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Thursday, April 8, 2010

Wrestling With God

“Faith is not belief. Belief is passive. Faith is active.”
~ Edith Hamilton



Wrestling With God

Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And [the Man] said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But [Jacob] said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!"
~ Genesis 32:24-26 (NKJV)


For about the last year, the above image has hung before my writing desk, directly above the monitor. I placed next to it a card with the single word ENDURANCE.

I put it there because ministry is difficult work. When I question if I’m effective, if I’m doing what God wants me to do, if I’m wasting my time, God is faithful to affirm me, direct me, rebuke me. And undergirding everything, I feel Him gently prodding me on and encouraging me to stay the course. This picture of my Lord has provided encouragement for me to do so.

I thought “endurance” a good thing. It accepts and trusts that the Lord works all things for good without resisting Him.

But recently, the Lord made me aware that He does not ask me to endure, He asks me to persevere. Endurance is too passive. Perseverance is active. Endurance tolerates. Perseverance engages. Endurance is dropping anchor and waiting out the storm. Perseverance is to batten down the hatches and ride into the storm.

Jacob did not simply endure the Lord pushing him. Jacob locked himself into an embrace with the Lord and refused to lie down until he’d been blessed.

Jacob’s blessing was a new name: Israel. It means “prevails with God.”

I want to prevail. I want to do it with God. I’m willing to persevere.

Above my desk, I have replaced the word "ENDURANCE" with the word "Perseverance."

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
~ James 1:2-4 (NKJV)


On a personal note, to my precious friend
Denise:
Dear one, I am thinking of you as I write this.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#encouragement
Artwork: “
Road to the Cross” by Brian Jekel, © 2007 DaySpring Cards, MasterPeace Collection

17 comments:

  1. What a great distinction, and awesome insight you've gleaned from the Holy Spirit. I'm going to apply it to my own life as well. Thank you for that boost in hope that will push me through the endurance barrier into the upper echelon of patience, which is perseverance.

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  2. Thank you sis, you greatly inspire me. I love you.

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  3. "prevailing...with God." Me too.
    Jeff

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  4. I love Jacob's story and how he became Israel. There is something so captivating to me about God naming me. The new name I'll get in heaven, the name he wants to bless me with here if I perservere.

    Beautiful post.
    ~ Wendy

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  5. I do think about endurance as a labor...as some sort of difficult thing I must put up with.

    Your distinction is a good one. Perserverance is more noble, higher way to respond to trial.

    Thanks for the 'heart check'

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  6. T ~ That distinction came at a high enough price that I sincerely hope the lesson sticks.

    Denise ~ You inspire me. Thank you for the model of perseverance.

    Jeff ~ I need to remind myself to put the emphasis not on "prevail" but on "with God."

    Wendy ~ I suspect the name we receive in Heaven is reserved for that place—a combined gift and reward. If we received it now, perhaps we would become too content and not persevere.

    David ~ Ooooh. I love the word noble. Thank you for bringing that out.

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  7. Just a wonderful post- challenging and true. Sometimes all we can do is endure, but then He gives us the strength to persevere as we trust Him. Excellent.

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  8. ...you're always advancing, aren't you:)

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  9. This is the first time I heard of that distinction and it is quite a revelation to me! This will go a long way for me!

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  10. I really liked this Annie...thanks!

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  11. Jason ~ I agree that the difference is the level of trust. Endurance trusts there is hope on the horizon. Perseverance trusts hope lies at hand and seizes it for the moment's strength.

    Bud ~ I pray we are all steadily advancing in likeness to our Lord Jesus.

    Bible Lover ~ Now that we see the distinction, we must learn to practice it.

    Mary ~ I'm grateful to hear that, and to catch whatever glimpse of you I may. I love you!

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  12. wow... great post and explanation to Jason... I have to write this down

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  13. An important difference ... on another note, No, I didn't recognize the song that you mentioned. I'll look it up though. Have a wonderful day.

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  14. Natasa, I'm so glad this resonates with you, and I pray God uses it in your life. :)

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  15. Susan ~

    I'd gladly post this on your blog, to go with my comment there, but I thought it presumptuous to put such a long comment anywhere but on my own blog. So here's the song. Sung to another person, it seems a little arrogant. But I imagine the words being sung by Jesus to me. The title links to a YouTube video.

    Oh, and instead of "lucky," the word would be "blessed." Instead of "four-leaf clover," I think of the four points of the cross.

    LET MY LOVE OPEN THE DOOR TO YOUR HEART

    When people keep repeating
    That you'll never fall in love
    When everybody keeps retreating
    But you can't seem to get enough
    Let my love open the door
    Let my love open the door
    Let my love open the door
    To your heart
    When everything feels all over
    When everybody seems unkind
    I'll give you a four-leaf clover
    Take all the worry out of your mind
    Let my love open the door
    Let my love open the door
    Let my love open the door
    To your heart I have the only key to your heart
    I can stop you falling apart
    Try today, you'll find this way
    Come on and give me a chance to say
    Let my love open the door
    It's all I'm living for
    Release yourself from misery
    Only one thing's gonna set you free
    That's my love
    Let my love open the door
    Let my love open the door
    Let my love open the door
    To your heart
    When tragedy befalls you
    Don't let them bring you down
    Love can cure your problem
    You're so lucky I'm around
    Let my love open the door
    Let my love open the door
    Let my love open the door
    To your heart

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  16. Anne,
    I'm new here, coming over from Jason's blog, and I'm so glad I stopped by. I've connected with Jacob's story for a long time -- I am a wrestler with God, too! And I really like your distinction between endurance and perseverance. Yes, with God at my side, I shall persevere. A much-need message for me today. Thank you.

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  17. Michelle, you made my day with your comment. Thanks are to you.

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