Skip to main content

How to wrestle with the Lord...

I wrote a post earlier this year about wrestling with the Lord. Every time I read Enos I think about this word: wrestle.

Enos uses other words:

my soul hungered

cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication (I love the word supplication - it has the same root as the word supple)

poured out my whole soul

struggling in the Spirit

prayed with many long strugglings for my brethren...

And (finally) after the Lord covenants with Enos, he says his soul did rest.

This morning I was reminded of others who had similar experiences with the Lord. Jacob, in Genesis 32, wrestles with an angel and obtains a blessing. The brother of Jared is promised great blessings because of his willingness to obey the Lord and because he had prayed diligently and for a "long time." The blessings promised to each of these three men are very similar. The question becomes - what do we want? What do we desire? How can we obtain these blessings for ourselves?

The answer seems to be - be prepared to wrestle a little bit. Or a lot.

But the reward... so worth it.


Comments

Amie Cobb said…
I didn't really appreciate this scripture until I watched my son wrestle for the first time. Wrestling is THE most demanding sport there is, and it takes all of your blood, sweat and tears to win. It also takes a lot of stamina...something we need at times when conversing with the Lord.

I can also picture Joseph Smith translating and coming to this section. Being a wrestler himself, I can imagine that "wrestle" was the word he would use to describe what Enoch was doing.

Anyway...I think a lot about this scripture, especially this time of year (wrestling season.) I have a new found appreciation for it.
Bill Cobabe said…
Agreed. (of course!)

Mom threw the towel in for me once. I was dying. Really. This dude was 6'2" and weighed probably 300 pounds... At least, he seemed that way to me. I was only a scrawny kid (yes, there were a few minutes of my life when I was skinny)... I didn't know that it was possible to breath THROUGH the mat, but this dude showed me how... I'll never forget that. Nor mom throwing in the towel. She's always been a little embarrassed that she did it, but I've only ever felt gratitude... HA!

My (extremely limited) experience with wrestling has taught me the same things you mention. And watching you and your wrestles has taught me a lot, too...

Popular posts from this blog

Ephesus

Paul got around. Ephesus is right on the Aegean Sea, on the coast of present-day Turkey. Yesterday he was in Galatia, which was much more towards the middle of Turkey. And when he actually wrote these letters, he was in Rome... So the man could travel. He probably walked. Today's item of interest comes from chapter one in Ephesians. Verses 18 and 19 are particularly interesting: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power This is not the first time Paul talks about an inheritance. In Galatians he talks about the inheritance that comes of being part of the Abrahamic Covenant. He notes that we are joint-heirs through and with Christ. In Ephesians, he uses the word "adoption" - that we are adopted as the Children of Jesus Chris...

Engaged

Three Dog Night got it wrong.  One is not the loneliest number. They were more accurate when they said Two can be as bad as one.  I really wonder how people can survive Without being fully engaged. How they live through each day Without the intimacy I so very much crave... Maybe I am unusual in my desire  To have this intimacy, To want to feel that soul So close to my own Sharing light and warmth, Sharing love and passion, Sharing life. Alas! Alas! Alas! For when I do seek to share It is often only to be rebuffed Denied Or used up, Sucked dry, And left an empty husk.  I want SO MUCH to share And all I have is the cold, digital world Of typing out a blog.

Lucky!

So Tomorrow is Amie's birthday. The 12 th is Andy's. The 14 th is Alex's. And the 26 th is mom's. Happy birthday everyone. I recently found that a member of our ward has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer has a survivability rate of less than 5% and you never, ever kick it, even if you live. Once diagnosed, people are expected to live about six months. My wife and I were talking about this wonderful woman. There are very few (too few) people in this world who shine. Literally. This sister shines with a light that is perceptible and discernible . The world will literally be a darker place without her in it. Life is short, folks. Too short for hard feelings, too short for pain and misunderstanding. I love you all so much. Sorry this one is such a downer... I don't mean to be lugubrious on your birthdays... I consider myself lucky to be your brother. You have and continue to bless me and my family in many ways, for which I will be eternally gra...