Momentum For Monday, September 27th 2021

 "When the Man saw that he couldn't defeat him..." (Genesis 32:25)

Beth Moore gives some great insight on the Hebrew word for defeat in the verse (the word will vary depending on the translation you use). She mentions that this word doesn't necessary mean that the man (an angel of God) couldn't beat him because he obviously could if by touching the hip of Jacob, he dislocated it. What scholars believe is that the word really implies the thought that the angel couldn't get Jacob to quit.

I don't know what you're experience is with wrestling, but let me just remind you of how absolutely tiring it is. With a background in jiu jitsu, I'll tell you first-hand that it uses muscles you didn't know you had. On top of that, you're tired after three minutes, yet Jacob wrestled all night. ALL NIGHT.

Jacob wasn't unbeatable, he was unquittable (spare me your grammar corrections, I know it isn't a word, but it just sounds better so humor me). And judging by his request, Jacob wasn't looking for a title or medal as much as he was looking for a blessing. God gave it to him alright. In fact, it changed his name and destiny.

I'm not sure about you, but I've never wrestled all night physically. But I have wrestled all night emotionally and mentally. Finances, relationships, or deadlines have left me wide awake until dawn. It's not the most productive use of energy, but when you're stressed, your mind tends to race right? And after all that wrestling, nothing changes.

Sometimes breakthrough isn't being #1 or being the best, but instead being a person limping across the finish line when everything in you wanted to quit because the pain was too intense. Sometimes the point in all of our relentless battles is to see if we'll break and quit. Would we quit if we knew what could be at stake?

Are you unquittable? Is there a deal-breaker in you where you will only go so far with God and then you're done if it doesn't go your way? Could you risk your ego to receive a limp as long as it came with God's blessing?  

Jacob's life changed because of a stubbornness to refuse to let go and quit. Look ya'll, can I propose that If we want to see breakthrough then maybe we just need to be relentless with God and refuse to give up? Don't worry about being THE best, just do YOUR best. You just never know, your destiny may change because of it.

"If your faith remains strong, even while surrounded by life’s difficulties, you will continue to experience the untold blessings of God! True happiness comes as you pass the test with faith, and receive the victorious crown of life promised to every lover of God!"
(James 1:12)