The idea of being “blessed” may bring to mind images of a peaceful life—answered prayers, steady days, things falling into place. But what if God’s greatest blessings don’t come through ease? What if he uses the hard seasons to teach us to cling to him?

Jacob’s story in Genesis 32 reminds us that real faith doesn’t mean we never wrestle—it means we hold on. The struggle becomes sacred when it drives us closer to God, when it forces us to rely on his strength and his Word instead of our own ability. The blessing isn’t in escaping the fight; it’s in discovering, again and again, that the Lord is faithful right in the middle of it. Scroll down to read Katie Polski’s article on the blessings of wrestling, plus an article on the surprising health benefits of going to church.