Have you ever cried out to God for a breakthrough in an area of your life? Maybe you want to see God heal a relationship, or move you on to the next season of your life. If you are in this place, I have encouragement for you. There isn’t a 3-step plan to get you to your breakthrough, but since we are always moving in some direction, it may help you focus your steps on the way.
If you’ve been reading this series of posts from my journey through unemployment, you know it’s been a process. Each month I’ve had to trust and lean into God in a new way. He revealed things to me along the way that brought healing, understanding and hope. I was laid off in March 2012, but by August I had entered into a new revelation about process. I learned to love the process after being told I didn’t get a job I really wanted.
I also learned that God loves process.
The Scriptures are filled with examples of how He takes people on a journey. If God didn’t love process, there wouldn’t be journeys. In one second a prayer is answered; you are healed, you meet your spouse, you have a new job. But once that prayer is answered, you offer up another, and the process begins again. Life if a series of processes strung together by promises.
So why love a process?
Process reveals our strengths.
It’s as if God takes a magnifying glass to our strengths so we can thank Him for showing us where we’ve grown and how we’ve overcome. Then those areas are ones in which we can encourage our brothers and sisters. There have been times I’ve seen growth in my life only because I was pressed and responded differently. No one was more surprised than me!
Process reveals our weaknesses.
Under the magnifying glass, we have a choice to make. What will we do about the things we didn’t know were there before? We can choose to thank God for showing us these areas of weakness. We must display our open and empty hands for Him to fill them with His power. A broken and contrite heart He will not despise. God hears our cries and shows compassion on us. We must humble ourselves so He can exalt us. I can see God smile when we thank Him for what He is doing in our lives—even when we can’t see the finished work. Plus it just makes the enemy mad because what he used to try to hurt us is just bringing more praise to God. Although hurting the enemy isn’t my motivation, it is empowering to strike back sometimes.
Process reveals our degree of intimacy with God.
Gold is refined under intense heat, and the process is necessary for the gold to be as beautiful as it was created to be. In the same way, you are in the process of being made into who God originally designed you to be. Because of the fall, we were separated from God. Because of Jesus, we have access to God. The time that lingers in seasons and between breakthroughs is a time for rejoicing, because it is in those times that the most beautiful things about you are being created. God is longing to talk to you about the desires of your heart. The process is an opportunity to pursue God’s presence and wait upon Him for revelation. I needed to slow down, and the process allowed me to see that God was wooing me.
Time for Breakthrough
So, I realize I haven’t directly answered the question about how to get a breakthrough. There are many great sermons that will tell you to pray, fast, repent, give financially, etc., to receive a breakthrough. All of those are great ways to get to the next level with your relationship with God. For instance, when you want to get to know God’s heart on something and sacrifice activity for prayer, you can’t help but go deeper with God. Depth with God always leads to more revelation than you had before. It can feel like a breakthrough in your heart, even if circumstances don’t change.
So, just receiving the process and acknowledging it is part of God’s plan is a breakthrough.
On one last note, I want to encourage you that when God delays something, it’s for a purpose. If you feel you’ve done everything to facilitate getting your breakthrough and it’s still not coming, then stand on God’s promises. Write out the verses God has encouraged you with on sticky notes and post them all over your house. Or write out the verses that you know are true about God’s promises for you. Believe His Word. Stand on His Word. Because His Word never fails.
I also want to shed light on a tactic of the enemy: He wants to tell you that your breakthrough isn’t coming because you didn’t pray enough, fast enough, repent enough or give enough. Those are lies! God would never say that to you, so it comes from the the pit of hell. We were not saved by works, and we don’t receive breakthrough because of works. I’m not saying go on sinning and expect a breakthrough. I’m saying when you’ve done everything you know to do, stand. The enemy wants to keep you from God by giving you reasons to accuse yourself and avoid God. He will whisper lies that cause you to accuse God. God is good and has great plans for you. We can make the process longer by being disobedient, but even in that God isn’t upset with you. He will get His work accomplished in you. You are His son/daughter, and He will stop at nothing to pursue you and help you fulfill your destiny.
Submit to the process … enjoy it while you are there.
In the process, I stopped pursuing goals and promises. I pursued God. And then I started to enjoy the steps along the way. Each day was an opportunity to learn more about the Father and what He thought about me. The process has become as fun as the fulfillment of promises.
Praise God for the process. Let Him remind you of the work He is doing in you. Declare His promises over you. Breakthrough is coming …
Beautiful post, Jill! Your words are so encouraging, and a great reminder of all God has brought me through… The process is definitely something to love, and I’ve seen God use it in my life in exactly these ways. Thanks for sharing your heart with us!
Michelle, you have no idea how it blesses my heart to know that what I’ve written blesses someone. Thank you for leaving a comment.
Loved this post! I’m trusting God for a breakthrough in my relationship with Him and your post helps me see how being in a ‘in-between’ phase is right where He’s refining me. I’m learning to not rely on my feelings but on Him and His Word. I’m learning that despite where I’m at or how far I feel from Him, He will never stop loving me. And that instead of focussing on my circumstances and feelings, I should focus on Him and His love for me. He’s the One who will keep the fire, or right now flame, burning 🙂
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. I love hearing the hope in your words for your “in-between” phase. It’s amazing how when we focus on Him, His power, His presence…all the emotions that don’t agree with God’s view fade away. I’m so proud of you for pressing in!
THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!
I am a nurse of 10 yrs with good references, a clear background. I’ve been continuously running into brick walls…..the circumstances that have been keeping unemployed have no rhyme or reason. I have gone from bewildered & baffled to angry & frustrated and back again. I kind of knew God wanted to take me in a new direction, uncharted territory even – but I’ve been resistant. BILLS HAVE TO BE PAID!!
I fine even know exactly how I came across this, but it has blessed & calmed me. I have bookmarked it, and will refer back to it often!
Chris, I’m always surprised when people find my blog too! I don’t do much to promote it so I think God really wanted you to know how much He loves you. I’m always grateful that my journey has helped others. Check back again and let me know what God does with your career. It’s gonna be awesome!
Sorry for all the typos. My phone kind of has a mind if it’s own.
I needed this post. You were a sweet find and gift today. Thank you !
Rhonda, I’m so glad it blessed you!
Hi Jill, thank you so much for this. Satan really attacks me in the area of you haven’t done____ enough and that’s why you don’t have your breakthrough. I’ve been wrapped up in a lot of blame, guilt, and shame topped off with feeling powerless since I’ve felt like I’ve done everything I can do. So thanks b/c God really spoke to me through you and gave me a lot of peace and encouragement that I can REST! Blessings! And I love your pic:)
I have been learning that God wants us to rest more…and the enemy keeps us from it so he can get us worn down and weak so he can attack. It goes to show that He knows the power that is within us!
Thank u sooo much for this truth .. there is always a pressure from the enemy on us for us to quit Gods way … but will will reap the harvest only if we don’t quit…
Amen! We have already won!
Amen …. Our God is a Good God……..
Jesus has already won the battle for us on the cross 2000 yrs back … 🙂 … Love your blog…
Thank you!
After reading this, I was reminded of something our Deacon said in his Homily last week. He said PUSH…..means…Pray Until Something Happens. Push is an action that moves us forward and through. To move forward PUSH…or Pray Until Something Happens. Seems I keep coming back to this lesson…PUSH, keeps being brought to my mind. I guess that means I need to do this
That’s a good word Stacy. Prayer is the perfect way to push through.
Thank you for the blog. Christ the king. He’s got more aces up his sleeves than ever dealt in a game of cards.
I am so grateful to have you here with so much encouragement from our lord Jesus Christ. May his name be praised. I thank you for sharing this encouraging massage. God bless you so much. Dan
Thank you for this post, Jill. I read this post and got encouragment to remind myself that God is preparing me for restoration and positioning me to recieve His breakthrough for my life. I pray that God increases your ministry, blesses your family in every area and increase your storehouse. In Jesus name, Amen.
Jill, God bless you. There is so much bad teaching given out about “getting your breakthrough” Thank you for your obedience to God in posting this.
Jill, Thank you. I am in a dire situation with my marriage. My husband is the “prodigal” and is way off in the world. I have a promise from God regarding him and days like today make it hard to hang on to anything, and certainly harder to see things restored. The pain is hard to get through and it clouds my thoughts. I was searching on the web for any sort of comfort, and I found your blog. Thank you for your encouragement. I would covet any prayers.. I am going through this alone, well not really, I have Him… but sometimes not having a person to sound off to or pray with or get verbal support is hard. Anyway, thank you.
Thank you for sharing your heart about your difficult season. I’m sorry my response is so delayed…I didn’t see it until now. I’m praying for you tonight. I pray your breakthrough is right around the corner and that your marriage is fully restored! May it be more joyful than ever.
I am so touched by your massages and i thank God for your life …… please pray for me .
Thank you for letting me know that my messages bless you. I don’t write often but I try to write when I’m inspired. 🙂 I WILL pray for you now.
Thank you for your post. I am going through a season right now and this give me hope
Dee, I’m so glad this post gave you hope. Be encouraged that God is with you and sees all things.
Please pray for me…I am oppressed with lots of anxiety….God bless
Marcus, I am praying for you now. May the anxiety leave you in Jesus name.
Thank you for sharing your journey and wisdom with us. I came upon your site in search for encouragement as I am going through a really tough time in my life with continual suicidal thoughts. I feel God-forsaken. The pain and struggle is simply too much. Thank you
I’m so sorry you are suffering in that way. I encourage you to find someone to talk to and pray with. You don’t need to go through this alone. The enemy wants you to feel isolated but God has a wonderful plan for your life in community. If you feel suicidal call the hotline at 1-800-273-8255.