Walking Wounded

One of the most unique and fascinating characters in the bible is the Old Testament patriarch Jacob. His name means deceiver. Jacob lived up to his name. He wanted to be blessed. He wanted advantage and privilege in his life and he was willing to do whatever it took to gain the upper hand. But there is a cost to 'looking out for #1' and it is in the area of relationships. No one wants to be used and manipulated for someone else's selfish gain. But that is what Jacob was doing and it was costing him deeply. At a pivotal point in his life while trying to negotiate his way out of trouble, he encounters God in a miraculous and unique way. The imagery is fascinating and challenging to comprehend. In Genesis 32 we see an intense encounter between Jacob and God that leaves the 'deceiving' Jacob with a lasting wound. He is left with a lifetime wound.... a  hip that will forever be 'out of socket' and leave him limping for life.  Even in the midst of pain, Jacob wants something out of the encounter. God being gracious gives him what he really needs..... a new name....representing a change in character.  Jacob would no longer be the deceiver and manipulator. Out of his encounter with God he would be now known as Israel.... one who struggled with God and became a prince of God.
  In our struggles in life... with ourselves and others we often get wounded. Often those wounds leave very visible and lasting marks on our lives. Our bodies, souls and spirits are deeply impacted by our own deceit, disappointments and defeats. What do you do with your disappointments? Who do you go to in your 'hour of need'? Those who impact us the deepest during our times of struggle and adversity are not those who sail through life encountering no storms. In our hour of need we approach those who have successfully navigated their way through the storm. We often find those with visible or invisible scars have both the knowledge and the desire to help us in our time of need.
  At every moment in life when God has begun to stir my soul about what lies ahead in serving him he reminds me of the need to depend totally upon his grace in my life. The world celebrates the strong and the mighty. God uses the weak and the wounded.... the imperfect and the humble.
  Today, perhaps you are feeling vulnerable and weak. You have failed or fallen into a place where you notice your imperfections and weaknesses most of all. Don't lose hope. Keep moving into the direction of God's grace. He wants to give you a new name.... a new vision.... a new opportunity.... to live for him and to reflect his love and grace to a world of walking wounded.

Jim