Clinging to God

Genesis 32: 24-26

So Jacob was left alone, and a Man wrestled with him till daybreak. 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. Then the Man said, “Let Me go, for it is daybreak.”

But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Every runner has needs, and as believers, we take those needs to God. When we have injuries, we pray for healing and patience. When we have defeats, we ask God for comfort and perseverance. Prior to workouts and races we ask God for strength and safety.

Sometimes when we pray, we are given what we ask for almost instantly. Other times, we must wait. And sometimes, while we wait, we stop asking. But why do we stop? Is it because we are at perfect peace with the situation? Or do we stop asking because we start having doubts. Maybe we doubt God’s love, His interest, or His willingness to give.

When Jacob was on his way to meet his brother, he, too, had needs. He had betrayed his brother years earlier and worried about seeing him again. Jacob prayed, confessing his unworthiness but also recalling God’s faithfulness and promises to him.

The next night, Jacob found himself wrestling with God. As the night went on, Jacob did not give up. He told God he would not let Him go until He blessed him. Years earlier, Jacob had obtained a blessing through trickery and deceit. But now he single-heartedly clung to God for a blessing. Even after injury, he did not give up. He knew God was the only source for help.

While we wait for God’s answer and while we “wrestle” with Him, what do we do? Jacob, in this situation, clung to God’s goodness, His ability, His promises, and nothing else. He did not give up and look to other people or things to bless him. He knew the only good and perfect blessing came from God.

So often I fail to do this. I give up the wrestling match and turn instead to other means of comfort, strength, and blessing. I turn to things that have no power, but I ascribe power to them. They seem satisfying for a short time but always fail me. And even when I’m inspired by Jacob’s example, I forget that Jacob wasn’t acting on his own power but rather God’s power in him. He could not have conjured up the strength to persist in a wrestling match on his own. God gave him that determination so that He in turn could be glorified.

Let’s turn to God and ask for the blessings we need to glorify Him. Let’s ask for the faithfulness to persist and the single-heartedness to cling to God and to look nowhere else for the blessing.

Lord God, You are the perfect giver of all my needs. You are the true source of the blessings in my life. Please give me what I need today to glorify you. Let me persist in seeking Your blessing and look for contentment in nothing else. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.