Defining moments occur when we come face to face with life-altering truth and it changes us permanently. We seldom live life looking for such moments, but they are the very opportunities through which God speaks to us. Such a moment came for Jacob at the river Jabbok, as he realized after a night of struggle that he cannot be his own source of blessing for his life, nor could he run away any longer from confronting the God who was so interested in relating to him and blessing him. ( notes)