DAILY DEVOTION: Wrestling with God | Jacob 2

Have you ever found yourself struggling to get what is yours? Maybe it is the returned love from a relative, the respect from people who ought to give it or is it the recognition for the diligent sacrifices that you've put in a project.

For years, well-meaning people have been either upset with Esau for selling his birthright for a bowl of soup or with Jacob for setting up the "unfair trade off." Well here's my spin on it: Esau was the winner here and Jacob the loser. The reality is Esau sold Jacob that which God had in store for Jacob. Jacob lost some soup and his integrity in trying to come into a place that was already his.

My message to all of us is: Yes, work for what you will get, but know that there are certain levels, down in the gutter, that you don't need to go, to get what God has for you. In your wrestling, God wants you still to fight fairly, maintain your integrity and be in the place where you can proudly celebrate the gifts that He has given to you. In your wrestling, never let it be that you can't proudly run and show God your prize. When you can't thank God for His help, because you sought it from another source, something is very wrong. Score: Jacob 0, Esau 1 bowl of soup.

Pastor Gary Williams is head of the Cedar Grove Baptist (Independent) Church, located at Cedar Grove Estate, Portmore, St Catherine, and also a certified counsellor. Send feedback to kgdaddie@yahoo.com or editorial@oldharbournews.com.