One Step From A Miracle | Jentezen Franklin
One Step From a Miracle – Finding Breakthrough by Going Further With God
There are moments in life where we sense we’re right on the edge of something big—a miracle, a breakthrough, a new chapter. As believers, we often forget how close we truly are to receiving God’s blessings, yet we stop just short. In every season, God calls us forward, inviting us not to settle but to break past our limitations and expectations. If you’ve felt stuck, or like your miracle just isn’t coming, this message is for you. Let’s explore how taking just one step further in faith can unlock the breakthrough you’ve been praying for.
Breaking Out of Our Limitations
Sometimes, we inadvertently put limits on God. We create boundaries—maybe through our doubts, comfort zones, routines, or the busyness of life. It’s easy to believe God can only move in certain ways or within certain timeframes. Yet, God’s heart for us isn’t for us to stay boxed in by our expectations. He invites us to a life of prayer, fasting, and faith—a little bit further than what feels comfortable.
What if the only thing standing between us and our miracle is just one more prayer, one more act of obedience, or one more step taken in faith? Sometimes we miss God’s best because we settle when we’re almost there. He’s inviting us to go just a stone’s throw farther—just a bit outside our usual reach—where extraordinary things begin to happen.
Faith That Goes the Extra Mile
It’s not about trying harder or performing better. Our culture often tells us success comes from striving, hustling, and “breaking a sweat.” But God isn’t looking for believers who try to earn His favor through their own strength. Remember the Old Testament instruction: worship leaders couldn’t wear wool because it would make them sweat. God didn’t want hyped-up, frenetic effort; He wanted authentic, surrendered hearts. The key isn’t in our natural strength, but in faith and worship that flow from deep within—a true longing to encounter God’s presence.
Ask yourself, where’s your stopping point? Where do you usually get comfortable or complacent? The Lord is calling you—just as you are—to go a bit further in consecration, love, and passion for Him.
The Lesson of the Ten Lepers: Don’t Stop Short of Complete Healing
Luke 17 tells the story of ten lepers who cried out to Jesus for mercy. He instructed them, “Go show yourselves to the priests,” a command that required them to walk—perhaps while still visibly afflicted. It wasn’t instantaneous; their healing manifested along the journey, as they moved in obedience.
Imagine how many miracles have been near-misses simply because we gave up too soon. How many storms could have been calmed, how many families transformed, if we’d just pressed through the final moments instead of stopping at the threshold?
Only one of those ten lepers, after receiving his physical healing, came back to Jesus to express gratitude. He went further—returning to the source with praise and thankfulness. Jesus noticed his return and, in doing so, gave him not just physical healing, but wholeness—restoring him inwardly and emotionally as well. Sometimes, going back to thank God, going a step further in gratitude, opens a deeper level of breakthrough than we ever expected.
Kissing or Cleaving? The Example of Ruth and Naomi
The book of Ruth gives us another powerful illustration of going the extra mile. Naomi, after losing her husband and two sons, decided to return home to Bethlehem, urging her daughters-in-law to remain in their homeland. Orpah kissed Naomi goodbye, but Ruth clung to her. There’s a profound difference between a parting kiss and an unwavering commitment. Ruth declared, “Where you go, I will go; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.”
Ruth’s devotion wasn’t rooted in the hope of personal reward. She wasn’t following Naomi to secure a husband, a home, or worldly comforts—she was simply committed through famine, hardship, and uncertainty. That covenantal loyalty is what led her to the very field where her life would change forever.
Blessing Found in Unexpected Places
When Ruth and Naomi arrived in Bethlehem—the “house of bread”—Ruth humbly gathered leftovers from the field to provide for them. Gleaning was backbreaking and humbling, but it was a step of obedience and survival. Ruth didn’t allow lack or despair to keep her from moving forward. She worked diligently, trusting that God would provide.
God positioned Ruth in the path of Boaz, the field’s wealthy owner. He noticed her sacrifice, admired her heart, and arranged for extra provision—leaving “handfuls on purpose” for her. In the middle of Ruth’s exhaustion and humility, God was orchestrating blessing and new beginnings.
Preparation Meets Opportunity
Ruth’s story teaches us about preparation and expectancy. Naomi recognized that Ruth’s season was changing and coached her to dress for where she was going, not for where she was. Sometimes, we too need to shift our posture—from surviving in the fields of leftovers to preparing for God’s promotion and favor.
You don’t need wealth or fancy things to make a change. What matters is showing up each day expectantly, surrendered to God’s process, and ready to walk through open doors. Ruth’s simple faithfulness caught Boaz’s attention and favor. Her dedication made the impossible possible—she went from living on leftovers to owning the field itself.
Blessings Follow Real Commitment
It’s easy to approach God casually, with a “dating” kind of faith—showing up once a week, giving Him our leftovers, or just enough attention to tick a box. But there’s another level of favor and
