I used to think that faith was about simply believing what I was told. You hear a sermon, accept the words, and move on. No questions. No struggles. But over time, I realized that faith is not about blind acceptance it’s about wrestling.

Yes, wrestling.

The name Israel itself means “Wrestler of God.” It’s not just a title; it’s a calling. It’s an invitation to engage with Hashem’s Word, to challenge, to question, and to seek understanding.

Now, you might be wondering why Hashem? In Hebrew, Hashem means "The Name." It is a way of referring to God with reverence, without casually pronouncing His sacred name. It reminds us that God’s name is holy, powerful, and beyond human comprehension.

Faith isn’t about just sitting and listening. It’s about diving in. It’s about struggling with the text, asking hard questions, and exploring different perspectives. Some people think questioning means doubting, but I’ve learned that’s not true. Wrestling with the Word doesn’t mean rejecting it; it means getting to know it deeper. It’s like a child asking a parent “why” over and over not because they don’t believe, but because they want to understand.

Many religious settings take a different approach. The leader speaks, the congregation listens, and that’s it. But if we never ask, if we never wrestle with what we hear, how can we truly understand? Truth isn’t found in silence it’s found in the struggle.

I’ve come to see that Hashem wants us to wrestle with Him, just as Jacob did. He wants us to seek, to ask, and to learn. And through this struggle, we grow stronger in our faith. We don’t just believe we know. And even more, we are able to explain why we believe, using logic, scripture, and real understanding.

So, I embrace the struggle. I embrace the name Israel. Because in wrestling with Hashem’s Word, I am not walking away I am drawing closer.

Are you ready to wrestle?