Break Out!: 5 Keys to Go Beyond Your Barriers and Live an Extraordinary Life (21 page)

The little boy said, “I know that, Dad. But right now I’m looking at this bully. And when I look at him this way it makes him so small that I’m not afraid of him anymore.”

You may need to turn the telescope around. You’ve magnified that problem long enough, you’ve thought about how impossible it is, and how it’s never going to work out. But if you’ll turn it around you’ll see it from
the right perspective; you’ll realize it’s nothing for God. All He has to do is breathe in your direction.

First Corinthians 15 says, “God has put all things under our feet.” You need to see every obstacle, every sickness, every temptation, and every bad habit as being under your feet. It’s no match for you. It’s not permanent. It won’t keep you from your destiny. It’s already defeated, and it’s just a matter of time before you walk it out.

That addiction won’t dog you your whole life. It’s under your feet. That depression in your family for so many years won’t be passed to the next generation. It’s under your feet. You’re putting a stop to it.

That struggle, lack, barely getting by, is not permanent. It won’t keep you from being blessed. It’s under your feet. It’s just a matter of time before you break through to a new level.

You need to shake off the lies that are telling you: “It’s too big, I’ve had it too long, and it’s never changing.” This is a new day. God is saying, no enemy, no injustice, and no obstacle will defeat you. They will promote you, instead. Your challenge wasn’t meant to be a stumbling block to take you down, but God is using it as a stepping-stone to take you higher. Keep the right perspective. It’s under your feet.

David said in Psalm 59, “I will look down in triumph on all of my enemies.” Notice he doesn’t say “
some
of my enemies,” but “
all
of my enemies.” What am I going to do? “Look down in triumph.” Why am I looking down? “Because they’re under my feet.”

You may be facing obstacles that don’t feel like they’re under your feet; that sickness seems big, that financial problem looks impossible, or maybe you’ve had the addiction for years. But you can’t go by what you see. You should go by what you know.

We walk by faith and not by sight. In the natural it may feel huge, but when you talk to that enemy as an act of faith, you need to do as David did and look down. It’s under your feet.

When you talk to that sickness, that depression, that fear, look down. I’ve heard that if you want to say something to the enemy, write it on the bottom of your shoe, because he’s under your feet.

Sometimes when there’s a big boxing match, the two fighters will come out a day before at a press conference. They’ll stand toe to toe, with their
faces just two or three inches apart. They’ll look at each other in the eye, staring, each trying to intimidate the other. They’re saying, “I’m tougher, stronger, bigger, meaner. You’re not going to defeat me.”

When you face an enemy, something’s trying to keep you from your destiny—a sickness, a bad habit, an unfair situation—unlike these two fighters, you don’t stand toe to toe to look that enemy in the eye. That enemy is not at your level. It may have a big bark. It may seem larger, and tougher, like you’ll never defeat it. But the truth is, it’s no match for you.

For you to look it in the eye, you need to look down under your feet. You are more than a conqueror. If God be for you who dare be against you? The enemy has limited power, but our God has all power. He said greater is He that’s in you than he that comes against you.

Now quit telling yourself, “I’ll never get out of debt, never lose this weight, I’ll always struggle in this area.” Change your perspective. You are not weak, defeated, or inferior. You are full of can-do power. The same spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in you. You’ve got to start putting some things under your feet.

God said, “I’ve given you power to tread on all the power of the enemy.” Notice that word
tread
. It has to do with a shoe. One translation says it means “to trample.” If you’ll start seeing those enemies as under your feet, as already defeated, then you’ll rise up with a new boldness and your faith will activate God’s power in a new way.

Isaiah said, “No weapon formed against you will prosper.” It doesn’t say that you won’t have difficulties. That’s not realistic. It says challenges will come, people will talk, you may get a negative medical report, or a family member may get off course. God said the problem may form, but you can stay in peace knowing that it won’t prosper against you. That means it won’t keep you from your destiny. Because you belong to Him, and because you dwell in the secret place, God has put a hedge of protection around you, a hedge of mercy, a hedge of favor that the enemy cannot cross.

No person, no sickness, no trouble, no bad break, no disability, can stop God’s plan for your life. All the forces of darkness cannot keep you from your destiny. When you’re in difficulties and you’re tempted to be upset, you need to remind yourself, “This problem may have formed, but
I have a promise from almighty God that it’s not going to prosper. They may be talking about me, trying to make me look bad. But I know God is my vindicator. He’ll take care of them. My child may be running with the wrong crowd but it’s not permanent, it’s temporary. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. The medical report may not look good, but I know God made my body, He has me in the palm of His hand and nothing can snatch me away.”

I read an article about scientists researching Alzheimer’s disease. They studied the brains of those who had died with the disease and compared them to the brains of those who died without it. They found that many people had lesions on their brains that technically qualified them for having Alzheimer’s, but the interesting thing was that when they were alive they showed no signs of Alzheimer’s. Scientifically they had it, but the symptoms never showed up. Their minds were sharp. Their memories were excellent.

The common denominator was that these people were positive and hopeful, and they stayed productive. Isaiah said just because the problem formed doesn’t mean it has to prosper. We may have things that come against us because of our genetics, things that were passed down, but the good news is God can override it. God has the final say.

That’s what happened with Ramiro. He was born with no ears. The doctors told his parents he would never be able to hear, and never be able to speak. The problem had formed. In the natural it didn’t look good, but we serve a supernatural God.

Ramiro had parents who believed his disability didn’t have to prosper. They didn’t sit around in self-pity thinking, “Poor old us.” They knew they were armed with strength for the battle. They knew God put it under their feet. They just kept praying, believing, and speaking faith.

When Ramiro was a few months old, the doctors noticed that even though he didn’t have ears, parts of his eardrums had formed. These incredibly gifted doctors performed a surgery to create ears for him and correct the problem. He got a little better, had more surgeries, and improved even more.

Today, Ramiro can not only hear and speak, he can also sing. He leads worship for our young adults, and he appeared on
American Idol
singing “Amazing Grace” in front of millions of people.

Whatever you’re facing, it’s under your feet. It’s not permanent, it’s temporary. The power that is for you is greater than any power that will be against you. Keep the right perspective. Turn that telescope around. Don’t focus on the size of the problem; focus on the size of your God. He’s brought you through in the past, and He will bring you through in the future. The problem may have formed, but it will not prosper. I speak strength into you. I speak healing, determination, new vision, favor, wisdom, courage. I declare you will not be intimidated. You are strong, confident, and well able. This is a new day. The tide of the battle is beginning to turn. You will not be overcome. You will be the overcomer. You will not be the victim; you are the victor. God will not only bring you out, He will bring you out better off than you were before!

I
t’s easy to have a good attitude and pursue your dreams as long as everything is going your way. That doesn’t take a lot of faith. But what about the difficult times when a relationship doesn’t work out, you get a bad health report, or a friend does you wrong?

It’s easy to lose your passion when you are hurting. Many people are sitting on the sidelines of life because they’re injured. They are nursing their wounds, and not moving forward because of what they’ve been through.

You may have a
reason
to feel sorry for yourself, but you don’t have a
right
. God promised to give you beauty for those ashes. He said He would pay you back double for the wrongs, but you have to do your part. If you are to see the beauty, if you’re to get double, you have to shake off your self-pity.

Shake off the discouragement and get back in the game. We all have wounds, but you can’t let a loss, a health issue, or a divorce be your excuse to sit on the sidelines. Sometimes in life you have to play in pain.

This thought struck me while I was watching a football game in which one of the best players had a broken hand and bruised ribs. He was a big offensive lineman. He wasn’t expected to play. The trainers wanted him to sit out, but he wasn’t about to miss the game. He had a big cast on his arm and he was wearing a special vest to protect his ribs. He was so bandaged up he looked like a mummy.

A reporter asked him how he felt: “It’s a little painful, but I’d rather be in the game in pain than sitting on the sidelines watching.”

If you are to become all God created you to be, you can’t let an injury, hurt, or disappointment cause you to sit on the sidelines, either. Be like that banged-up lineman. Bandage what’s hurting. Forgive the person who did you wrong. Let go of what didn’t work out and get back in the game.

I met a lady I hadn’t seen in a long time in our church lobby. She’s an older woman, very faithful, attends our services regularly. I said in passing, “I haven’t seen you lately. Where have you been?”

She said, “Joel, I had to have emergency surgery. I’ve been in the hospital for three months.”

“Wow! We’re so glad to have you back,” I said. “How are you doing?”

For as long as I live I will never forget her words.

She said, “I’m hurting, but I’m here.”

That’s the kind of people God rewards. Faithful people. People who are determined. People who get knocked down, but don’t stay down. Instead, they get back up again. You can’t let the hurt, the pain, or the bad break cause you to be bitter, or to lose your passion, or to start blaming God. Like this lady from our church, you need to stay in the game.

No matter what life deals your way, your attitude should be: “I’m hurting but I’m still here. A friend did me wrong but I’m still here. Business is slow but I’m still here. I didn’t feel like coming but I’m still here.”

You need to make up your mind to stay in the game. You can’t just be faithful only as long as you feel perfectly well, as long as everybody treats you right, or as long as it’s sunny and cool outside. You have to be like this lady with a made-up mind.

“I’m hurting, but I’m still coming.”

“My boss did me wrong, but I’m still getting to work on time, being my best.”

“My child won’t speak to me. It’s breaking my heart. I’m in pain but I’m still singing in the choir. I’m still ushering each week. I’m still being good to a friend in need. I’ve still got a smile. I’m still giving God praise.”

Anybody can sit on the sidelines. Anybody can find an excuse to be sour, to drop out, or to give up on life. I’m asking you to stay in the game. When you’re hurting and in pain, it’s easy to become fixated on your hurt,
your disappointments, or your bad breaks. All that will do is bring more discouragement, more self-pity, eventually even depression.

One of the best things you can do when you’re hurting is go out and help somebody else who is hurting. Get your mind off your problems and pain by helping somebody else in need. When you help others in your time of need, you are sowing a seed God can use to change your situation.

This was what my mother did in 1981, when she was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. She was given a few weeks to live. She didn’t feel well. She had a good reason to be discouraged. She could have gone home, pulled the curtains, and been depressed.

She could have sat on the sidelines. Nobody would have faulted her. But my mother understood this principle. She stayed in the game. She would drive across town to pray for a sick friend. The truth is she needed prayer more than that friend, but my mother was sowing a seed. She would come to church every weekend and pray for other people in need. She was hurting, but she was still in the game.

God has a greater reward for people who are faithful in the tough times. Years ago my sister Lisa went through an unwanted divorce. She was in her early twenties. She was so devastated. It was an unfair situation. For weeks she was so depressed that she wouldn’t leave the house. Most of the time, she wouldn’t even come out of her room. In the morning, she couldn’t wait for it to get dark. At nighttime, she couldn’t wait for the morning. She wasn’t living, just existing.

One day she called my father and she was crying. She said, “Daddy, I think I’m having a nervous breakdown.” She was in so much pain. She was overwhelmed.

Our family tried to cheer her up. We tried to encourage her, but we couldn’t get her out of that deep hole of depression. A minister friend, T. L. Osborn, called Lisa and said, “Nobody can bring you out of this except you. You know I love you, Lisa, but you’ve got to quit feeling sorry for yourself. Quit nursing your wounds. Quit thinking about your problem. Get out of the house and move forward with your life.”

Lisa was defensive at first, almost offended. She was thinking, “You don’t know the pain that I’m feeling. You don’t know what I’m going through. This has ruined my life.”

“Lisa, if you’ll move forward,” he said, “God will take your scars and turn them into stars for His glory.”