WEDNESDAY: THE LONGING BENEATH THE STRUGGLE

Theme: What Do I Truly Desire?

Sacred Invitation: The Ache of Desire

Not all wrestling is about resistance.
Some of it is about longing.

Jacob wrestled all night, not to escape, but to receive a blessing.
Jesus wrestled in the garden, not because He doubted,
but because He longed for another way.
The disciples wrestled with their fears,
not because they lacked faith,
but because they longed for certainty.

What if our struggles are not just about fear, but about desire?
What if longing is not something to be silenced,
but something to be honored?

What am I longing for that I have not named?
What if longing itself is a doorway into something deeper?

Today, we do not rush to resolve the ache.
We sit with it.

A Somatic Practice: Breathing Into Longing

Before the day takes hold, pause.

• Take a slow, deep breath in. Exhale and let your body settle.

• Place a hand over your chest, stomach, or throat—wherever longing feels most present.

• Ask yourself:

  • What am I longing for today?

  • What do I desire that I have been afraid to name?

  • Where does longing live in my body?

Whisper: "I do not have to run from this longing. I can sit with it."

Let this be enough for now.

Closing Reflection: Holding Longing Without Rushing to Fix It

Desire is not the enemy.
It is the pulse of what matters most.

Not all longings are meant to be resolved immediately.
Some are meant to be carried.

As the day winds down, sit in stillness for a moment.
Breathe in. As you exhale, imagine making space for your longing—
not pushing it away, not solving it, just holding it with tenderness.

Whisper: "I do not have to force answers. I can sit with the questions."

Let this be your prayer tonight.

"Live the questions now." —Rainer Maria Rilke