That's Tenacity!

 Jakob was a fighter. In Hosea 12:3, it says that he fought his brother in the womb and grabbed his heel, and he fought with the angel and won. Jakob seemed to keep winning, but it didn't mean his life was easy. Let's be honest, Jakob wasn't always the "good guy," either.

He cheated his brother out of the blessing of their father and had to leave because the contention was so great he feared for his life. But Jakob also worked years for Laban for the woman he loved and a bonus wife he didn't even ask for. He had guts.

Jakob also had 12 sons who would become the nation of Israel. Joseph was one of those 12 sons. We can read the story of Joseph's journey of faith in Genesis, but what about Jakob? His sons tricked him into thinking Joseph, his favored son, had been killed. They didn't directly lie to him, but they led him to believe Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. 

What a horrible thing to live all those years in grief for something that didn't even happen. His son was gone, but he wasn't dead! 

There's no doubt Jakob had a hard life with lots of ups and downs and in-betweens, but he did keep trusting God. In the end, he was reunited with Joseph and got to see the next generation. Something he hadn't expected, since he thought Joseph was dead. He fought through a lot in his lifetime, but God never broke His covenant with Jakob. 

We know that Jakob even walked with a limp because he wouldn't let go of the angel until he got his blessing! That's some raw tenacity. Most people in the Bible were scared when they saw an angel. Not Jakob! (Genesis 32:24-32) He grabbed hold and wouldn't let go!

Caregiving can present a lot of fights, doubts, long nights, and maybe even an angel stepping in from time to time. I truly believe we have the same tenacity we see in Jakob. We keep holding on and fighting a battle most can't see day after day.

Today, I'll remind myself that even though others can't see (and sometimes won't even look), God sees the caregiver's day-to-day struggles. He sees every tear we hold back and hears even the slightest sigh. Jakob thought he was traveling alone, but he wasn't. Neither are we. I will meditate on how God stays with us on this entire journey, and He never looks back or wishes He were somewhere else. I pray I have the tenacity of Jakob as I continue to trust God for one more day. Will you join me?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your Bible shouldn't stay closed after Sunday.

Kindle & Print: https://a.co/d/bpFOVbB

The Book of James is packed with practical wisdom you can apply every single day—from handling difficult people to finding joy in trials and living a faith that's real.

If you're ready for a Bible study that challenges and encourages you, grab your copy of the Book of James Study Guide today and start growing one chapter at a time.

📖 Order your copy today and begin your journey through one of the Bible's most practical books.