Breakthrough: Pressure Births Promise

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:3-5 KJV)

Throughout the journey to the promise, you will experience tribulation. Tribulation is almost as unavoidable as the journey and it is just as necessary.

Tribulation

Greek Word: thlipsis

Meaning: a pressing or pressure

You will experience situations that put you under pressure, not stress. Stress is your emotional response to pressure. {That was a random sidebar} You must understand that there are many things in the natural that are created under pressure/high temperature (muscle, diamonds to name a few). Your breakthrough is no different.

The above scripture tells us that pressure (tribulation) produces the following:

Patience

Experience

Hope

These three areas, created under pressure, work together to prepare you for breakthrough.

That sounds good. But what does it mean?

Let’s evaluate these three areas further to get a fuller understanding:

Patience

Greek Word: hupomoné

Meaning: remaining under, endurance; steadfastness, especially as God enables the believer to endure the challenges He allots in life; cheerful or hopeful endurance; comes from a word meaning to stay under/remain, have fortitude

The pressure you are experiencing {or may will experience} will teach you how to find contentment in all situations. We must come to realize that happiness is a state of mind; it is a choice. Your emotions can no longer be driven by what is physical. As long as you are controlled by emotion, you will delay your breakthrough.

In an earlier post, I suggested you read the story of Joseph (Genesis 37, 39-41). Joseph endured many uncomfortable situations, but not once does he complain. He was content and recognized that all things were working for his good.

Experience

Greek Word: dokimé

Meaning: Proof, approved character, proof of genuineness, a brand of what is tested and true; comes from a word meaning to think, refers to subjective mental estimate or opinion of something

Once you have found contentment and are waiting cheerfully on the Lord, the focus moves to your mind.

I did several posts on the mind, so I won’t go too deep into this. But at this point, you must begin to address your thoughts.

Ask yourself the following questions:

What am I thinking? and does it align with God’s Word? If you are having thoughts that are not true, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and/or praiseworthy, then you need to renew your mind in God’s Word. Find scriptures that refute those thoughts and utilize them in prayer.

Hope

Greek Word: Elpis

Meaning: expectation of what is sure, confidence, faith

Once you have learned contentment in all situations, adjusted your character and mind, the focus will turn to your faith. This is something else I have written extensively on so I will keep this brief as well.

Your faith was given to you by God (Romans 12:1) and the pressure you are under will teach how to utilize your faith and show you that faith produces results.

For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. (Romans 8:24, 25 NKJV)

The pressure you are experiencing is helping you grow and propelling you forward. Do not let the enemy place you in bondage using what the Lord has intended for victory. When a woman is giving birth, she experiences pressure before and during. That pressure is a sign that the baby is coming. Likewise, the pressure is a sign that your breakthrough is coming. Push!

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