Wrestling in Prayer

Some of life’s challenges seem too overwhelming for just a quick prayer for release. Paul describes one of his co-workers in Colossians 4:12 – Ephaphras – who is “always wrestling” in prayer for the church at Colossae.

Wrestling in prayer. What do you suppose that looks like? In an age where we leave ourselves little time to commit to anything with any depth and where it feels like we are constantly skimming the surface of experience the idea of wrestling in prayer appears almost wasteful. Doesn’t God already know the things we need? What benefit could be gained by an hour or hours of prayerful struggle?

And still, all of the great revivalists considered their time in prayer to be their most important activity of the day. John Wesley famously said, “I have so much to do that spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it.” He also said, “God does nothing except in response to believing prayer.”

Your prayers matter. I believe that we are in a time that will experience transformation only through wrestling prayer. Do you know anyone who has lost work because of the economy? Wrestle for them for God’s release of provision. Do you know anyone who is suffering because of someone else’s selfish choices? Wrestle for them for release and grace. Do you know people who are bent on destroying their lives and in desperate need of God’s grace? Wrestle for them in prayer that they would have opportunity after opportunity to know the love of Christ.

Your wrestling matters – whether for others or for yourself. It’s on the other side of wrestling with God that we are made strong in our weakness. And if the case of Jacob is at all an indication, we can wrestle until we “rest” a blessing from God. When Jacob wrestled with God he was given a new name representing the purpose and the hope God has over his life.