The Lord of Breakthroughs

Have you ever felt like you were fighting the same battle over and over again? I certainly have! Whether it's my physical limitations from fibromyalgia or the spiritual heaviness that sometimes settles over Wales, there are days when I wonder if I'll ever see victory.

David knew that feeling all too well. In 2 Samuel 5, we find him facing a familiar foe in a familiar place. The Bible tells us, "But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David" (2 Samuel 5:17). The Philistines—again! And where did they set up camp? In the Valley of Rephaim, otherwise known as the Valley of Giants.

This wasn't David's first rodeo in this valley. The Philistines had a nasty habit of gathering there to attack Israel. Same enemy. Same battlefield. Different day.

I'm struck by what David did next. Instead of sighing heavily and thinking, "Here we go again," he "enquired of the Lord" (verse 19). And God answered with a resounding "Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand."

The result? Total victory! David declared, "The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters" (verse 20). He named that place Baal-perazim, which literally means "Lord of breakthroughs."

Isn't that beautiful? In the very place where battles seemed endless and enemies refused to stay defeated, God revealed Himself as the Lord of breakthroughs!

Perhaps you're standing in your own Valley of Giants today. Maybe it's a health issue that won't resolve, a relationship that keeps fracturing, or a temptation that continually resurfaces. The enemy keeps showing up, and you're exhausted from fighting the same battle.

Friend, take heart from David's example. Before charging into battle, he sought the Lord's direction. He didn't assume that because he'd fought this enemy before, he already knew the strategy. Each time, he asked afresh and trusted anew.

You may feel stuck in an endless cycle of helplessness and hopelessness, but our God specializes in breakthroughs! He doesn't just help us manage our recurring problems. He breaks through them like a powerful flood demolishing a dam.

What valley are you facing today? What battle seems endless? Remember that you serve Baal-perazim, the Lord of breakthroughs. He can shatter strongholds that have held firm for years. He can break chains that seem unbreakable. He can flood your situation with His power and presence. The next time the Philistines came back to that same valley, God gave David a completely different battle plan (2 Samuel 5:22-25). Sometimes our breakthrough comes through unexpected means. The key is to keep seeking Him, keep trusting Him, and keep believing that breakthrough is possible.

After all, it's not just what God does. It's who He is. He is the Lord of breakthroughs!