Wrestling with God-
Do you ever feel like you’re wrestling with God?
‘Don’t Wrestle- Just Nestle!’
quote from Corrie Ten Boon!
[Tweet “You Don’t Have to #Wrestle God for a #Blessing” #Godis4U”]
d
As an adult, I’ve tended to wrestle with God. Many times I didn’t rest in His grace and love. I labored to pray the “right prayer”, reason with Him, plead and even beg, trying to convince God to see things “my way”.
d
In the Old Testament we read that Jacob wrestled with God. Always reaching, striving, controlling, grabbing, and planning; but never quite understanding God’s mysterious plans for his life. God allowed Him to wrestle until Jacob surrendered his will- God then changed his name to Israel- BUT Jacob walked with a limp the rest of His life.
s
I’ve wrestled against God, striving, grabbing, planning; begging Him to bless me, not understanding His mysterious plans for my life. Then He touched me, I surrendered, and now I now walk with a limp, as well.
s
In the New Testament, I see a better covenant.
s
So I say to myself, “Wake up Cindy! Snap out of it! You don’t have to fight to get God’s attention and blessing!” You don’t have to beg for a blessing! Jesus came to get my attention- your attention! He moved into OUR world, poured out His life for you! He offers intimacy, blessings, and comfort ALL the time!!! (John 14:6, Hebrews 13:5, Romans 8:38,39 to name just a few)
s
In the New Testament, Jesus came (remember He’s God in the flesh) touching…… healing…… laughing…….. teaching…….holding children …….. gathering people close …….. He was moved with great compassion and pity for His broken, captive creation!
s
Selah
s
As a child, the first verse I ever memorized (and taught our children) was
God is love. (I John 4:8)
s
It wasn’t until my adult years did I question God’s love.
s
I’ve had to learn to become a child again– to learn to nestle in His everlasting arms instead of wrestling Him like He was somehow against me and going to withhold His goodness and grace from me.
s
[Tweet “Becoming #childlike in our #faith brings us into God’s #goodness and #peace.”]
s
It is children, that instinctively seem to know how to nestle up to God. They embrace His love as easily as one soaks up the sunshine when they’re outside.
s
The definition of nestle comes from the picture of a young bird that is too young to leave the nest, or a young child, too young to fend for itself. Nestling with God is like sitting in your daddy’s lap having him stroke your hair, or your mom lying down beside you during a storm while she holds you tight and tells you you’re safe.
s
[Tweet “Our God is like a #Shepherd- carrying His #lambs close to His #heart. Is. 40:11”]
s
“He will feed His flock like a Shepherd. He will carry the young lambs in His arms, HOLDING THEM CLOSE TO HIS HEART. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.” Isaiah 40:11
s
s
Surprising Treasure: Move closer to the Shepherd and He will carry you! He wants to “nestle” you close to His heart!
That was wonderful as usual Cindy. I found myself absorbed into a picture of being nestled and I could almost feel the warmth of His arms as they circled around me. Surely if the shepherd of the sheep could literally protect the little lambs, then I know I will be safe in His arms. Thank you so much for the good words
Isn’t amazing as we get older, the more we want to nestle and rest in His care? Hugs-
Oh, how precious! You move me to tears with the love of God in Christ Jesus, poured out for us all to relish. Thank you for this keepsake treasure, dear Cindy!
I LOVE THIS. This gives a visual lesson to hang on to. Remeber the question, “Are you a lover or a fighter?”. I have always preferred the walk of love and peace over fighting. I never put it in the perspective of my struggling with God to have it my way though. I chose to Nestle!!! Thank you.
You’re welcome Debbie- there are those “other” scriptures that admonish us to fight the good fight of faith but, for me, the closer I can nestle in to Him, rest in His promises and His goodness- the easier the victory. Hugs-
O man mom, you sure hit home today. I was just reading how Jesus called the little children over to bless them, and it made me think of how much he wants us to be like children. It gives Him great joy to be our daddy and have us nestle up to Him. Even as I get older I am realizing we should never stop resting in God’s care. How much control do we have in this life anyway? Pretty much none. Every gift and good thing comes from God, so will we ever be able to ever “Fend for ourselves,” not without God helping us. So I am content to just nestle up to God and bring my newly forming family with me. Love you,
-Micah
What a wonderful and much needed message in the face of the tragedy in Connecticut. We can rest in His loving arms, nestle and find His glorious peace. I will save this to read over and over. Thank you my sweet sister. Hugs!
Leaning on His everlasting arms! We need Him so much- especially those who don’t know how much they need Him!
Hello Cindy: I’ve started doing workshops in churches on healing self-esteem wounds and creating the self-esteem that God intended us to have. I love your black and white picture, “God’s Child” posted at the bottom of your website. I would like to use the picture in my materials for this workshop. Can you give me permission to use it or the source so I can obtain permission? Thank you for your help and for your work! Terry Ledford, Ph.D.
Hi Terry- David Bowman is the artist – (contact@bowman-art.com) He has beautiful prints of Jesus and children 🙂