Before You Give Up...New Year - New Change

2013 was a year of transition and change. Period.

I thought of Jacob often...

Genesis 32

That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.  After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 

I don’t know what 2013 was like for you, for us it was a year of big changes, one after another. It was almost hard to catch our breath. Over and over I thought about Jacob, his life, his fight and his famous limp. 

I kept thinking I know I am limping.

I don’t think God "needed" to engage in the fight, it was Jacob who needed it. 
Boy was he ready too. All night he went at it with God.  

What I find most interesting was the questions they had for each other. 
Jacob said, I need to know who you are and I need you to bless me. 
God said, what is your name.  

When all was said and done, questions answered, Jacob was changed. 
Not only would he and his whole family enter a new land for a new season, he had settled matters in his heart with both man and God.

For a season, we know Jacob considered giving up because life wasn’t always kind.  But this time, he said, I won’t give up until you bless me.  

So, before we consider giving up... 

May this be a season when we settle matters with man and God, entering into our promised land with our family, embracing a new name and new season.

Here is to a new chance and a clean slate.