Have you ever heard the phrase, “Into each life some rain must fall”? This means that everyone faces trials and troubles from time to time. But maybe lately you have been saying, “When it rains, it pours!” feeling that your troubles have come in doubles. Don’t worry, you are not the only one who has felt that way. Some of God’s best saints have struggled against compounded woes as well.

When King Saul was hunting for David to kill him, that was bad enough. But where did David flee to? To Israel’s sworn enemies, the Philistines, right? He had to feign friendship with his adversary, King Achish, who believed that David was completely loyal to him. “And Achish said to David, ‘Therefore I will make you one of my chief guardians forever.‘” (1 Samuel 28:2) Now David was in what we call a ‘sticky wicket’, a situation that was treacherous from both the front and back sides.

But one day later, after Saul was killed by the Philistines, David was anointed king over all Israel. Suddenly the tables were turned. 2 Samuel 5:17 says,

“Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold.”

At first, David reacted like he had with Saul–he ran to his stronghold. I imagine David was sick and tired of always having to run and hide. He needed a breakthrough. He couldn’t reign as king as long as he was always running from his enemy (who had also been his friend).

Some of us have very familiar enemies we have been running and hiding from for far too long. Maybe it is a bad habit or a grudge that you have allied yourself with for years. Maybe it is an irritating little fear or guilt from your past that keeps rearing up and slapping you in the face. Maybe it is a negative attitude or even laziness that you have a hard time getting away from. Whatever your contender looks like, these enemies can be relentless and will continue creeping back up on you when you are busy or distracted or tired. Do you need a breakthrough to get rid of your pursuers once and for all?

David looked to the Lord God and asked what he should do. The Lord told David to get out of his fortress and go face his enemy head on. And it took David more than one attempt to push the Philistines back. The first time, David faced them directly and sent them retreating into the hills. But they were not deterred and crept back to haunt David again at the very same place. The second time, he had to change his strategy of approach and circle around to attack them from behind. This caught the Philistines off guard and they fled in every direction to get back to their territory. He finally got his breakthrough because the Lord helped him, sending heavenly angelic troops marching into the battle ahead of David’s army. That day, God changed him from the prey to the pursuer. David 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 [Master of Breakthroughs].  (2 Samuel 5:20)

God knows the enemy you are facing and has promised to stand with you in your fight and help you breakthrough from prey to pursuer. Have you been charging at this longtime foe again and again, but it keeps creeping right back up to taunt you? Maybe it is time to change up your approach and attack your adversary from behind, sending it packing for good. And the Lord will not leave you to fight on your own. He will send you help from on high to combat your opposition. Isaiah 59:19 says,

“When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will raise up a standard against him.”

This means God will go on the offensive for His child, not only acting as a dam or shield before you to block the gushing onslaught of your attacker, but also sending your enemy in every direction in retreat.  Are you sick and tired of your habit or grudge or fear or guilt (etc.) always sneaking up behind you and tapping you on your shoulder? It’s time get out of your stronghold and face this foe head on and say, “Enough!” Look to your Heavenly Father for wisdom and ask Him what you should do. Then just watch God come against your familiar foe like a dam breaking.

Don’t be discouraged! With God’s help, you can do this! God is on your side, and He is your Master of Breakthroughs. He is ready, willing and able to address whatever you are facing today.

I pray you will finally get the victory you need over whatever problems you are facing. Don’t give up. Don’t feel like prey. Step out of your stronghold (hiding place) and be a tenacious pursuer! God loves you and is holding His standard high over you!

 

–dmrf