You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed ¹  in your struggle against sin.

But the children struggled ¹  inside her, and she said, “If it is going to be like this, I’m not so sure I want to be pregnant!” ²  So she asked the Lord, ³ 

In the womb he attacked his brother; in his manly vigor he struggled ¹  with God.

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, ¹  and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face. ² 

Then Rachel said, “I have fought a desperate struggle with my sister, but I have won.” ¹  So she named him Naphtali. ² 

since you are encountering ¹  the same conflict that you saw me face and now hear that I am facing. ² 

Toward this goal ¹  I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully ²  works in me.

But remember the former days when you endured a harsh conflict of suffering after you were enlightened.

For they suffer no pain; ¹  their bodies ²  are strong and well-fed. ³ 

For our struggle ¹  is not against flesh and blood, ²  but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, ³  against the spiritual forces ⁴  of evil in the heavens. ⁵ 

“No longer will your name be Jacob,” the man told him, ¹  “but Israel, ²  because you have fought ³  with God and with men and have prevailed.”

Jephthah said to them, “My people and I were entangled in controversy with the Ammonites. ¹  I asked for your help, but you did not deliver me from their power. ² 

He struggled ¹  with an angel and prevailed; he wept and begged for his favor. He found God ²  at Bethel, ³  and there he spoke with him! ⁴ 

Yes, I say also to you, true companion, ¹  help them. They have struggled together in the gospel ministry ²  along with me and Clement and my other coworkers, whose names are in the book of life.

If I am guilty, ¹  why then ²  weary myself ³  in vain? ⁴ 

She ¹  was pregnant and was screaming in labor pains, struggling ²  to give birth.

“Does not humanity have hard service ¹  on earth? Are not their days also like the days of a hired man? ² 

If a man dies, will he live again? ¹  All the days of my hard service ²  I will wait ³  until my release comes. ⁴ 

Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, ¹  through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to join fervently with me in prayer to God on my behalf.

In fact this is why ¹  we work hard and struggle, ²  because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, ³  especially of believers.