How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Psalm 13:2  (NIV)

We’ve all heard of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob from the Old Testament. Abraham is called the father of our faith. His grandson Jacob, however, was given a name that means ‘deceiver’.

The Bible tells us that at one point, Jacob wrestled with a man that represented God…all night long. All Jacob wanted was for God to bless him. Jacob had some issues though. He WAS a deceiver. He manipulated others to get his own way. God didn’t approve of that, yet Jacob continued wrestling with Him to get His blessing.

Ultimately, God DID bless Jacob…but not before He dislocated Jacob’s hip. With His blessing, God gave Jacob a new name too. He changed his name to Israel.

Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”

Genesis 32:28  (NIV)

Somehow Jacob knew that the man was from God.

So Jacob called the place Peniel,^[g] saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

Genesis 32:30  (NIV)

God doesn’t mind if we wrestle and complain to Him. King David cried out to God all through the book of Psalms. God would much rather have us complain to Him. What He finds unacceptable is when we complain ABOUT Him.

So complain to God! We are his children and He knows that we need to vent our feelings. He’d prefer we take our problems to Him instead of family and friends.

As humans, none  of us really like a complainer…usually because we can’t do anything to change the situation. But God can! He can work on others’ hearts. He can turn things around for us…or change OUR outlook about the problem.

And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

Luke 18:7  (NIV)

In wrestling with God, we must be sure to also give Him praise and thanksgiving for all that He is…and has done in our life.

Dear Lord,

Thank You for being a loving Father who takes it in stride when Your children moan and complain to You. You can and will change others’ hearts (including ours) to bring peace that will remedy any situation.

Help us always to remember to bring our grievances to You first. Thank You also for all the good and prosperity You have brought to our life.

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