Good Struggle

- Pastor DJ Oquist

“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.’” - Genesis 32:28 (NIV)

I know I’m preaching to the choir when I say we all struggle. Struggling seems to be a part of life. Maybe you’ve heard the saying that we are either in a storm, going into a storm, or coming out of a storm. Life can hit us in many different directions. That struggle can come through our finances, relationships, emotions, jobs, health, etc.

At this point in the scripture, Jacob feared his brother Esau. He is not only running away, but he sends a few messengers behind them to give gifts and messages to Esau in the hope that he won’t attack him. Jacob then split his tribe into two groups in case one was attacked so the other could escape. He is in a vulnerable position where he is planning to lose half his family.

That night, even with all of his tribe, family, and possessions, Jacob ends up alone. At that time, God wrestled with Jacob the entire night, and by the end, God blessed him.

God blessed Jacob because he struggled with God. Why would you struggle to be good? Because if you’re struggling, you haven’t given up. The worst thing we can do is give up, run away, or ignore our relationship with God. The best thing we can do is approach Him with our questions and hardships; He wants us to bring those things to Him. The key to all of this is getting along with God.

Make a Difference:

Take some time this week to get alone with God and struggle with Him. Bring all of your questions, concerns, and hardships to Him. He’s not afraid of them. He wants to bless you because of them.

As You Read:

As you read in Genesis this week, remember that Jacob, despite his struggles, was blessed because he persevered. Similarly, our struggles don't define us but can lead to blessings when we bring them to God. Take time to grapple with your questions and hardships before God this week, knowing He desires to bless and strengthen you through them.