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Jason.

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Jason is the founder of Ignite Student Ministries, a dynamic ministry igniting youth, young adults and university students to passionately pursue Christ and transform society in high schools, work places and universities around the world.

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Persistent Wrestling

Jason VanaJason Vana
Background Photo Credit: Chris Hunkeler via photopin cc

Background Photo Credit: Chris Hunkeler via photopin cc

“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.”
Genesis 32:24-25

Jacob’s persistence in wrestling this man until he was blessed amazes me.

A man (or really, an angel) appears out of no where and begins wrestling with Jacob. We aren’t told why Jacob wrestles this angel, only that he does. And he continues to do so throughout the night.

No sleep.
No rest.
No taking a break even after his hip was wrenched.

Jacob wrestled like a mad man on a mission.

I’m sure at some point during this WWE-like wrestling match, Jacob wanted to give up.

He had been traveling all day long.
He had just crossed a river with his wives and kids.
It was the early hours of the morning.
The angel showed no signs of relenting or weakening.
His hip was wrenched.
He was in pain.
He was most likely hungry, tired, and wondering if this match was worth it.

But he continued.
He pushed past the pain and fear and doubt.
And was blessed because of it.

The angel not only blessed Jacob, but he changed Jacob’s whole identity. He was no longer Jacob the deceiver. He was Israel, Triumphant with God.

And for generations later, the children of God were known as Israelites, not Jacobites.
His persistence impacted people for centuries.

Oftentimes, the blessings we desire from God don’t come easy.

They happen only after we’ve wrestled, fought, persisted through the long, tiring night on the verge of giving up.

In the midst of the pain, in the midst of the heartache, in the midst of the struggle, doubt, and fear, God shows up and pours out a blessing that not only impacts our lives, but the lives of those for generations to come.

Persist.
Don’t give up.
Keep wrestling even when your hip gets wrenched and you don’t see any hope in sight.

You’re closer to your blessing than you know.

Question: Where do you need to keep wrestling to see a blessing in your life?

Jason is the founder of Ignite Student Ministries, a dynamic ministry igniting youth, young adults and university students to passionately pursue Christ and transform society in high schools, work places and universities around the world.