Worship or Wrestle?

Inspiration for my writing can come from a lot of different places. Sometimes it’s a song, a comedian, or even a random TikTok or Facebook Reel. (Maybe that’s why my mind is always ‘on,’ looking for the next idea.) While scrolling, I recently watched Jordan Peterson speaking about Jacob wrestling with God in Genesis. One line struck me deeply:

“Wrestling means worship… because God was within his grasp.”

That thought has lingered in my mind. What if our deepest moments of struggle are not signs of failure, but invitations to worship? “God is within our grasp,” not because we’ve figured Him out or can control Him, but because He graciously comes close in our mess and trials.  Songs like “Praise You in This Storm” by Casting Crowns and “Raise a Hallelujah” by Bethel Music also speak of thoughts like this.  For a moment, that kind of worship might be foreign to us, but the more I considered and studied, the more I leaned into this thought and wanted to share it with you.

When Worship Looks Like a Fight

Jacob’s encounter in Genesis 32:24–30 is not your typical worship scene. There’s no choir, no altar, no calm. Jacob wasn’t handed a bulletin, nor did he shake hands with his neighbor.  It’s a long, exhausting, mysterious wrestling match. And at the end of it all, Jacob walks away limping. He even names the place Peniel, saying: “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” (Genesis 32:30)

In contrast, I  often think of things going well when I think of worship.  There is a peace, calm, and even a feeling that things are going in my favor. I don’t think about “wrestling” as much as “enjoying the blessing.”  

However, Jacob held on to God. He didn’t let go. And that, perhaps, is the heart of true worship: grasping onto God even when it hurts, even when we don’t understand. For you see, in the recent months (personally and pastorally), I’ve encountered more times of hearing people say “I don’t understand” or “why would this happen?” In those moments, it felt more like a fight than peace. 

Wrestling Is Worship: Because God Is Near

If we define worship as the moments when “God is within our grasp,” then even our most painful seasons can become holy ground. We cry out, “I only get one shot at this life!” So in our desperation, we might tighten our grip around things that don’t matter, like possessions, money, power, or influence. And according to our little study, we are now worshipping those things. 

Let’s change and ask, “How tight is our grip on God?” When things are falling apart (and they will fall apart), are we holding onto Him tighter than anything else?  And in that clinging, does that become our act of worship? Because I think it does.

Psalm 63:8 “My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”

There is a warning in this clinging and closeness with God.  We don’t just experience God’s kindness and grace.  We also encounter His justice and His unrelenting love. Scripture says that “He is a jealous God,” not in insecurity, but in Holy Love that refuses to share our worship with anything less than Himself. He is not a tame God, but He is always faithful. So for us to know and experience these attributes of God, we must get close to grasp and wrestle.  

From Jacob to Paul: Wrestling in the New Testament

Interestingly, the word “wrestle” only appears around five times in most English translations of the Bible. Four are in the Genesis account of Jacob. The fifth is in the New Testament, in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

In Paul’s account, the wrestling isn’t with God but is still spiritual. It’s not about arguing or fighting with people; it’s making us aware of the spiritual battle happening all around us. It helps us see that we are already in a “wrestling match.”  We are fighting and struggling, and tying it back to an earlier point: What am I grasping in this battle? What am I worshiping? Where do I find my strength? What will I lend my breath to, and praise?  .

So, What Am I Really Worshiping?

This thought flipped the script for me. In Christianity, we use terms like “trial, test, hard season, or storm.”  These terms are trying to tell another Christian that life isn’t going well.  But what if that’s the point?  What does my worship look like when things are going poorly?  

Maybe I have a perspective problem? Perhaps I have a worship problem, and the part of this life that I am “going through” is to bring me closer to Christ and to hold on tightly to Him.

What am I holding onto most tightly? Is it fear? Control? Comfort? The things we wrestle with often reveal what we’ve begun to worship.

God has already told us clearly in Exodus 20:3: “You shall have no other gods before me.”

In the spiritual Royal Rumble of our lives, are we wasting energy wrestling with things that will never bless us or shouldn’t even be on our minds? (For the uninitiated, the Royal Rumble is a chaotic wrestling match where everyone’s fighting at once.)

Or are we choosing to wrestle with God Himself, holding on for dear life, because we know He alone can bless, heal, transform, and rename us?

Pastor Mark’s Takeaway:

This takeaway is a very real and practical takeaway.  So, before you begin reading, grab a piece of paper and a writing utensil (pen, pencil, etc). There is only one question, but there is some work to do. 

•  (After taking a few moments to think) What do I consider/evaluate as the top five things I hold onto?  

So, on your paper, write down the top five things.  Then I want you to number them to the left, 1-5 (with one being the most important), what they currently are in your life. This exercise is an opportunity to be truthful with yourself and God.  

Now draw a line under that list. 

Next, start with the numbers 1-5 for this second list.  This time, I want you to place God in that number 1 position.   Now, what follows?  

Here is where I want to provide you with some encouragement.  My second list stopped at 1.  I have a wife, kids, job, friendships, and so much more that I could put on this list.  However, if I hold onto God and am willing to endure the wrestling like Jacob, I believe everything else will take care of itself.  

 Psalm 73:28 “But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.”

Closing Prayer: Lord, help me to hold tightly to You, even when I don’t understand. Teach me to worship You with my struggles. Teach me to cling, especially when I don’t know what is happening.