DIG DEEPER

UNTIL YOU BLESS ME

Much of the language we use in our faith and prayer life often reflects a scarcity mindset. We say things like, God does not owe me anything, or the only good thing about me is God. We approach prayer with timidity and fear. Yet this may not be evidence of faith, humility, or spiritual maturity. It may reveal a limited understanding of who God is and how eagerly God desires to bless us.

Imagine for a moment that you are a parent. Imagine overhearing your child whisper that they do not believe their parents owe them anything, or that they ask for food as if they are not worthy of receiving it. Would you feel proud of the kind of parent you have been, or would you feel as if something essential had been missed in the relationship? Or imagine hearing your child say, the only good thing about me is that my parents love me. Would that make you feel as if you have nurtured their hearts? Or would it sound like your child has lost sight of their own worth?

Now consider how often we project that same fragile language onto God.

When we pray as if God does not want to bless us, it is not a sign of holiness. It may be a sign that our understanding of God is too small. The story of Jacob reminds us that prayer can be courageous. Jacob wrestled with God through the night and said, I will not let you go unless you bless me. Was this arrogance, or was it a clear understanding of God’s desire and ability to bless? Jacob was holding on to a promise God had spoken over his life. Scripture is filled with similar promises about God’s desire to give good gifts and provide abundance.

What would it mean to pray with the same bold trust that Jacob showed?

Jacob received the blessing. His name was changed. Yet he also walked away with a limp. The limp reminds us that being human involves wounds and moments that leave lasting marks. These marks are not signs of failure or brokenness. They are signs that we have wrestled with God and been changed. Our limps, whether emotional or spiritual, are not limitations. They are evidence that we have been touched, held, and transformed.

Scripture suggests that God does not desire prayers rooted in self-erasure or fear. God invites us into prayer that reflects trust in God’s care and concern. The God who gives life does not consider any part of our life unimportant. Perhaps our prayers would become deeper and more honest if we spoke to God as if we truly believed that God delights in blessing us.