Reflection
‘Be yourself!’ is the cry of the age. There is some wisdom in this — we don’t want people to live a lie — but maybe we also naively assume we have an inner self worth listening to. Should a jerk ‘be themselves’? Should Jacob have simply embraced his unscrupulousness, his cunning habit of getting the upper hand in his dealings with others? Or was God’s patient and persistent efforts to make Jacob a better man — getting him to rely on God rather than his own tricksiness, which reached a head in this showdown recounted in Genesis — a magnificent blessing?
Perhaps an authentic life begins instead with a healthy distrust of ourselves and a reliance on the mercy of God.
In what areas is God showing you that you need to ‘be honest with yourself’ rather than ‘be true to yourself’?
Prayer
Our loving Father, forgive us when we seek to listen to ourselves rather than you. Thank you for showing us mercy by saving us from ourselves — we would much rather be who you have created us to be. Help us to work with your patient efforts to correct us, because we know that by disciplining us you show us that you love us. Amen.