Jacob halted upon his thigh. He limped for the rest of his life. This is one of the best things that can happen to us: this experience of really being made serious. ‘Stop and yield your all to me’ God says. We are made lame before God in that we learn how small we are, we discover our weakness, and how much we depend on the Lord. There is a new life of dependency that characterises every believer. Without me, says Christ, you can do nothing.
At conversion God strengthens and weakens us at the same time. We lose the cockiness, the bounce, the self-confidence that characterised us before. We see ourselves a little more clearly. God takes away our love of this world and gives life a new peace, understanding, and assurance. When we pray, pray very humbly to the God who has revealed himself. We pray as those needing forgiveness. We pray to the God who provides. Christ has borne the penalty. Come not lightly and with mixed feelings, blowing hot and cold, but come with sincerity and then the door of salvation will swing open.