Authentic ManhoodSample

The Wrestler

I loved watching wrestling as a kid. The ring. The characters. The intensity. It captivated me. I totally believed the characters were real. That they never got hurt. And that they were exactly who they said they were.

It was painful to find out that it was all a mirage. My childhood heroes were ordinary men wearing costumes and masks putting on a show.

I am no wrestler. I’ll never jump off the top rope or lift the championship belt. But I do have something in common with them:

Wearing a costume.

In Genesis 32, we read a manly story. It’s a wrestling match between two intense individuals.

In the one corner: Jacob. A man costumed in wealth and belongings.

In the other corner: A mystery man with a secret ability.

The bell rings. The two combatants grapple and throw each other. The match lasts the night. Then, as daybreak comes, the mystery man pulls an unexpected move and pops Jacob’s hip.

You’d think that would be it. The man would pin Jacob, and 1-2-3, it’s over, and he’s the champ.

But no! Jacob keeps battling! Despite his exhaustion and pain, he hangs on to the man in desperation.

And what is he desperate for?

Blessing.

It’s in this moment that Jacob realizes his whole life has been a fight, literally since he was in his mother’s womb (Genesis 25:23). But now he has finally come to the end of himself, and his costume of trickery and wealth has peeled off, leaving him emotionally depleted, exposed, and empty.

And it’s then that God can give him more than he asked for or imagined—a new name. When Jacob was done fighting, God could bless him with true victory.

As men, we often live in costumes and in a ring we’ve created where we let others see the show we want them to see.

But what would happen if we stopped wrestling and let God speak into our lives?

We may not get a championship belt, but we would gain a bigger perspective and the blessing He promises.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You that You know who I truly am behind the costume I wear and the show I put on. Help me to surrender to You and let You speak victory into my life. Amen.

Reflection: What is one way you wear a costume or put on a show? Talk to Jesus about it and see what He wants to say to you.