Wrestles with God

"So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak."

Genesis 32:24

Names in the Bible are crucial in understanding the glory and greatness of God. One name in particular comes to mind, Jacob. His name is changed to Israel in Genesis 32:28, where it states, "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.'" Israel is also the name of the Holy Land-- where God and man come together.

Depression and anxiety are like wrestling, are they not? The experiences of depression and anxiety may feel similar to back and forth thought and emotional tussle. These thoughts and emotions that are being wrestled with may even become a wrestle with God. Maybe you have struggled with the countless "why" questions that come with wrestling depression and anxiety. Maybe you have become angry with God because of the back and forth. The good news is that God can handle it. He can wrestle with you and still come out from the match loving you and being pleased with you. Depression and anxiety might make you question yourself, doubt your purpose, and experience confusion. However, God can take all of that and make you new through Him.

Reading through Psalm recently, I came across Psalm 53:6. It states, "Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!" This sparked the name of Jacob being changed to Israel and I reread the passage from Psalm with a new perception. This perception was looking at this Psalm through the lens of wrestling with God and overcoming it like Jacob does. Because of God's restoration you and I get to experience eternity with God. Furthermore, it is not by your wrestling with God that you gain entrance into eternity, instead it is His Son that gives you that opportunity. The "salvation for Israel" -- the hope and saving for wrestling with God, "would come out of Zion." Zion is the Lord's Holy Mountain, and He came from there to be born a man, to walk with you and alongside you, to die on the cross for your sins, and to give you an opportunity to live in eternity with righteousness with Him and the Father.

Look here. The wrestling with God is not the downfall of your salvation. Wrestling with God is the cornerstone of where humanness meets God's glory and He welcomes you with open arms again and again and again. It does not mean to make a match out of something that does not need wrestling, however it does encourage you to lean into the assurance of who God is when you are wrestling with depression and anxiety, or hard life moments. Wrestling means that you are leaning into who God is, and it means that you are healing, and growing, in alliance with your Heavenly Father. Psalm 53:6 continues with "When God restores his people." You are His people, and you are worth restoring. There is rejoicing and being glad that come after the restoration, and comes after the wrestling.

This sounds like a piece of the advent story and the gospel message. God's people were struggling, and wrestling with the trials of life. So He sends His Son to live among them and to guide them to a life that accepts Him. Then taking the place of the people's sins on the cross, Jesus dies for all. He is raised to life on the third day, so that all might have an opportunity to live in eternity with Him and the Father.

Wrestling is part of the story, however it is not the ultimate story. The ultimate story is Jesus dying on the cross for your sins and being raised to life, to give you salvation.

Scripture:

Genesis 32:24

"So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak."

Genesis 32:28

"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.'"

Psalm 53:6

"Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!"

Reflection:

What is causing you to wrestle right now? How does your focus on God help you to lean into the wrestling for a greater purpose, rather than avoid it? Prayer: Heavenly Father, You alone are the One that can restore me from the struggles that I face. I give thanks for the many battles that you have won on my behalf without my knowing. I give thanks for the Son you sent to die on the cross for my sins. Father God, I pray for those who are wrestling with depression, anxiety, difficult seasons, and their sense of worth. I pray that they would learn and lean into the One who created them and can give them an everlasting peace. In your Son's name, Amen!