Don’t Let Go of Conflict Too Early

I admit it. I’m an avoider on conflict. As soon as difficulty’s shadow crosses my door, I’m opening windows, turning on the lights to make it go away.

But sometimes, there’s benefit to be found in the struggle.

Susan DiMickele, THC member and author of Working Women of the Bible, recently wrote about the need to work through situations. Using Jacob’s example in Genesis Chapter 32, she talks about the need to “wrestle.”

“Like Jacob, I’ve had one of those weeks where I’ve been wrestling with God,” she writes. “So much that I spent an entire night without sleep. After tossing and turning for hours, I just felt like throwing in the towel and giving in. But not Jacob. He doesn’t let go. He wrestles until daybreak.”

Now most of us, if we want a deeper more meaningful relationship, will have disagreement with God. We hold on to the things of this earth, our pride, our accomplishments. Taking them sometimes leads to a fight of the will.

Jacob wrestles to get an answer. And when he does, he demands one more thing. “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

This has me thinking about letting go too early—of quitting without a fight, and then missing out on the blessing. Read Susan’s full post here.