THE WRESTLE
I found you
beyond
the ‘why’.
Far from
the ‘why not’.
Worlds from
the ‘why me’.
You held a space for me
beyond answers
to questions
my pain had
as if you knew
information was
never
going
to
heal
or resolve
or fix
my suffering.
Instead,
you agreed to wrestle
through many nights.
Never letting go.
Always with me
just like you promised.
Refusing to surrender
I eventually realised
that wrestling with God
was not a crime.
That I was, in fact,
being held.
Being healed.
Being transformed by finding
you beyond answers.
Being blessed
by holding on to you
in my doubt and frustration
and never letting go.
And you never let go.
And you overcame me in the end.
And we both won.
‘The Wrestle’
David Tensen
Aug ‘19
This poem appears in the book of the same name. Get it here
I really enjoy your poems thank you.
From my experience wrestling invariably leads to nestling. Crises of faith are necessary for us to truly know the One who created the heavens and the earth, the One who put the stars in their place. To wrestle with Him is actually a privelege. That He is willing to engage with us in a battle for our souls and to comfort us with His eternal presence is a gift. It must be the season for wrestling… God is strengthening us…for the times we’re in are becoming more fraught. Helen H.
Wonderful reflections around privilege. I hadn’t considered that, Helen. Thank you
Hi David,
I came to this page after Wm Paul Young mentioned this poem in one of his sermons. I recently lost my father and I too was tested positive for COVID. I was wrestling with God with death and disease questions. I was literally pissed off with God at a point. Your poem really penetrated in to me and made me realize the God has never let me go. He held me and healed me!
Thank you for the healing poem… Praise God for giving you the flair of writing!