How to Break Out After the Pandemic

“Some of you feel like you’re just been thrown away and put into prison and God has thrown away the key.  But the Lord says ‘I have not forgotten you. I have not forsaken you. The doors of the prison-house are going to come open.” -Cindy Jacobs, 8 October 1998.

I had long since left the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), but I thought about Cindy’s words. I was alone in an apartment on a temporary assignment for 90 days in the DC-area.  It was the fall of 2014. I felt like I was in a prison and God had thrown away the key.  Ever felt like that? 

There are all kinds of “prisons.”  As for me, my job back home had become a prison.  The job was interesting at first but after nine years it had become stale.  I was very frustrated.  I could not stomach the idea of returning to that role in 90 days, but I didn’t see a way out. 

My heart was crying out so loudly that I didn’t need to verbalize a prayer.  Ever been there?  Thankfully, God heard the cry of my heart.

I was ironing clothes one evening and I heard a YouTube video that spoke to my situation.  Bishop T.D. Jakes began describing the plight of a lion locked in a cage in his message, the “Lion’s Lair.”

Born to live in the wild and run free, the cage became the lion’s new normal.  The lion was confined for the benefit -the entertainment- of others.       

Despite efforts to tame the lion, its instincts would not allow it to become comfortable in the cage.  The lion looks at the bars and roars its disapproval. 

Jakes said, there is a roar within us when we desire to escape the parameters of our situations. He said that we all live in cages. “It may be spiritual, moral, or emotional cage.” Then he spoke the magic words, “You can get out.“

I thought Bishop Jakes was speaking directly to me. I began to imagine what getting out would be like. Soon afterward, I began taking the first steps on what became a year-long walk to freedom.  It was hard, but along the way, I discovered what it takes to get out.

There are three critical components to a “jailbreak.”  Your escape will involve a crisis, courage and crushing.   Step number one: embrace crisis. 

Don’t fear the crisis!  Crisis is a means that God uses to bring change!  Ironically, crisis is a also a vehicle God uses to bring promotion to people.

A crisis brought Moses from the prison of a desert to a victorious encounter with Pharaoh. His courageous response to the burning bush-crisis led to the emancipation of God’s people.

David broke out of a prison of obscurity with his courageous response to a crisis in Israel. Goliath was his name. A rock to the forehead of Goliath made David a “rock star,” – a champion in Israel.

How many people appreciated the firefighters and other first responders in New York City prior to the crisis of 9/11?

Heroism is being redefined during this pandemic by the courageous actions of first responders around the globe. Don’t fear the crisis. RESPOND with courage!

Did you know who Dr. Anthony S. Fauci was before the COVID-19 outbreak? Dr. Fauci is a household name now. He has emerged as one of the most influential people in the world. Nothing flips the script like a crisis. Courageous responders break the confinement of barriers and emerge the better for it.

Don’t become stagnant because of COVID-19.  Be cautious.  Be guarded.  Be safe.  But be courageous. Respond and move forward.  This pandemic will be the demise of some and the catalyst of promotion for others.  Now, back to my long walk to freedom.

I found the perfect opportunity to break out of my current job situation.  I just needed my senior executive’s endorsement. I got on his calendar to discuss the proposal.

As I sat outside of his office, I had a very uneasy feeling.  I was invited in. He immediately made it clear that he REALLY did not like my proposal for change.  This was a one-way conversation. He concluded his remarks, pointed to the door, and shouted: “hit the road.” 

 It was humiliating to be treated in this manner, but the Lord spoke to me immediately.  “He just kicked you out of his office and into your future.”  That was encouraging for the moment, but despair quickly set in. 

That night I took my son to see a play at his community college.  I don’t think either one of us was particularly interested in seeing the “Wizard of Oz,” but he got extra class credit for attending. 

I watched the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion come to a crossroads. Their friend Dorothy was taken captive by the Wicked Witch of the West. It was a simple decision: fight or flight? They chose to fight. I sat in the theater and made the same decision.

Rarely do things change apart from a crisis.  Crisis is the seedbed of courage.  Doctor Myles Munroe once said that “crisis is the enemy of tradition and the status quo.”

Fight or flight?  How badly do you want to escape the parameters of your situation? How badly do you want to break free?

I threw caution to the wind. I set up an office call with my senior leader’s boss using his open-door policy.  I told this high ranking official that my executive was unprofessional, unreasonable, and unsupportive.  He listened to me-a midlevel employee! When my senior leader found out, he went into a rage.

I took a huge risk, but it paid off.  After some infighting I was allowed to work for a different leader in another part of our organization for 60-90 days. During this time I was to try and find another job. Well, 90 days passed and I had not found another job. 

It was nerve-wracking. At any time after the 90 days, I could have been returned to my old job.  This is the final phase; the crushing. 

I started my job hunt in January 2015 and did not find a new job until October of that year.  I was turned down for job openings on three different occasions.

I only got the job in October because the individual that was selected, turned the job down at the last minute.  Each non-selection notice was a crushing experience, but I got out!!

That prison break gave me five years of experience in my lifelong calling to develop leaders. Instinctively, I knew that God had something more for me.  My pursuit of freedom was worth it.  It was worth getting crushed, and crushed again. 

Cindy Jacob’s was right. God had not forgotten nor forsaken me. The prison door did come open. T.D. Jakes was right. I could get out. I did get out. You can get out too!

The knowledge gained along the crushing path to freedom will liberate you and equip you to help others gain freedom. Jesus was crushed for the salvation of many.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. -Isaiah 53:5

If you are not a Christian and would like to become one, please follow the guidance at the following link: https://dreamprayernetwork.com/gods-plan-of-salvation/

God Bless! You can get out!! Kevin