For Your Breakthrough, Get Ready to Do Something That Doesn’t Make Sense

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On Dec. 31, as I was on my back porch having a cup of coffee and a devotional time, I said, “God, I need a breakthrough.” I was feeling the weight of a world, from the daily news to friends who are suffering and more. I was really saying, “God, we need a breakthrough,” corporately.

I thought of the Baal Perazim of 2 Samuel 5:20 and meditated upon my need to hold on to the promises of God if I’m going to possess the Land of Promise. I have to remember where God brought me from and what He promised me. It is important to remember the promise, as we live through the process, so we can possess the Land of Promise.

Steps of Faith

In 2 Samuel 5, David needed a breakthrough. To see it come to pass, he had to demonstrate faith.


“And David inquired of the Lord saying, ‘Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hand?’ And the Lord said to David, ‘Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand'” (2 Sam. 5:19).

In other words, God is saying, “Go for it. Take that step.”

“So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, ‘The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.’ Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim” (2 Sam. 5:20).

David placed his faith in Baal Perazim, the Master of Breakthrough, and won a great victory.


Without faith, it’s impossible to please God. Before Abram became Abraham, he was called by God to “go.” Leaving his comfort zone, Abram took that step of faith, then another step and then another step. And as he began to take those steps, God went before him, changed his name and made a remarkable promise that Abraham would be a father of nations!

Psalm 73

How many of us look at the world and said, “God, these people don’t even love you? They’re living in arrogance and pride and sin, but they seem to prosper; they seem to be blessed. I’m trying to serve You, so why am I struggling?” We all have those questions, sometimes, don’t we?

This is what Asaph is thinking in Psalm 73, as he talks with God about all these things He doesn’t understand.


“Behold, these are they ungodly who are always at ease; they increase in riches. Surely, I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands and innocence” (vv. 12-13).

He goes back and forth, bantering in his own thoughts, until finally he answers his own questions:

“When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me—until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end” (vv. 16-17).

“Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You hold me by your right hand. You will guide me with your counsel, And afterward receive me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? There is none upon the earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (vv. 23-26).


Then finally, in verse 28, he says, “But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have my trust in God, that I may declare all your works.”

He came back to his senses, to the reality of the presence of God, which is continually with us.

Like David, my heart has been grieving over all the things I see going on in the world. At the same time, I know if we get into God’s presence and hold on to what He has promised, He will accomplish it. It’s no longer time to dwell on circumstances or the giants or the obstacles. We are God’s people, and He has called us to take a step of faith.

New Season, New Land


To possess the land, we must move beyond just looking across the river. It’s not time to talk about crossing. It’s time to possess the promises of God—it’s time to possess the land!

At the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020, I began to share that I believed we were entering into a new season, a new era, not just a new year. There is no doubt we entered a new season in 2020! Things have changed, like after 9/11. Life never will be the same. The world changed. The global pandemic, political divisiveness, racial tensions, wars and rumors of wars—it’s like Luke 21 is coming alive. But we’re given a promise in Luke 21:13 when Jesus says, “It will be an occasion for your testimony.” In the midst of the most difficult of times, there is the redemptive value of the testimony of God.

In this new season, it is important to walk in discernment and wisdom. God has laid important spiritual foundations, and we have seen increasing expansion in the kingdom of God in recent years. But we have also experienced challenges by the enemy. It’s important for us to be ready to give witness to what God can do, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

We have needed new wineskins because of the new wine God is giving. Church looks different. We’ve had to hear from God and adjust. We’ve seen more people respond to the gospel in ways they’ve never responded before. I believe that’s because we’re in a season of harvest!


If we fixate on everything going on in the world, it can be very overwhelming and perplexing. But I believe there’s a redemptive side to the world’s problems, and the only way to redeem what’s in the world is for the church to recognize the authority God has given us. We are called for a time such as this and we need to break through.

But God is about to do what only He can do. After all, He is the Master of Breakthroughs!

For the rest of this article, visit dougstringer.com. {eoa}

Doug Stringer is the founder of Somebody Cares America and Somebody Cares International, with chapters, centers, partners, affiliate ministries, and a global coalition and network of organizations and churches impacting communities through prayer initiatives, compassion outreaches, training and responding in times of crisis, as well as encouraging and equipping leaders globally.


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