Breaking Through

My son walks in the door last night and quietly states to me that, in over time, with the game tied, he scored the winning goal. Then he grins at me. We all whoop and holler and dance around. It wasn't just a breakthrough for him- it was one for all of us.

Yesterday was a day that I thought was going to be all sedate and quiet, and instead it was a day of breakthroughs- of all kinds. The winning goal he scored was not the breakthrough- it was the fact of the opportunity our son had to play in the game and get a chance to "be strong and do exploits".

"...but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." Daniel 11:32

The opportunity to make a breakthrough, to prevail, is like no other. Nothing energizes you so much as the chance to display your stored up strength and take action- and strike while the iron is hot!

"By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action." Daniel 11:32NASV

Like my son, many of us have been lifting weights, quietly pursuing strength and fitness for the fight- and have not yet been given a chance to enter the ring and duke it out. But you will. I am sure of that.

In the last couple weeks, through many "toils and snares"- of the most mundane type- we have been getting prepared for the chance to strike when there is an opportunity. We have been messing up, but still holding on to hope. We have gotten a chance to pray for others- when we were asked- and we were ready to pray, ready to pour out our hearts to God on behalf of some so hurting they could not voice a word. We have been practically planning for ways to survive financially yet at the same time not abandoning our dreams, and the call of God on our lives.

On Friday I had run into an old acquaintance, a realtor from the office I used to work at, years ago, and she invited me to come back to work and help manage a site, work with buyers (the few there are), and make a little money. I thanked her for the offer and said I would think about it. And over the weekend I did. I've been there, done that- I thought. I told my husband what was offered to me,but he also agreed that an offer to return to the past is no offer at all (as well meaning as it was).

Neither of us want to return to jobs and places where we "worked" but did not "succeed". Neither of us wants to labor, and NOT be satisfied. Neither of us wanted our son to play and play (or not get played, as often happened) and never get a chance to score. Neither of us want our daughter to grow up thinking that life is more about frustration than it is about creativity unleashed and dreams that are lived out.

And in the midst of this holding out for hope- for the chance to break through in areas where we've been held back- there have been some small, increasing miracles, opportunities, signs that God is with us. Signs that others might not notice, but we can see them and they're meaningful. Signs that the winds of change are coming (this was the mini message my husband shared with the men's fellowship Monday night).

If you've been in a storm, and it's been a long time since you've seen dry land, hold out for the winds to change direction. Hold out for your future- and forget returning to the past- because you've done that before.

All that strength and power to prevail God has been putting in you-
you'll get a chance to...break through.