All the losers win...

Years ago I often listened to a song by a band called DeGarmo and Key that included the lyric "Here's to all the losers, lose all guilt and sin. Here's to life in Jesus, all of the losers win". I'm not sure if I've experienced the loss of all guilt and sin except on a theological level; but I definitely relate to being a loser on many fronts. And paradoxically, it is in the experience of failure that I have gained the most.

For months now I've been fascinated by the story of Jacob, the brash and scheming young man who connived his way into and out of trouble time and time again. There was no situation he couldn't weasel his way through. Until he found himself terrified by the side of a creek, knowing he was about to face the brother who had every reason to kill him. In that time of desperation he suddenly found himself in the fight of his life, one he couldn't escape with all his wiles. Here read it for yourself:

Jacob Wrestles With God
22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."
But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
27 The man asked him, "What is your name?"
"Jacob," he answered.
28 Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."
29 Jacob said, "Please tell me your name."
But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."
31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.

So, Jacob (which means Schemer) becomes Israel (which means one who struggles with God) and for the rest of his life he limps as a reminder that there are some things he can't escape.

Carolyn Arends wrote an excellent article about this recently. You should read it.