Holding On Till the Blessing Comes

In our ladies' class at church we've been doing the Beth Moore Study, The Patriarchs.  I love all of Beth's studies.  She has such a gift for digging into God's Word and bringing out the truths in new and fresh ways.  When I'm involved an a Bible study there is usually one particular morsel that just jumps out at me and shows me a truth in a new way.  Even stories that I have read and studied many times before have the capacity to do that and I love it when it happens. This time was no exception.  

This study takes the student deep into the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  When we were exploring the life of Jacob we got to the part where Jacob has left Laban's home with his family and possessions and is preparing for a reunion with his brother Esau.  The journey finds Jacob camped by stream with part of his family.  In Genesis 32, verse 24 it says that Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.  During the struggle Jacob's thigh was dislocated.  Even though he was injured he refused to let go until he had received a blessing.  And receive it he did, complete with a name change.  From that time on he was known as Israel instead of Jacob.  In verse 30 Jacob said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved”.  There is no doubt that Jacob’s encounter was indeed with a divine being. 

The story is old and I’ve read it over and over during my life, so what’s different this time?  The thing that slapped me square in the face was this.  Beth said, “In every struggle don’t let go till the blessing comes!”  What???

I was stunned!  Who wants to hang on to a struggle?  Let’s face it.  Conflict is hard. Struggles are painful.  Battles are draining and distressing.   Many times we walk away wounding and bleeding, hurting and resentful.  Bitterness, grief, and desperation can the result.  I’ve had my share of “wrestling matches” and all I could think about was the end!  So, the concept of hanging on, wrestling it through was troubling for me.   Sometimes all you want in the midst of the struggle is for the bell to ring and the end to come even if it means a knock out.

She doesn’t stop there.  As if I’m not already reeling, she goes on with more unsolicited words of wisdom.  “When we struggle through the crisis with God all the way to the blessing, we are gloriously redefined. “ Great!  Now I’m thinking of how many times I must have given up, given in, grown weary, and not hung on until the blessing came.

God’s word tells us over and over that trials and struggles are part of this life and they serve a greater good, growing our faith and endurance.  James 1:2 says; When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  Considering troubles and struggles as joy is much easier said than done.  Really, who looks forward to the pain of trouble?  But what a difference it can make knowing that the blessing is coming. 

Paul said in I Timothy, “Fight the good fight”.   We know that God is continually refining us into what He would have us be and that trials are a necessary evil in the process.  If we are seeking Him, he won’t let us stay as is.  He will continually shake us up and not let us settle for less than He has planned for us.  Sometimes it’s even necessary, as it was for Jacob, for injury to precede submission so the blessing can come.

So, hang in there!  Don’t give up or give in even when it hurts.  Wait for it, wait for it....knowing that God is cheering us on till the final bell, till the blessing comes.