Breakthrough

I joined a new fitness center over 13 months ago, but I'm not one bit stronger. I guess I should actually try going soon.

Sometimes our motto can be "no pain, no pain,"  or “If I get the urge to exercise, I lie down till it passes.” But without the strain, without the discomfort, without pushing against some form of resistance, we won’t build the strength we need.

We can hope that forklifting (lifting the fork to our mouths) will be enough exercise, but it’s not that easy—even in nature.

When an eagle chick is ready to hatch, God equips it with a tiny, temporary egg tooth — a small, sharp point at the top of its beak. With it, the chick pecks away at the shell repeatedly until it finally breaks through.

The hatching process looks exhausting. The chick seems trapped, straining in darkness, pounding against a wall that doesn’t seem to budge. But what’s happening is vital.

If someone breaks the shell too soon, the chick won’t have developed the neck muscles and lung capacity to survive outside the shell.

The battle for breakthrough actually builds the strength to thrive on the other side of the struggles.

We often feel like the eagle chick — hemmed in, pressed on every side, wondering if we’ll ever break through. Yet the Holy Spirit keeps whispering:

Keep pecking. Keep believing. Keep praising. Your breakthrough is coming.

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Pushback Precedes Progress

When we’re sitting on the couch with the remote in hand, we’re no danger to the kingdom of darkness. But the moment we get up, pray, give, serve, or step into purpose — pushback begins.

If you’re being threatened by the enemy, it’s because you’re a threat. The closer we get to victory, the more resistance we’ll feel.

I’ve seen this vision multiple times: a missile-shaped steel rod pushing through a rubber sheath. At first, it stretches easily, but the closer it gets to a breakthrough, the tighter the pressure.

And then — snap! — the breakthrough bursts forth.

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How to Battle for a Breakthrough

• Worship

Worship moves heaven and earth. Paul and Silas delivered a slave girl from a demonic spirit and got thrown into prison for it. Bound in chains, bruised, and beaten, they could’ve given up. But instead, they battled for breakthrough the way every believer can:

“Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God… Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!” (Acts 16:25-26)

God shook the ground, opened the prison doors, and set them free. But the miracle didn’t stop there — their breakthrough brought freedom to everyone around them, even salvation to the jailer’s family. When we worship, strongholds shake and chains break. 

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• Wait 

Waiting leads to soaring past obstacles.  As you wait on the Lord, you aren’t just passing time; you’re gaining unseen muscle, expanding your capacity, and preparing for flight. Your “waiting season” isn’t a waste of time; it’s training for the lift.

“But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles.” (Isaiah 40:31) MSG

Waiting isn’t passive; it’s actively pursuing God first.

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• Fast and Pray

In warfare, strongholds don’t yield to casual requests—they bow to disciplined assault. Faith with focus breaks through.

“This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:21)

This scripture has a double meaning. Breakthrough from prayer and fasting dismantles both this kind of demonic oppression and this kind of unbelief in the Disciples.     

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• Declare

Our words carry power: they either create breakthroughs or reinforce barriers to victory. Mountains of disappointments, setbacks, financial trials, health issues, and relational struggles move when we speak to them in full faith, belief, and trust in God.

“If you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and cast into the sea,’ and do not doubt in your heart…it will be done.” (Mark 11:23)

As battles intensify for breakthrough in our family, finances, health, and country, we can come into alignment with God, who declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10) and calls things that are not as though they were. (Romans 4:17)

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Breakthrough rarely comes without a battle. But remember — the intensified resistance means we’re close. 

Let’s keep pecking. Keep pushing. Keep praising. Because the biggest battle really is just before the breakthrough.

So as we approach our breakthrough, let’s gather in faith to worship, pray, wait on the Lord, and declare the victory. 

“And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9 KJV)