Patterns For Growth

Wrestling with God: Finding Restoration in Broken Relationships

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you felt afraid and distressed? Maybe you’re facing a broken relationship that seems beyond repair, or perhaps you’re dealing with the consequences of past mistakes. If so, you’re not alone. The story of Jacob in Genesis 32 offers us powerful insights into how God works in our lives during times of testing and restoration.

The Journey of Restoration

Jacob’s life was filled with drama and deception. As Pastor Dan puts it, “If Jacob lived in 2024, there’d be some like Network that would try to pick his life up for a reality show.” But as we dive into Genesis 32, we see a turning point in Jacob’s life. He’s on his way back to face his brother Esau, whom he had wronged years ago. This journey becomes a powerful metaphor for the process of restoration in our own lives.

Looking to God in Times of Testing

As Jacob approaches the land where Esau lives, he receives news that his brother is coming to meet him with 400 men. The Bible tells us that “Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed” (Genesis 32:7). This is a clear sign of a time of testing. 

Pastor Dan explains, “When we are going through a time of testing, we need to look to God… How do you know you’re in a time of testing? If you’re afraid and you’re distressed, it’s a time of testing.”

In these moments, Jacob does something crucial – he turns to God in prayer. His prayer in Genesis 32:9-12 provides us with a pattern for our own prayers in times of testing:

1. Remember who you are in God’s sight
2. Show humility
3. Request God’s protection
4. Repeat God’s promises

The Pattern of Humility

One of the most significant changes we see in Jacob is his growing humility. He acknowledges that he is “not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness” that God has shown him (Genesis 32:10). This humility is crucial in the process of restoration.

As James 4:6 reminds us, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” When we humble ourselves before God, we position ourselves to receive His grace and see His work in our lives.

Seeing God in Our Relationships

The climax of this passage is Jacob’s mysterious wrestling match with a “man” who turns out to be God Himself. This encounter teaches us a profound lesson about our relationships. Pastor Dan explains:

“The point he’s trying to make, and the point that Jacob finally learns, is that all of his relationships that have had issues are not just horizontal issues… Jacob wasn’t just fighting with everyone because he was good and everyone else was messed up. He was saying, ‘No, Jacob, your biggest issue is you – your relationship with me.'”

When we face conflicts in our relationships, we need to look beyond the surface issues and examine our relationship with God. Are we seeking His blessing above all else? Are we allowing Him to work in the “dirt” of our lives?

Putting It Into Practice

So how can we apply these lessons to our own lives? Here are some practical steps:

1. Identify areas of testing in your life. Where do you feel afraid or distressed?
2. Turn to God in prayer, following Jacob’s pattern of humility and trust.
3. Stay in the uncomfortable situations long enough for God to work. As Pastor Dan says, “Stay in the tension, stay in the pressure, trusting God that he’s going to do something for your good and His glory.”
4. Examine your relationships. Are there any that need restoration? How might your relationship with God be affecting these human relationships?
5. Humble yourself before God and others, seeking His blessing above all else.

Remember, God is willing to get into the “dirt” of our lives and wrestle with us through our struggles. As we learn to see Him in our relationships and humble ourselves before Him, He can bring about restoration that we never thought possible.

Let’s pray together: “Father, we thank you that you’re willing to come into our lives and get into the dust, into the dirt. There’s a lot of dirt if everyone knew everything we thought, everything we did. God, we ask that you’d restore relationships. May we follow the patterns of growth because they’re patterns of humility and dependence on you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”