What’s the Purpose of My Struggle?

In Proverbs 20:30 I read, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.” (GNT)

Consider the biggest conflict or problem I’m facing right now. Without even knowing what it is, It can be boiled down to two basic issues. First, will I obey God and do the right thing in this situation? And, second, will I trust God to take care of this situation?

The root of so many problems is really my struggle with God. I want to be in control, I want to be God, I want to be the master of my faith, I want to be in charge, I want to call the shots. But I was never meant to be or do any of those things. So God uses a crisis in my life to force the issue.

Do I ever feel that dealing with my problems is like a wrestling match? The objective of wrestling is to pin the opponent down on the mat until they finally say, “I give up. I surrender! You’re in control.”

That’s what God was doing in his wrestling match with Jacob in the Old Testament. He was going to pin Jacob down until he surrendered and gave up control.

At one point in their wrestling match, God wounded Jacob’s hip, an injury that would give him a lingering limp. Jacob was suddenly in a position of helplessness and in a situation where he couldn’t win.

Even in the midst of my no-win situation, God is there. In fact, he often uses a crisis to get my attention. God whispers to me in my pleasure, but he shouts to me in my pain.

The Bible says, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways” (Proverbs 20:30 GNT). In other words, I don’t change when I see the light; I change when you feel the heat.

God loves me the way I am, but he loves me too much to let me stay that way. When he makes me go through a wrestling match, he’s making me into who I was meant to be—more like Jesus Christ. He makes me weak so that I learn to depend on him for everything I need.

I rarely change until my pain becomes greater than my fear of change. If I’m wrestling with God right now, surrender to him. Therein lies the only way forward on a path marked with spiritual growth and peace.

In summary, the biggest conflict or problem I’m facing can be boiled down to two basic issues. First, will I obey God and do the right thing in this situation? And, second, will I trust God to take care of this situation? The root of so many problems is really my struggle with God. I want to be in control. I was never meant to be. So God uses a crisis in my life to force the issue. Dealing with my problems is like a wrestling match? The objective of wrestling is to pin the opponent down until they finally say, “I give up. I surrender! You’re in control.” That’s what God was doing in his wrestling match with Jacob. He was going to pin Jacob down until he surrendered and gave up control. Even in the midst of my no-win situation, God is there. In fact, he often uses a crisis to get my attention. God whispers to me in my pleasure, but he shouts to me in my pain. Often it takes a painful experience to make me change my ways. I don’t change when I see the light; I change when you feel the heat. God loves me the way I am, but he loves me too much to let me stay that way. When he makes me go through a wrestling match, he’s making me into who I was meant to be—more like Jesus. He makes me weak so that I learn to depend on him. I rarely change until my pain becomes greater than my fear of change. If I’m wrestling, surrender to him. Therein lies the only way forward.