Wrestling with God in prayer means engaging in earnest, persistent, faith-filled intercession that refuses to give up until receiving God's blessing and assurance. Ellen White uses Jacob's experience at Peniel as the defining example, where he wrestles with his assailantthrough the night, and even when disabled and in pain, declares "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me" (
GC 616.3). This wasn't presumption but rather "the assurance of one who confesses his weakness and unworthiness, yet trusts the mercy of a covenant-keeping God" (
GC 616.3). This kind of prayer involves several key elements that Ellen White emphasizes throughout her writings. First, it requires **deep humility and confession of sin**. Jacob "confesses his sin and gratefully acknowledges the mercy of God toward him while with deep humiliation he pleads the covenant made with his fathers and the promises to himself" (
GC 616.3).
The wrestling isn't about demanding from God, but about desperately seeking His mercy while acknowledging our complete dependence on Him. Second, wrestling in prayer demands **intense earnestness and perseverance**. Ellen White wrote that we must "wrestle with God until you get the victory and can shout victory over the powers of darkness" (
21MR 238.3). She emphasized that "fervent prayer availeth much. Jacob-like, wrestle in prayer. Agonize" (
Pr 74.3), comparing it to Jesus in Gethsemane who sweat great drops of bloodand urging us to "make an effort" (
Pr 74.3). This isn't casual prayer but prayer where "every power is on the stretch" (
GC 621.2).
Third, it involves **refusing to let go until receiving God's blessing**. Ellen White described how "we have felt as did Jacob of old when he wrestled with the angel—we will not let Thee go except Thou bless us" (
21MR 239.4). She challenged believers: "Will you wrestle with God at this meeting until you know that He reveals Himself to you?" (
FW 75.2). This persistence isn't stubbornness but faith that clings to God's promises even "when waves of despair which no language can express sweep over the suppliant" (
GC 621.2).
The practical application involves bringing this same intensity to our prayer life that we bring to our daily work. Ellen White counseled that we should take hold of the work of the Lord with as much energy as you would take hold of your daily laborand "wrestle with Him until you get the victory" (
21MR 238.3). She also emphasized that we must "press our petitions" and seek God with all the heart,putting "soul and earnestness" into seeking God's blessings with "persevering, determined effort" (
Pr 75.3). Importantly, this wrestling requires both divine power and human cooperation. While the power and grace with which we can do this comes from God,we are still called to wrestle, agonize, watch, prayand "co-operate with God" (
1NL 65.7).
We don't leave our prayer closet "until you feel strong in God; then watch, and just as long as you watch and pray you can keep these evil besetments under, and the grace of God can and will appear in you" (
Pr 74.3). --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:**
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