Shepastor: "Reaching For Your Breakthrough"

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. Mark 5: 25-34 NIV


We live in a "hurry up, get it now, get it fast" society. But life has a peculiar way of ignoring our technological and societal trends. Life will make you wait. At times, God will make you wait. Waiting is not easy. A lot of times waiting can be painful.

The woman in this text was waiting in pain. She not only had physical pain, but as an infirmed, no doubt husbandless, childless female, she had a great deal of emotional pain. Her condition made her an outcast. This woman, however, exhibited some things that can inform our way of thinking and behaving. She can teach us some things!

I'd like to suggest that this woman can teach us some things about reaching for our breakthrough.

Breaking through takes time: It took this woman 18 years to finally get her break through. We get upset if our answer, our deliverance, our healing doesn't happen immediately or soon after. Healing, deliverance, answers may take years to come - not always - but sometimes. Time does not determine breakthrough. Keep reaching until it comes. Understand that healing and deliverance can take different forms.

Breaking through takes determination: This woman was determined to get to Jesus. Even after spending everything she had, had gone to every doctor possible, had done everything she knew to do, had gotten worse, not better, she was still determined to keep reaching for her breakthrough. Have you quit too soon? Have you given up because of the difficulties you are facing on the way? Have you given up because things seem to be getting worse, not better? Has The Lord spoken to you in no uncertain terms and said, "STOP?" Or have you simply grown tired of reaching? Breaking through requires determination.

Breaking through takes ignoring 'haters:' This woman had to ignore those who said she had no right to press through and touch Jesus. She had every reason to stay back. But she made a conscious decision to ignore those who were critical of her pursuit. Not everyone will be excited about your victory pursuit. There are those who forsook their dreams, gave into the struggle, lost sight of their goals and are nervous that you just might break through. Misery loves company. Everyone will not rejoice with you. If you want a break through, there will be times when you have to ignore those who are not on board with your reach.

Breaking through takes humility and faith: This woman humbled herself and reached out in faith. She had to accept that people may look down upon her for literally crawling and reaching for Jesus' hem. When you desire a breakthrough it does not matter if people think you are crawling. You just want to reach Jesus! Faith encourages your heart to know that if you humble yourself in the sight of The Lord, He will lift you!

As we reach for our breakthrough, we must remember it takes time, determination, ignoring haters, humility and faith.

Post a comment or send me an email at shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance
Pastor Chris