WHEN YOU GIVE UP, by Gayle D. Erwin

Have you ever said, "I give up. I can't do it."? Most
everyone, at some point in their life, spouts that statement.
Usually it results from despair and failure, which actually
is not a bad starting point.

So, what's the secret of changing directions and finding
success? Let me share two biblical principles of phenomenal
grace. First, when Jacob landed in his famous moment, away
from his family and wealth and awaiting death at the hand of
Esau, an angel (obviously a pre-fleshly appearance of Jesus)
appeared and challenged him to a wrestling match. In spite of
this strange encounter, Jacob, ever the competitor, took him
on, and on, and on.

After a night of fight, a draw was the best he could achieve.
No victory. Then, Jacob, recognizing who his opponent was,
did the smartest thing available to him--he gave up. "You
must not leave here until you bless me." You miss this moment
if you don't understand contests in that ancient world. Then,
since the winner was the stronger, he gave a gift to the
loser. Gift-giving was a show of strength! So, then, if you
had a case filled with trophies, you would merely show how
often you lost.

When Jacob demanded to be blessed, he was calling himself the
loser. God's response? You get a new name, Israel, because
you wrestled with God and won. Whoa! He just gave up. How
could he win? Ah, that is where the secret kicks in. When you
want to win with God, give up. So, examine your wrestling.
What wears you out? Could you be wrestling with God? Then
give up and ask him to bless you!

Second, Paul reveals the most glorious provision for us in
2 Corinthians 3:17,18: "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where
the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with
unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being
transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory,
which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." NIV

Here we are offered the opportunity to become God's problem
rather than our own. This is the process: We rip the veil off
by believing in Jesus, thus exposing ourselves (face to face)
to God. This could also be called immediate confession of sin
or need. Then God shines His glory (mercy, grace, compassion,
forgiveness; see The Father Style) on us and He transforms
us. Please note that "are being transformed" means that it is
an on-going process happening as often as needed and
happening to us. We are not doing it, God is.
Furthermore, not mere transformation, but "into His
likeness." So, if I keep my state of being instantly before
him, I become God's problem which He accepts and does the
changing. Whoopee!