I was reading when this event happened in college. You see my roommate had to much liquid courage, also known as a lot of beer. He decided he could pin a guy in our suite who just happened to be bigger, stronger, and a state champion in wrestling. Well, the match started, and very quickly my roommate knew that he was done for, but he fought hard. Well, until the other guy put him into a hold so hard to get out of that his shoulder was pulled out of joint. Reading over, I took my defeated roommate to the hospital, and he was out of action for quite some time. Eventually he recovered, never to wrestle again, but he was ok. Not Jacob, who would live with the wound from the wrestling match forever.
People return from war like Jacob. They might not be limping because of an injury, but they are not the same as they were when they left. They saw things that no one should see, they were on alert for their lives 24/7 for years, they are wounded physically, spiritually, psychologically, or the word normal means something else in their new normal. But here is the thing, like God was not done with Jacob, and Jacob eventually went on to reconcile with Esau, so God is not done with our heroes who have returned. God is still with them, God has a plan for them, and the work that God has set out is still there. I have met, and greatly admired, many a vet who while they have returned wounded, realize that God is still working in their new reality, and are doing great things. It is my prayer that you will remember the story of Jacob. Yes, the wrestling was tough, as was the injury, but Jacob went on to do great things. And with God, all of you, wounded or not, will do great things as well.