How to Wrestle with God
Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, we break down the movie Here Comes the Boom. Scott is a man who has lost heart. The system has worn him down, and he’s tired of fighting. One problem with giving up is the message you give to those around you—it tells them they are unimportant and not worth fighting for. It’s time to get up, remember who you are, and come out swinging. Join us as we discover God’s truth in this movie.
The Quotes
It takes effort to maintain a relationship with God.
When all I see is all God hasn’t done, it makes it very challenging to maintain a positive warm relationship.
We have to wrestle with God sometimes to get to the other side, to get to truth, to get a new identity.
Themes
Why do we lose heart?
The system wears us down. Tells us we don’t belong. But it only works if we let it.
The honeymoon phase ends.
We get tired of the effort.
Disappointment with what God hasn’t done.
When you don’t get an answer to the question you most want answered.
What’s the message of the stagnant cell, of the lost heart?
You’re not worth it.
You’re not worth fighting for.
You’re not important.
How do we restore our heart?
Wrestle with God.
Take your anger, frustration, and F-bombs to Him (vs holding on to them).
Keep getting up.
Affirm your identity as bestowed in the Bible.
Realize that our lives are bigger than ourselves.
Remember what you’re fighting for.
How to wrestle with God
Be honest
Take your heart to him
You might walk away with a limp, but you’ll have a blessing and a new identity.
Resources
Finding Sarah: blog, Frayed: Held Together by Hope, Facebook, Instagram
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” - Revelation 3: 14-15 (NLT)
The Paradise King: The Tragic History and Spectacular Future of Everything According to Jesus of Nazareth by Blaine Eldredge
“There's an ocean of difference between expectations and expectancy. EXPECTATIONS reflect what we want to happen based our plan. EXPECTANCY reflects a sense of wonder and curiosity for God’s plan.” - Allen Arnold (via X)
“This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. 25 When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
“What is your name?” the man asked.
He replied, “Jacob.”
“Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”
“Please tell me your name,” Jacob said.
“Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.
Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.” The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping because of the injury to his hip.” - Genesis 32: 24-31 (NLT)
Questions
What was something you were excited about at first that you lost interest in? What did the honeymoon phase look like? What changed about it?
Where have you lost heart?
Who or what in your life is worth fighting for? How can you fight for them?
More info
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Edited and mixed by Grayson Foster
Logo and episode templates by Ian Johnston
Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).
Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock.
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