GOOD STRUGGLE 2 - IN DISGUISE

Previously when we talked about GOOD STRUGGLE, I shared with you that while Struggle may not feel Good, it still works for Our Good.

Effectiveness is not measured by perspective, preferences, appearances, nor emotions. A true measure of Effectiveness is in the Results it yields.

Good results mean it was a good solution. A hard-fought battle won, is still a battle won. Medicine isn’t required to taste good to be effective.

On that note, Today I want to elaborate a bit more about how STRUGGLE works for OUR GOOD, despite its appearance.

We don’t see Struggle as something beneficial, because it does not appear like something good for us. That’s by design, it is In Disguise.

I recently read a news story about a man named Yacob. His life story was an example of GOOD STRUGGLE. He Struggled when he was born. He Struggled as a young man. He Struggled still yet as an older man. Yacob Struggled with his childhood, his family, his God, his identity, his purpose, and lots more, but it all worked for his good.

I’m hoping that maybe, just maybe, some of his Struggles we might be able to relate to and learn from them. That’s how you get Wisdom.

Knowledge is what you hopefully gain from going through a situation, but Wisdom is what can be freely gained by gleaning and learning from what someone else went through. We are advised to GET WISDOM.

I read that Yacob’s Struggles began when he was in his mother’s womb. He had a Struggle with Life. Whether we are young are old, at various times we all Struggle with Life. Especially when Life is Lifeing!

Yacob had a twin brother, and while in their mother’s womb a fight ensued. Yacob could have been strangled to death by the umbilical cord. He could have ingested the amino acid that was in the environment around him. Sometimes we too are in a toxic environment that we must Struggle to get out of. What Yacob didn’t realize then was, that his Struggle with life was actually his Struggle with Purpose. Each of Our Lives has Purpose. Even though we might not have been planned for, or prepared for, we were meant to be here. Here is a snip from that article.

“When it was time for his mother to give birth, sure enough, there were twins in her womb. The first son came out, followed quickly by the second son holding on to his brother’s heel.”

As time moved on, Yacob tried not to harbor any ill feelings. “He Tried”

Wisdom Lesson: In life, in order to prevail, we must all find something, or someone, that we Struggle to hold on to. Purpose Demands that We Live to see it.

Later the story tells of a time when Yacob Struggle with his identity. Like many of us, Yacob was not always comfortable being who he was called to be. He wanted to be his older brother. Sometimes image issues from our childhood still cause Struggles later in our life. Yacob felt that his father loved his older brother more than he did him. Maybe some of us have felt unloved by those whom we sought love from. Yacob tried to earn his father’s love. He even involved his mother in his trauma drama.

“Let me prepare a meal,” she said. “The kind your father loves, he will eat it and then bless you for it”

Yacob’s father did bless him, but something still wasn’t right. That didn’t give him what he needed. So, he left home to go and find himself.

Wisdom Lesson: You must be your authentic self. Unique is rare, precious, and valuable. Copies, knock offs, aren’t as valued. It’s better to Struggle and be yourself, rather than to trick your way into a blessing.

The last and most important Struggle is Yacob’s life was with his Destiny. Nothing is more important than reaching your life’s destination. We must end up where we are supposed to end up. We might’ve started wobbly, we might even be wobbly right now, but we must finish strong!

The way to finish strong is by dealing with unresolved issues in our life. Notice I didn’t say deal with people, we must deal with ourselves. That’s exactly who Yacob left home to deal with, himself. Here’s his story.

While trying to find himself, Yacob had encountered a great many new challenges. He had a run in with his uncle, who tricked him out of his life savings. He married a lady, and then in turn married her sister as well, he also had children by both women. Yacob really Struggled. So where is the Good Part? It’s on the way. This was just preparation. Not for the Good to come, but for the Man to be ready for it. We need to be ready to handle the good part.  Are you ready? How do you know?

Yacob decided it was time to return home. With hurt pride, lots of bumps and bruises, and his family in tow, he set out on his journey. He knew he still must face his brother and the rubble that he left behind. One night while traveling, it all came to a head. He had a “bad dream”.

 An “attacker” surprised him and began wrestling with him. His issues of guilt, shame, fear, doubt, grief, unforgiveness, all had caught up with him. He was Struggling with them in “his dream”. Here is that account.

“A man fought with Yacob until just before daybreak…he struck Yacob on the hip and threw his hip joint out…the man said, now let me go. I won’t let you go until you bless me” Yacob replied”

Wisdom Lesson: The path to your destination involves Struggle with your past demons. You’ll know that you have arrived at your Destiny when it affects how you treat others and your “walk” is different. Once you have been touched by Gods Goodness, you will walk with a “Grace Limp”., and treat others better

Feel free to read all of Yacobs’ Good Struggle story in Genesis 25-28.

FACTS: All our Struggles are all ultimately with God, just like Yacobs was.

In the end God blessed Yacob and changed his name to Israel which means a Struggler with God. We are Blessed through our Struggles!

How many Blessings have we missed out on because they were Disguised as a Struggle? Let THAT last time…BE THE LAST TIME! 

This is a Thompson Truth