Having A "Jacob's Limp"

When I am looking for advice or counsel on some matter, I go to a person or people who have experience regarding that matter. If I have questions about my computer, I ask someone who is computer savvy, not my mother, who still doesn't have internet access in her home. But if I have a question about cooking or mothering, I call my mother, not my computer savvy friend. You get the point. It's not any lack of respect for either my mother or my friend. They each have experience that lends itself to specific areas, and it only makes sense to go to the one who has the experience.

A few weeks after Jacob died, I received a letter from a cousin. For years, I had admired this cousin for his deep faith that had remained strong through good times and bad. His letter contained an interesting perspective that I'd like to share with you.

My cousin wrote that as he was driving in his truck, he was listening to a Christian radio station. A woman was speaking. She mentioned that whenever she needed advice regarding matters of faith, she would only seek out those who had what she referred to as a "Jacob's limp." She went on to explain the story of the Old Testatment patriarch, Jacob. Jacob's life was very blessed, but he also faced many struggles. In fact, one night Jacob wrestled with "a man" all night until Jacob's hip was wrenched by the man, leaving him with a constant limp. That "man" was God. In the morning, God blessed Jacob saying, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and HAVE OVERCOME." Jacob's limp served as a reminder not only of his struggles, but of his blessings and his strength to overcome.

The fact that this woman's reference included Jacob's name was enough to catch my attention, but to grasp what she meant by it made the reference all the more special. This speaker was saying that she didn't trust the counsel of anyone who had basically just sailed through life with little disturbance or difficulty. She wanted someone who had faced a few major storms and lived to tell about it and praised God in the end. The ones who had survived had wisdom that those who had never been tested could ever hope to have.

My cousin went on to say that I had developed a "Jacob's limp." He knew that the counsel of one who had struggled with the death of a child was worth much, if in the end she was able to overcome and continue to glorify God. I was so deeply honored by my cousin's words. No vanity or ego was wrapped up in that honor whatsoever. In fact, I was humbled tremendously that he saw me as an overcomer and God being glorified as well. May God receive ALL the glory and honor for His goodness and grace that is beyond measure!