Wrestling With God

Many Christians believe that “wrestling with God” is a healthy and necessary part of spiritual growth, not a sign of disrespect towards God. It is a process involving honest grappling with everyday doubts, questions, and complex emotions within one’s relationship with God. When undertaken with a desire to understand and draw closer to God, it signifies faith and can lead to deeper intimacy and a greater understanding of who God is in our lives. The concept of wrestling with God does not imply a physical struggle or opposition to God. It is a profound and challenging engagement with faith and God. In this, we question, struggle with doubt, and seek a deeper understanding of God’s will and His ways. Although potentially uncomfortable, it can foster a more mature and authentic faith in God.

It is easy to cite Jacob’s wrestling with God (Genesis 32:22-32) without reflecting on how we, too, can partake in similar struggles. However, several other figures in the Bible also engaged in spiritual battles that can be seen as wrestling with God. Abraham, for example, wrestled with God in prayer concerning the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah, persistently bargaining with God to spare the cities if a certain number of righteous people could be found. Moses often interceded with God on behalf of the Israelites during their periods of rebellion and idolatry, challenging God’s decisions and pleading for mercy for His people.

The Book of Job presents a profound exploration of suffering and faith as Job grapples with God, questioning the reasons behind his immense pain and loss, and demanding answers and justification. In the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus prayed fervently, struggling with the thought of His impending crucifixion and asking that it be God’s will to “let this cup pass from me” (Luke 22:42). Many prophets in the Old Testament also engaged in what could be described as wrestling with God. They often challenged God’s actions, questioned His justice, or pleaded for His mercy on behalf of the people.

In Catholic teaching, wrestling with God embodies a profound and essential aspect of prayer and spiritual life. It signifies an honest, sometimes challenging, engagement with God, especially during times of doubt, difficulty, or when responding to God’s call. Rather than indicating weakness, this wrestling is viewed as a path to deeper intimacy with God, fostering personal transformation and a richer understanding of God’s will. Pope Francis described it as a metaphor for prayer and highlighted how we can genuinely encounter God in moments of vulnerability by recognising our limitations. However, wrestling with God requires being radically honest with oneself and with God, openly sharing our disappointments, hurts, and even doubts. Only then can we build a deeper relationship and allow God to work in our lives.

Pope Benedict XVI’s reflection during the General Audience at St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, 25 May 2011, highlights that Jacob, always plotting, prepared for his meeting with Esau by first making some careful provisions (Genesis 32:21) and then setting off during the night (v. 22). Under cover of darkness, Jacob could easily have entered his brother’s territory unseen and perhaps taken Esau by surprise. He used his cleverness to try to avoid a dangerous situation, thinking he had everything under control; instead, he found himself in an unexpected attack, for which he was utterly unprepared. He was forced into a mysterious struggle, alone and with no opportunity to organise a proper defence. He wrestled with this unknown, unseen person until daybreak (v. 25). Because the struggle took place in darkness, it is hard to determine not only the identity of Jacob’s attacker but also how the battle was progressing. Jacob seemed stronger than his opponent, who “did not prevail over him” (v. 25); yet, he struck Jacob’s hip at its socket and dislocated it (v. 26). One might expect that at this point Jacob would give in, but instead, it was the aggressor who asked to be released. Still, Jacob refused and set a condition for letting go: “I will not let you go, unless you bless me” (v. 27). The one who “stole” his brother’s blessing was now demanding it from the stranger. Why? Had he perhaps realised that this was no ordinary human? His request was not granted; instead, the man asked for his name, and Jacob stated it (v. 28).

The struggle now assumed crucial significance. Knowing someone’s name implies holding a particular power over that individual, because, in biblical tradition, a name contains the deepest reality of the person; it reveals their secret and destiny. Knowing a person’s name means knowing the truth about them, which enables one to exert control. When Jacob revealed his name in response to the unknown person’s request, he placed himself in his opponent’s power. It was a form of surrender, a complete handing over of himself to the other. Yet, in this act of surrender, paradoxically, Jacob was victorious because he received a new name, and his opponent recognised his victory.

Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.” Genesis 32:29

Jacob revealed his true identity as a deceiver, the one who supplants; however, the Other (The Lord God) transformed this negative reality into something positive. Jacob the deceiver became Israel, meaning “God is strong, God is victorious.” Although Jacob had prevailed, his new identity (received from the adversary himself) affirmed and bore witness to God’s victory. When Jacob in turn asked for his opponent’s name, the latter refused to say it but revealed himself in an unequivocal gesture of giving him the blessing. The very blessing that Jacob had requested at the beginning of the struggle was granted. A blessing obtained not through deceit, but one given freely by God. Jacob received it because he was alone, without protection, without cunning or tricks. He received it because he surrendered himself, unarmed, and agreed to confess the truth about himself. At the end of the struggle, having received the blessing, Jacob finally recognised the other, who is the God of blessings:

So, Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved” (Genesis 32:30).

The sun rose as he passed Penuel, carrying a new name, but having been conquered by God and forever marked with a limp because of the injury he received (vs. 31 & 32).

Engaging with God in this way can lead to personal transformation, a new perspective, and a deeper appreciation of God’s love and providence. As also affirmed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “from this account, the spiritual tradition of the Church has retained the symbol of prayer as a battle of faith and as the triumph of perseverance” (n. 2573). The Bible speaks to us about a long night of seeking God, of the struggle to learn His name and see His face. It is the night of prayer that, with tenacity and perseverance, asks God for a blessing and a new name, a new reality that is the fruit of conversion and forgiveness.

For us, then, Jacob’s night at the ford of the Jabbok is a key reference point for understanding the relationship with God, which finds its deepest expression in prayer. Prayer demands trust, closeness, almost hand-to-hand contact that symbolises the Lord of blessing, who always remains mysterious and seems beyond reach. The symbol of struggle implies strength of spirit, perseverance, and tenacity in pursuing our heart’s desire. Pray that the goal of this desire is a relationship with God, His blessing, and love. Then, the struggle will inevitably lead to self-giving to God and recognising one’s weakness, which can only be overcome by surrendering oneself into God’s merciful hands.

Our entire lives resemble a long night of struggle and prayer. We must spend it longing for and asking for God’s blessing, which we cannot seize or win through our strength, but must receive from Him with humility as a gift that ultimately enables us to recognise the Lord’s face. When this happens, our whole reality changes; we receive a new name and God’s blessing. Jacob, who became Israel, gave a new name to the place where he wrestled with God (i.e., where he prayed), “Penuel”, which means: “The Face of God”. With this name, he recognised that this place was filled with the Lord’s presence, making that land sacred and thus leaving a memorial of that mysterious encounter with God. Like Jacob, whoever allows himself to be blessed by God, and abandons himself to God, permitting himself to be transformed by God, renders a blessing to the world. With St. Paul, we pray that the Lord helps us to fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12), and to finish the race having kept the faith (2 Tim 4:7); and we ask in prayer for the Lord’s blessing, that he may renew us in the expectation of beholding his Face.

Jacob’s wrestling with God teaches us that when faced with a struggle we cannot win, catch a break from, or rest from, we must continue to wrestle and embrace that very struggle. God will use our stubbornness and determination to achieve His purpose (Jeremiah 29:11). God uses anything, any opening He can find within us, so that He can enter our hearts and the entire world. The Unknown enters the darkness of our lives to draw our very depths to Himself.

Our wrestling with God is not a single event; it is an ongoing journey of faith where we face challenges and learn to rely on God’s grace. While our wrestling may be painful, it does not indicate weakness; instead, it demonstrates our determination and perseverance. It is an invitation to engage with God’s call and to allow Him to work in our lives. We have learned that even amid struggle, there is potential for blessing—for example, Jacob received his blessing after his encounter with God. It is crucial to stay connected to God, even during difficult times, through prayer, reading scripture, and active participation in the Church community. We must persist in prayer when seeking God’s favour.

In wrestling with God, we should be humble and acknowledge our dependence on His strength and grace. Most importantly, we need to confront our true identity and recognise our need for God’s forgiveness and transformation. We remember that God’s presence is subtle yet powerful, so we can identify whom we are wrestling with. God often initiates such encounters to test, refine, and ultimately bless those who wrestle with Him. This encounter will reveal our weaknesses—whether physical, spiritual, emotional, or mental—and demonstrate that true strength comes from God. Our transformation signifies our new identity and increased relationship with Him, marked by His blessing and a reminder of our encounter with Him. And hope does not disappoint, for even during struggles, we find peace and blessings through our relationship with God.

Take-Home Message

We must accept wrestling with God as a vital part of our faith journey. We will continue seeking God’s will and blessing, even when faced with difficulties. We hope that, even in the bleakest moments, God is present and capable of bringing transformation and blessing. Like Jacob, we will succeed not by defeating God, but by persistently holding on to Him and receiving a blessing. The limp we carry afterwards will symbolise our reliance on God’s strength and the lasting impact of the encounter on our lives. God is merciful and willing to bless us even when we have previously depended on our cunning and strength. May you find many blessings in your wrestling with God.

NB: Unless specifically stated, all Bible quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE).