BODY SLAMS AND BLESSINGS
UFC fighting on the White House lawn may seem like an oddity, but how about professional wrestling inside a public library? In the Benecia, California library, rather than being “shushed,” one could encounter wrestlers in a full-sized ring engaged in chokeholds and body slams. It’s a program called “Lucha Libro” borrowed from “Lucha Libre” a popular form of Mexican wrestling. According to officials, the library periodically hosts a story hour where lucho libre-themed children’s books are read to a crowd. Then a couple of wrestlers act out what happens in the story through a full-on wrestling match. (Source: Benecia Magazine, October 1, 2025)
God also uses wrestling to communicate with us. Genesis 32:22-32 depicts Jacob wrestling with God. Even though God could easily have won, he allowed Jacob to grapple with him all night, then blessed him and changed his name to Israel, “Wrestles With God.”
Jacob’s not alone. Moses wrestled with God by arguing over the Lord’s request for him to return to Egypt. The Lord asked Saul of Tarsus, “Why do you kick against the goads?” before he surrendered to Jesus and became the apostle Paul.
We all wrestle with God at times. For me, wrestling with God means struggling with something He asks me to do that I simply don’t want to do. It’s laying down my selfish desires for his perfect plan. It’s coming to the place of surrender where I say “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
It can be painful. But ultimately the blessings are worth the struggle. Jacob became the father of Israel. Moses led the people to the edge of the promised land. Paul spread the gospel to the Gentile world. And each of us? Well, when we’re done clinging to our selfish will, and God “pins us to the mat” of his will, get ready for an adventure.
Ponder:
In what areas of life have you wrestled with God?
What has God shown you in this struggle?
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study Genesis 32:22-32.
Almighty God, thank you for your willingness to wrestle with me in my stubbornness. Help me to surrender to your perfect will.
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Photo courtesy of Syracuse.com