I see a sea of women as far as the eye can see. They are shoulder to shoulder. You couldn’t wedge another person in between them. On their faces reside abuse, anguish, addiction, heartache, struggle, difficulty, immense pain, victimization, sexualization. They have been beaten down, depressed, tormented.

Their faces are lifted up with all they’ve been though evident and etched in their features. Their hands are reaching toward heaven. They are wailing, crying out for God to come and fix them.

The God of the universe is leaning forward, hands extended to them. He longs to gather them like a hen gathers its chicks, but there is a wall between them, a transparent force field.

I can tell that Father God is eager to help them. I feel His heart break for them. And yet, I don’t understand how this wall can continue to exist in the midst of the One who longs to help and those who are crying out for help.

So, I ask, Father God why is this wall here? And how can it be removed?

He says, “This wall is made of the combined decisions of those in pain that they will NEVER be set free.”

And then I see one small girl at the edge of the sea of women. She climbs on the shoulders of the woman nearest her and as she does the woman on whose shoulders she is standing focuses on the little girl’s need and forgets her own. She focuses on holding her ankles so she will not fall and steading her when she wobbles.

The little girl turns her face upwards arms and hands extended completely. On her face is a glow of radiance as she begins to see the Father poised on the edge of heaven reaching towards her. Soon others are climbing on shoulders. Those who are stronger are lifting them higher and higher until all of a sudden the wall that was like a force field of anxiety, breaks.

It breaks into raindrops of blessing that fall on the women. They begin shouting praises, instead of anxious thoughts. Glory hallelujahs can be heard throughout the group.

In places there are 10 women standing on the shoulders of other women. In some cases, the women are standing on the shoulder of two women for support and the group becomes an intertwined network. From the smallest to the largest, the women are lifted on the shoulders of others. As they are lifted, the entire group of women is electrified with blessings

It is in this army of women praising, singing, blessing, lifting each other to heaven that God enlarges Himself to cover them, engulf them all in His presence. And instantly they are silent and at peace. Healed. Whole. Happy. And they know. They feel it. They understand. They have been set free. Breakthrough has come.

As one crowd somehow they fall on their faces in gratitude. No longer clawing to get a blessing. No longer worried about what comes next. They are in His presence. And that is all that matters. This is the place of breakthrough. All that is required for it to be maintained is to stay in His presence.

Pain, anguish, addiction, despair, abuse, heartache, victimization, sexualization has to flee in the presence of those jointly yielded to an almighty God.

Who could you lift up today? On whose shoulders are you standing? Who is standing on yours? Are you a lone ranger or are you a part of an intertwined network that will take the universe for Christ by the fire and force of the Holy Spirit?

“Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, ‘How can I help?'” Romans 15:1-2 MSG

 is Teresa Shields Parker’s new group on living healthy through a total renovation of body, soul and spirit. Teresa chronicles her journey in the memoir, Sweet Grace, and the practical application workbook, Sweet Grace Study Guide. Also, get a free chapter of her memoir at Teresa Shields Parker.com. Connect with her there or on her Facebook page.

Teresa Shields Parker

Teresa Shields Parker is a Christian weight loss author, coach, podcaster, and speaker, who has lost 250 pounds and kept it off since 2013. Her books include: “Reconnecting Jayne: Her Sister’s Support,” “Rebuilding Jayne: Her Father’s Protection,”  “Sweet Grace: How I Lost 250 Pounds and Stopped Trying to Earn God’s Favor,” “Sweet Grace Study Guide,”  “Sweet Victory: Winning the Battle,” “Sweet Surrender: Breaking Strongholds,” “Sweet Journey to Transformation: Practical Steps to Lose Weight and Live Healthy”, “Sweet Freedom: Losing Weight and Keeping It Off With God’s Help,” “Sweet Freedom Study Guide,” “Sweet Change: True Stories of Transformation,” “Sweet Hunger: Developing an Appetite for God,” and “Sweet Excuses: Stop Lying to Yourself & Start Losing Weight.” She also offers Overcomers Christian Weight Loss Academy and VIP intensive coaching. Don’t miss her weekly podcast, Sweet Grace for Your Journey, where she shares tips from her personal journey of losing weight and discovering healthy living. Contact her at [email protected].