Jacob wrestling with the Angel of the Lord
Have you ever wrestled with God or your conscience over a choice you were afraid to make? For what it’s worth–and it’s worth a lot–God gets that. He’s been there (Matthew 26:39). And yet that single decision, the most difficult anyone has ever made, resulted in the greatest good anyone has ever accomplished.
On Palm Sunday
…in the midst of his triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, Jesus wrestled with what he alone knew was coming. It was the hardest choice anyone would ever have to make. A choice that would flood our world with light. Or leave it forever in darkness.
“Character is the moral strength to do the right thing even when it costs more than you want to pay.” ~Michael Josephson
Great Post, happy Sunday
You too (belatedly), L.G.
I haven’t ever wrestled with God, but when my daughter was very sick and in the hospital I felt like the Lord told me that I needed to stay up all night and ” wrestle and pray”. Those were the words I got. It was the 4th or 5th night that she was at the hospital and I asked for a mattress on the floor to sleep next to her. And I wrestled with myself to stay awake and prayed all night to God. Begging him to help her. She had had her appendix out, not as soon as it should have been taken out, and she had developed a bad kidney infection. She was very sick. After that night they switched her antibiotic medication, and she improved and we were soon able to take her home.
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I have never wrestled with God. Rather with myself, with my ignorance. God is the Savior and the One who brings peace. He is the One who acts, even if it may take time.
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Amen. I didn’t so much wrestle with as yelled at Him (on the inside) — “You know what? You could’ve done away with bodily death, too. Give all my Intended graces to my dying mom over there in that room.” 🤦 So many learning curves, Mitch, all our lives from Someone so much larger than His adopted childrens’ anger (AND Who gave so many heartbreakingly Kind graces to BOTH of us all through my mom’s going Home!) He so gets us. Happy Palm Sunday!
You too, dear Carol❣
Jacob wrestled with the angel until he received the blessing.
Exactly, Christopher. It’s always struck me as double-edged image of prayer. On the one hand, his persistence pays off, and on the other, he’s permanently altered by the experience.
Yes. I’ve wrestled with God where my will meets His—and I’m still learning to trust that He knows what I need better than I do.
Indeed, Cilla. It’s a lifelong learning process.
That wrestling is not limited to the choices we have to make. It often involves the fate we seem to have been dealt. We all face circumstances we wish were otherwise. But God guides our steps.
True, Anna. Our choices often come down to how we’ll respond to something we didn’t choose to begin with.
I would not call my struggles westling . It was more like one way being dumped on. Often felt like my world was an artillery range under endless fire.
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The choice for Jesus. We can always start, as you show here, with the choice of Jesus. A choice made that Jesus would just as soon have not had to make. But he decided the hardest part for anyone and for our favor. He lived and died for everyone. And he was raised and now offers the same for each one of us. But he had to choose, to make the worst dying choice of all. And he did that. Thanks, Mitch, for emphasizing this part of the person and the Gospel. I hope you and yours have a special Holy Week.
Likewise, dear friend.
Wonderful post for Palm Sunday.
Thank you, Chanel.
Your reflections on the importance of what Jesus chose to do was a great message to share on this very special day. Thanks, Mitch. 🙂
My privilege, Nancy. 🧡
Every day.
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Thanks.
My pleasure, Andrew.
My dad held to Michael Josephson’s philosophy.
I am currently wrestling with God………not sure who’s winning 😔or if it’s a good fight but one in going to continue with
Hang in there, Lane.
I wrestle with Him too much and I’m learning to surrender a little bit, that too I’m throwing tantrums while surrendering 🤫.
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god created a clean heart says in 51:14 of that chapter
In what chapter, Rudy?
matt 39 says to fall unto the mountains of israel to create a clean heart
Not really, Rudy.
aside from matthew chapter 26 which chapters in matthew contains verses 39 & 51
I lose every time!
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Amo tu blog. Realmente cada post es una belleza. Felicidades! Un abrazo!
Gracias, mi amigo!
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No, I have not.