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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. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Have you ever felt like you were praying and nothing was happening? Like your words were bouncing off the ceiling? Jacob knew that feeling. All night, he wrestled with God, but he refused to let go until the blessing came. That’s a picture of prayer—not just tossing wishes into the air but hanging on to God’s promises and refusing to let go.

It’s not that Jacob outwitted, outplayed, or outlasted God. Jacob didn’t “win” by being stronger than God. Just one touch on his hip showed how weak Jacob really was. But God wanted Jacob to keep clinging. To keep asking. To keep holding on.

That’s not just a lesson or invitation to Jacob. Jesus told stories of persistent widows and midnight doorknockers. “Pray continually” may be the shortest verse of the Bible, but it takes the longest to fulfill. God doesn’t need to be nagged to listen, but persistence shows faith—faith that refuses to let go of his promises.

And you know why we can pray with such boldness and persistence? Because Jesus did it for us. As he walked on this earth, we consistently see him go off by himself to pray. On the night before he died, his sweat was like drops of blood as he wrestled in prayer in a garden. On the cross, he prayed for your forgiveness. He won access for us to our heavenly Father. Because of Jesus, every prayer we whisper is heard by the Father.

So don’t let go. Wrestle with God with persistence. Even if the answer feels delayed, the blessing will come.

Lord, thank you for the gift of prayer. Teach me to cling to your promises, even when answers seem slow. Strengthen my faith to trust your timing. Amen.

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.