#1267. Struggling with God (12/5/25)

Welcome to the Come to Jesus Daily Devotional. This week, I’ll be sharing a new devotional each weekday. Our reflections are inspired by themes from our recent church weekend away, and I pray they will encourage and challenge us. 

From the life of Jacob, we learn to move from self-reliant struggle to wrestling with God in prayer and surrender. 

To watch this devotional, select the link below:

1. Jacob struggles to fulfil God’s promise

Jacob's life was marked by struggle. Even his name means ‘he who grasps and deceives’! At his birth, we read that he ‘came out’ grasping his brother’s heel (Genesis 25:26)—a symbol of striving for control. 

God had made the promise that ‘the older will serve the younger’ (Genesis 25:23) however, both Rebekah and Jacob take things into their own hands in order to bring God’s promise to fruition. 

Later in the story, we see, with his mother’s connivance, that he steels the blessing of the first-born from his brother Esau. 

Here is a list of some of Jacob’s less than godly scheming: 

i. He bought Esau’s birthright deceptively (Genesis 25:29–34)

ii. He deceived his father Isaac to steal Esau’s blessing (Genesis 27:1–29)

iii. Deceived Esau by fleeing secretly (Genesis 27:41–28:5)

iv. He used selective breeding techniques deceptively (Genesis 30:37–43)

v. He, and his family, secretly flee from Laban, his father in law (Genesis 31:20) 

In these early years, Jacob was struggling -  relying on himself rather than God's promises. We all do this in various ways, and God is teaching us, if we will listen, to stop struggling and learn to rest and act as He leads. 

2. Jacob learns to struggle with God in the right way

But then came the night at the river Jabbok. Alone and afraid, Jacob wrestled with a mysterious man until daybreak. This wasn’t merely a physical battle—it was a spiritual breaking point. Here, Jacob wrestled with God and learned humility and to trust Him rather than His own scheming. 

God touched his hip, humbling him, but also blessed him. From that moment, Jacob limped—but leaned more deeply into God. He received a new name, Israel, which means something like, ‘he who wrestles with God’. At the end of this episode, we read:

Jacob has learned to wrestle in the right way. Instead of wrestling with life using his scheming, deception and skill, he now learns to wrestle with God for blessing! 

Jacob is a great patriarch but he was very flawed! God, by His grace, had great plans to work in and through him. likewise, God has a mission and plans for each of us. The question is not, are we able? but, are we available? Are we reading the promises of scripture and wresting in prayer for them or are we still thinking that we can wrestle and scheme things by our own ability? 

Today, let’s ask ourselves:

• Am I believing Gods’ promises? 

• Am I praying for God’s promises or am I just planning? 

• Do I know my new name as a child of God, or am I still feeling that I have to coerce God in some way? 

Let’s pray together

“Father, I thank you for the example of Jacob. He was flawed but you chose to work in and through Him. Please teach me to wrestle in prayer for your blessing and your promises. Amen.” 

Community Group Notes

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News. 

2. Icebreaker

How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you? 

3. Worship together

Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.

4. Study and pray together

Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a balanced focus on discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.

This study is inspired by our recent weekend away, where Henk Kirsten spoke to us. I’ve titled this series God Is Preparing Us. Over the weekend, Henk shared insights from the lives of Jacob, Jonah, and Jonathan with his young armour bearer. In each of these biblical characters, we see how God enlarged their faith and refined their character to prepare them for His greater purposes.

Discussion:

1. Read Jonah 4:1–11. What does God teach Jonah in this passage? What might He be teaching us through Jonah’s experience?

2. Read 1 Samuel 14:1–7. What does this story show us about acting on the “perhaps” of faith?

3. Read 1 Samuel 14:8–15. What can we learn about discerning God’s voice when we are seeking to do His will?

4. Reflect on the young armour bearer’s response. What does his attitude teach us about being an encouragement to others—especially to those stepping out in faith and leadership?

SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite)

• Mission inspiration from the text - Is there anything from the theme of our weekend away that inspires us in our mission?

• Share Stories – Have you had any recent experiences of Serving, Investing, or Inviting someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing testimonies of God at work through us. 

• Practical Next Steps – Who is God putting on your heart to reach? Discuss and pray for those you regularly engage with, including any ‘people of peace’ (* See note) in your life—those open to you and the gospel.

Let’s pray together: 

• Let’s pray for one another based on our study, and bring before God any other needs or requests for prayer.

• with, including any ‘people of peace’ (* See note) in your life—those open to you and the gospel.

Let’s pray together: 

• Let’s pray for one another based on our study, and bring before God any other needs or requests for prayer.