And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.
–Genesis 32:24
Do you know the kind of person that God blesses? Well, it may surprise you.
In the Old Testament Scriptures, you and I meet a man named Jacob who struggled with his faith nearly his entire life. More than anything, Jacob wanted to be blessed even if it meant tricking people to obtain the blessing.
God eventually intervened in Jacob’s struggle and sent an angel of the Lord to confront him. Jacob grabbed hold of the angel (whom we may safely believe to be the pre-incarnate appearing of Christ Jesus) and he literally wrestled with him all night until God conquered him once and for all.
So let me ask you a question. Are you struggling with your faith? Maybe you’re resisting God and trying to win at life through your own strength.
Well, take heart! Even the apostle Paul, one of the greatest Christian who ever lived, said, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” (Romans 7:15). Paul also struggled with his faith.
But here is what both Paul and Jacob came to understand: You don’t conquer in life by winning; you win by being conquered by God.
Be the kind of person who God blesses. Let God conquer your heart. Hold nothing back.
YOU DON’T CONQUER YOUR WORLD BY WINNING; YOU WIN
BY BEING CONQUERED BY GOD!
