I wrestled a little bit when I was younger. I was never very good at it - I lack a certain aggression that is generally required for such sports. I wanted to please my father who introduced me to the sport - he was a wrestler in his high school days - but when I got to junior high and found out how serious these guys were I was turned off by the idea. I'll never forget the absolute physical nature of the sport, though. Plus, I think I looked pretty good in that singlet... :-)
So when Enos talks about the "wrestle" he had with the Lord (metaphorically, speaking, of course) or the "many strugglings" he had had when he engaged in his "mighty prayers" before the Lord, I begin to understand a little bit about what is required for us to be forgiven of our sins.
Repentance is of necessity a bit of a struggle. Many times it is much more than a bit. The degree of our struggling must approximate the degree of the infraction. While we are not required to pay for the eternal consequences of our indiscretions, we still must undergo the painful yet cleansing process of purification.
The atonement of Christ is what makes this possible. The key to this is our faith in Him. If we exercise even a particle of that faith we find ourselves longing for the purification and cleansing that comes through the application of His great sacrifice. As Enos says, our souls hunger. All those who have sinned and wish to return to the light have felt such hunger pains. It reminds me of the Lord's instruction - blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost. This is the purifying and cleansing fire which the Lord said is required for a person to enter the Kingdom of God. When we are willing to give up everything we have and are, not speaking only temporally but more importantly spiritually, we gain access to this unspeakable and incredibly powerful Gift.
Enos's praying sets an example for all of us. Remember also the wrestling that Jacob did before the Lord before he gained his promises. It was after that experience that his name was changed to Israel and secured for himself the covenants extended to his fathers, which blessings we now enjoy also. Alma also wrestled with the Lord in behalf of the people in the city of Ammonihah, which was ultimately in vain - the city was destroyed.
Perhaps it is not God with whom we wrestle, but our own pride. Perhaps what we need to overcome is not our Father but our flesh. Perhaps our struggle is against unbridled passion and desire. As Paul says, we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places.
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