In the Bible, we read this account about Jacob: ‘A man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break…He touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.” “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”…Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face”….The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping’ (Genesis 32:24-28, 30-31 NLT). Jacob was a farmer. He would have been on his feet all day, so a problem with his hip was one of the last things he wanted. It was something he leaned on every day, and now he was weak in an area that he’d always prided himself on being strong. So he had to depend on God like never before. We can find ourselves in a similar place as Jacob. We might have experienced a painful failure that we can’t hide, so people notice it. God loves to use flawed people because when they become successful in what He’s tasked them with, they humbly give Him the glory rather than becoming arrogant like someone who thinks their success is totally down to their own actions.  They’re a little warmer, a little more willing to reach out and embrace others. They understand that without God they wouldn’t have made it. If we limp spiritually, we have to depend on God more – and that’s always a good thing to do.

What Now?

Have you had any successes, big or small, recently? Spend a bit of time thanking God for equipping you to achieve them.