Page 49 - Grace150 Devotional

And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.
When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket,
and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Genesis 32:24–25

Jacob was facing a crisis. On his journey back to Canaan he would have to face
his brother Esau whom he had deceived by taking his birthright and his father’s
blessing. He feared that Esau might destroy everything he had, including Jacob
himself. The night before he was to meet Esau, God wrestled with Jacob until He
left him limping and changed his name from Jacob (deceiver) to Israel (blessing).
Jacob had made plans to escape from Esau if the camp was attacked, but now he
couldn’t run from Esau even if he tried! He was totally dependent on the Lord!
Ironically, the next day, Esau ran to meet Jacob instead of Jacob running away
from Esau.
We all face crises in our lives. They can make us feel small, weak, low, and weary.
God can use these calamities to draw us to Himself. Sometimes God has to leave
us limping to break us. He does this in order to get us to completely depend
upon Him because He desires to bless us and pour out His grace through our
weaknesses. Our crises can turn into victories if, when God breaks us, we cling
to Him.
Lord, we ask that You break us of our self-dependence as we cling to You in our
brokenness, and that You would bless us and show us Your grace.
– Dale Raeuber

devotions for the journey DAY 42