Many of God’s blessings are free, but some cost us greatly if we pursue them (Genesis 32:22-31). The Patriarch Jacob received a limp and that limp can be compared to the scars of Jesus’ hands and feet.  As I said, some blessings have a high cost, if we pursue them.  I still have my struggles with God, and I assure you God still has his struggles with me, but the purpose of God’s struggling with us is to keep us on God’s path.  To keep us on the path of Christ which is the way of kindness, peace, and love.

Although Jacob was a schemer, a cheat, and a deceiver, he found himself beloved of God.  God knows our deceits, our weaknesses, and our sins, yet God loves us so much that God wrestles with us, or else you would not be reading this.  God loves us and engages where we are, and if you have your struggles with God do not be alarmed, Jacob had his, so hang on like Jacob…who became Israel.

Despite our sufferings, hardships, fault, and failures, God can bring about healing and restoration. This does not necessarily mean we will escape the consequence of our actions or the evil others plan against us; rather, God works through our situations and the messes in which we find ourselves to bring about healing and restoration (Romans 8:26-30).