阅读经文 

雅各走到了事情的尽头。在他人生的大部分时间里，他都在战斗。他使用许多的资源和个人的精力，来保证他会获得神的祝福，使得万事都为他所用。

被挑战极限不是有趣的经历。这里雅各的哭泣是一种放弃，而不是信靠神的护理。但当雅各用尽他自己一切的力量，他最终发现了神的恩典。

或许现在你正感到自己是多么无力掌控配偶或孩子，或在工作上赶上别人。或许你在对抗一种难以摆脱的瘾或一种试探，已经经历了一次又一次的尝试、失败。或许你害怕因着一种紧抓着你的罪而受到惩罚。或许你意识到，你一直想用自己的好行为来“补偿神”，希望祂能给予你生命中所要的东西。

你在哪里困住了？被挑战极限有可能是神恩典的礼物，因为它告诉我们，我们不能救自己。一旦学会这一重要的真理，我们就会开始相信神的眷顾和祂透过耶稣所做的救赎之工。

Jacob has reached the end of his rope. For most of his life, he has been fighting. He has used up a lot of resources and personal energy in trying to guarantee that he will receive God's blessings, that things will turn out in his favor.

Being confronted with our limits is not a fun experience. Jacob's cry here is one of resignation, not of trust in God's providence. But when Jacob runs out of options for working in his own strength, he finally discovers the grace of God.

Perhaps you're discovering how powerless you are to control your spouse or your children, or to push past others at work. Maybe you've tried and failed again and again to beat an addiction or a temptation that won't go away, or you fear punishment for a sin that is catching up with you. Perhaps you realize that you have been trying to "pay God off" with your good deeds in the hopes that he will give you what you want in life.

Where are you "stuck"? Being confronted with limits can be a gift of God's grace because it teaches us that we cannot save ourselves. And once we learn that important truth, we can begin to trust God's providential care and his saving work through Jesus.