Seven Hindrances to Success

When you are on the road to success, that is, (a) becoming the person that God wants you to become, and (b) doing what God wants you to do; there will be valleys you must walk through.

Here are the seven valleys that may hinder you from reaching the next summit:

[1] The valley of DOUBT – When the Spirit of God spoke to Peter in Acts 10:20 He said, “Arise therefore, go down and go with the three men who are seeking you, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” Often you will be challenged to on without doubting God’s word. Even when you feel that maybe you have not heard correctly! The Greek word “doubting nothing” has two distinct definitions: (1) To decide between two or more choices, or to separate to components, elements or factors. (2) The word also denotes a conflict within oneself, in the sense of hesitating, having misgivings, being divided in your decision making or wavering between hope and fear.

[2] The second valley is DISCOURAGEMENT – the opposite of discouragement is encouragement [‘to give courage to’]. Therefore, discouragement has to do with ‘lack of courage received’. Whenever you are discouraged, you are in fact ‘not receiving any courage’ from any source. The enemy wants you discouraged and afraid, but Your heavenly Father has commanded that you be strong and very courageous.
And God would not ask you to be anything you were not fully equipped to be! There are three ways that you can allow discouragement to flow into your life:

[a] By blaming God for the situation your in – after God delivered the Canaanites into the hands of the Israelites, which was a miraculous victory, they grew impatient with Him saying, “...Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread; there is no water; and we detest this miserable food!’”- Numbers 21:5.

[b] By listening to bad reports – Deuteronomy 1:28, “Our brethren have discouraged our hearts saying, ‘The people are greater and taller than we are; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven’.”

[c] By listening to the voice of the world system – the world system is designed to encourage people into carnal behaviour and philosophical ideals, it is not there to direct you toward godliness, righteousness and peace. It will never lead you into the Promised Land - your place of true success! And the world system can provide you with many reasons to get discouraged. Numbers 32:9, “For when they went up to the valley, and saw the land, they discouraged the hearts of the Israelites from going into the land the Lord had given them.”

[3] The third valley is WEARINESS – 2 Thessalonians 3:13 states, “Do not grow weary in doing good.” 2 Timothy 2:3 says, “You must endure hardship as a good soldier.” 1 Timothy 6:12 says. “Fight the good fight of faith.”

[4] The forth valley is FAILURE – failure will last only as long as you permit it. Yesterday’s failures can become the catalyst for tomorrow’s success. Tragedies can become triumphs! Proverbs 24:16 says, “A just man falls seven times, and he rises up again...”! Your life will always move in the direction of your strongest thought. So stop thinking failure and start thinking success

[5] The fifth valley is HURT – you may get hurt and offended by the way you have been treated but don’t poison your future with the pain of the past! And don’t get bitter! Forgiveness is not a suggestion but a requirement! You cannot reach the next summit carrying the baggage of your past. Forgive and forget! Pain is often a bridge, not a barricade to success.

[6] The sixth valley is LACK – there will be times when you will experience lack. This is the time when you sowing can produce an abundant crop. Sow in famine and receive a feast of prosperity. Remember this, when what you hold in your hand is not enough to be a harvest, make it a seed. When you let go of what is in your hand, God will let go of what is in His hand! ”My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

[7] The final valley is PRIDE – when you’ve reached a summit the devil will try and make you dizzy with success. He will try and get you puffed up and self-serving. Pride is the number one enemy of God, and when you are in pride God is not for you but against you. James 4:6 says, “God resists the proud.” And remember, if pride comes before a fall, then pride will cause you to fall of your existing summit and cause you to start again. What a waist! If you are in pride then repent, for repentance is the first step to recovery.

Chris Demetriou, 30/11/2008