Throughout our journey when it comes to our relationship with God, we can often admit that life can overtake us, creating distractions and hindrances without knowing there’s a disconnect. Busyness and distractions are part of life and are things we must navigate to keep being persistent in keeping God first.
First Encounter:
I remember my first encounter when it comes with my relationship with God. Growing up in religion and developing a religious background, I thought I was all set by pleasing my parents and following the requirements I was told to follow. It wasn’t until God dealt with my hardened heart and learned that my sins could be forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ that I felt true freedom. Once the altar call was announced, I received a Word about the situation and circumstances in my life. I knew it was time to give my all for Christ, as a sinner, needing His grace and sacrifice for the forgiveness of my sins. I wish I could tell you that everything was rainbow and sunshine but that’s not logical in the Christian Life.
Wrestling:
While reflecting on Jacob’s account, I noticed an important aspect that I would love to highlight regarding the constant battles that we still have to face as imperfect people that God is willing to use for His Glory.
Jacob Wrestling With God. (Genesis 32:22-32)
Jacob was left alone with a man until daybreak. We see wrestling happening when it comes to these two throughout this section of scripture. Jacob was overpowering the individual to the point to where Jacob got his hip wrenched.
1.) Pain is the process of wrestling
Jacob wanted a blessing from God which is why he didn’t want to let go. This shows how much endurance and perseverance Jacob has developed and matured throughout his journey. The fact that he didn’t want to let go and the overpowerment of consistency is what showed his perseverance. Pain was the result but was a reminder of the faithfulness of the blessing. Grace is a free gift but blessings cost because it demands persistence. Brokenness is a reminder of how much we desperately need God to provide for our need.
2.) Jacob’s Name Change
Because of his actions, Jacob, at the time named James, requested a name change. Names are important when it comes to identifying who you are in the Hebrew culture. Jacob means “supplanter” and “deceiver” while Israel means “one who struggles with God.” Due to this encounter with God, Jacob, who was formerly known as Israel, had a transformational encounter with God. While we as believers no longer change our names to prove our character, we can admit that an encounter with God can produce a change of heart and action.
3.) Transformation is Developed through Pain
While a lot of leaders focus on experience to get ahead, it is those who go through pain who receive growth. We want to believe that we will live a happy and fulfilled life as Christians, but pain is part of that experience. You don’t have a change of heart by knowing, but by reflecting and pondering on the condition and willing to be broken by your sin. We tend to fall short, feel guilty, and then ask God to take the guilt away. I think we must embrace the discomfort of our sin and embrace the pain that not only is imparted by us, but the pain that God feels by our shortcomings. Praise God that He is a gracious God, but He does grieve by our actions when we do not comform to His Will.
4.) Transform and Stay Transformed (Genesis 35:9-12)
Jacob had to rededicate himself and his family to God again. One of the beautiful aspects of this is the fact that God wanted Jacob to go back to where they first met (Genesis 28:10-22). God then reaffirmed that His name is now Israel and what He will do in His future generations by the covenant He gave to Abraham and Isaac. I remember my born again experience was full of joy, passion, and excitement. I would assume that Jacob felt the same when he encountered God for the first time at Bethel. He went through a difficult situation where he failed and succeeded. To reaffirm again, he went back to the same spot to rededicate himself as someone who is transformed.
We must have a constant reminder to not only celebrate our victories, but to remain in God’s presence to keep growth and transformation as our focus. When we set our minds to please God, we don’t gratify the desires of the flesh but are following the Spirit. Let us be reminded that no matter the battle, need, or struggle we have, we must go through brokenness to be reminded we need to allow God to transform us.
My Faith Journey 