"While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astonished at the majesty of God."
Luke 19:42–43, ESV
Have you ever experienced praying for a breakthrough only to watch your situation go from bad to worse before God comes through miraculously? You most likely have, and it's most often what happens when we experience a miracle.
There are two prerequisites to a great miracle: The undeniable power of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ and a difficult circumstance that cannot be overcome on our own. Many times God brings us through situations that seem to go from bad to worse as His way of sifting out the trust of the self and allowing only the trust of God to take over.
That's what most likely happened as a desperate father brought his demon-afflicted child to Jesus Christ. Jesus came back down from a great moment of transfiguration to find that some of disciples were asked to liberate a young boy from a demon but were unable to do so. As Jesus summoned the boy to be set free, the unimaginable happened.
Luke 19:42a tells us, "While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him" (ESV). You can just imagine the look on people's faces, seeing as how when the boy approached Him, the convulsions seemed to get worse and worse. Have you ever found yourself in the same situation? You probably have a sickness, a certain lack or a relational dysfunction to restore, but the more you approach Christ, the bigger the convulsions and attacks become.
The same way a plane shakes intensely when it's about to hit the speed of sound, life shakes terribly when we're about to receive our miracle. This shaking is the opposition in this world that doesn't want you to receive your breakthrough. John 10:10 tells us, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (ESV).
In all we do there is a thief—the devil—who wants you to stay stuck, and he's going to give you the fight of a lifetime. And as discouraging as it may be when those shakings and trials come, we can stand firm knowing that the shaking comes only because the enemy is desperate; he knows he's about to lose and he tries to do everything in his power to escape unscathed.
Just like that demon who knew Jesus was going to overcome, you may have a trying spirit now that doesn't want you debt-free, forgiven, transformed, renewed or restored. But in the end, we serve a God who has overcome the world, and before you know it, your miracle comes and breakthrough happens. Intense shaking comes as a sign, showing us that the victory is already at hand in the name of Jesus Christ—so much so that everyone will only stand astonished at the majesty of God.
