There is such sadness in the broken world in which we live. We have a compassionate God who through his Son Jesus transformed godless, wicked societies to bring equaility and concern for the weak - things we take for granted. We have a God who is concerned for the widow, orphan and oppressed.

God does what he says. Jacob is brought safely back to the promised land of Canaan where he finds shelter and builds an altar. Like Jacob, we can shelter in Jesus and his life and death and resurrection for us, knowing he will bring us safely to the new creation.

Don't trouble your troubles in your mind - bring them to the LORD in prayer. God is so kind to us and we can come boldly before him in the name of Jesus.

We need to learn to wrestle in prayer like Jacob and like Jesus. We need more than being active and well planned. Sometimes we only learn to really pray when we're given some kind of limp or scar. How remarkable that the One who wrestled with Jacob, one day wrestled in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before he laid down his life for us! This is our God - may we trust him.

Beware about fearing the worst and troubling our own thoughts. It's good to plan, prepare and do what we can in a situation - that's spiritual - but it's never enough. We need the LORD's help and Jacob gives us a great example of what prayer looks like - taking hold of God's promises and bringing our fears to him.

Laban teaches us that one day every knee will bow before Jesus and confess that he is Lord. It's so encouraging that the LORD can draw a straight line with a crooked stick, so we mustn't despair even when we mess up. Following Jesus, we will never be empty handed and nothing can separate us from God's love.

When it seems like God is nowhere to be seen, we can be certain that he is watching over us just as he said he would. Jesus was crushed for our sins and has totally defeated Satan so we can be absolutely confident in him.

If God is for us, who can be against us? We know he is for us because he has not spared his Son, but has given him for us. Therefore we can serve him by working hard and doing the right thing in every situation knowing that he sees and cares about injustice.

Beware of blind spots - that's why we need church life! Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. He gives rather than takes. He is gentle and kind.

Even if we are faithless, God remains faithful, he cannot deny himself. He can draw straight lines with crooked sticks which is good news for crooked sticks.