What to do when you are Expecting a Breakthrough but not Seeing It.

Recently, my family was in the middle of expecting a breakthrough. Two of our three children had whooping cough for several weeks. We did everything we knew to do, and still weren’t seeing breakthrough. It was not an easy time for us. We weren’t sleeping much and were on the verge several times of rushing to the E.R.

We were expecting a breakthrough we weren’t seeing.

We’ve all been here at one time or another, and have probably had the question enter our minds, “What do I do when the breakthrough I’m expecting isn’t happening?”

Disappointment comes quickly in times like these, so we need to know how to navigate it well.

When John the Baptist was in prison (Mat 11), we get a hint that he was in this place. He sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the one to come, or should they look for another. Not being set free from prison was causing him not only disappointment, but he’d already moved into doubt about who Jesus was.

This is where we end up if we don’t handle well the times we aren’t seeing a breakthrough.

Jesus told John’s disciples to go tell him what Jesus was doing. He redirected John’s attention from what wasn’t happening to what He was doing. By redirecting John’s attention, Jesus was protecting him from what can comes next.

Jesus finished with, “Blessed is he who is not offended because of me.”

If we don’t navigate disappointment well, we can move into doubt, then into offense with God.  

Paying attention to what God is doing is the key to not going there.

When we are expecting a breakthrough and aren’t seeing it, when need to make sure we are seeing the other things God is doing in our lives. We need to make sure not seeing a certain breakthrough doesn’t consume our attention.

If you are in this place right now, feeling disappointed, or even doubting, maybe even offended; I’d challenge you to begin to look for what God is doing. It will reverse your direction in a moment. It reminds you He is present, He cares, He is working in your life. It reminds you who He is.