via TJC
Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. - Genesis 32:24 We cannot grasp who we were made to be unless we grapple with an opponent. Seneca the Younger asked: “If you entered the arena of the Olympic Games . . . but are the only participant, you could technically crown yourself the winner, but where would the honor and meaning be in that?”
If you have passed through your life without meeting an antagonist, no one will know your strength, not even yourself. A man cannot know himself without a trial.
In high school, I was on the varsity wrestling team. So I have a rudimentary understanding of what is involved in practice and grappling with an opponent. But nothing had prepared me for what I would encounter as an adult, as when my teenage son was charged with two federal offenses. The months of being media fodder and the public tension were horrific wrestlings!
The public scrutiny and trial were excruciating. There was no letup. The tension appeared to be permanent. Where was God in the middle of this mess? I was angry at Him. But during this match, I discovered two things: I was made for days such as these, AND God does not mind if I wrestle with Him. While convicted, my son was not incarcerated, and the judge publicly commended his character. And I also discovered there was more to me, in Christ, than meets the eye.
Daily Battle Order:
Jesus calls us to get on the mat, step into the batter's box and engage in our trials. You work harder avoiding conflict than if you simply met it head-on. Volunteer to have your mettle tested. Only after you come off the mat will you see the victory.
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