t always a bad thing, as long as we are surrendering to the right things.

Praying that what ever you are going through that you realize the love of God that is available to you.