Shenelle Ball-Green, It’s Been A Journey Podcast Host
Welcome Back to It’s been a Journey!
First, I just want to pause and say thank you. We are celebrating our 1st Year Anniversary—a whole year of healing conversations, laughter, tears, and transformation. You all have walked with me through some real-life stuff, and I pray you’ve been growing right along with me. Now, you already know, on It’s Been a Journey we don’t sugarcoat truth—we dig deep, because freedom doesn’t come cheap.
And that’s why we’re kicking off a brand-new series called Holding Yourself Hostage. See, sometimes we love to talk about who hurt us, who betrayed us, who left us in bondage. But the real truth? Many times, we’re the ones holding the keys and still refusing to walk out of the prison doors. Tonight we’re not blaming mama, daddy, your ex, or even the devil. No—we’re turning that mirror around and dealing with the hardest captor of all: self-sabotage.
Now let me keep it real, because this series is going to have a stronger tone than what you’re used to. This ain’t the soft encouragement episode where you get a pat on the back. Nope. Tonight is about diagnosis before treatment. Because until you recognize where you’re sabotaging yourself—your mindset, your habits, your relationships—you will never walk into the freedom God already promised you.
The children of Israel cried out under Egyptian bondage, but even after God sent Moses, even after the Red Sea parted, they still kept sabotaging their own future with complaints, fear, and doubt. Sound familiar? We do the same thing. God opens doors, but we talk ourselves out of walking through them. We pray for healing, but we keep going back to the pain that broke us. We say we want love, but we run back to toxic patterns that kill our peace. Family, tonight, it’s time to call it what it is: we are often our own Pharaoh.
So buckle up, because this series is going to confront you. And not to shame you—but to free you. Because Egypt wasn’t just a place—it was a mindset. And God doesn’t just want to pull you out of Egypt, He wants to pull Egypt out of you. Let’s get into it: Diagnosis Before Treatment—Recognizing Self-Sabotage.
“Family, before God could bring Israel out of Egypt, He first acknowledged their pain. He said in Exodus 3:7, ‘I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry…’ That means God saw what was keeping them hostage. And just like Israel, sometimes we’re not held hostage by other people, but by ourselves. It’s called self-sabotage—the cycles, the excuses, and the comfort zones that keep us locked down. Tonight, we’re not sugar-coating it. We’re diagnosing the issue before God can bring treatment. Because you can’t heal what you won’t admit is broken.” 🎥 Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com
Key Scriptures
- Exodus 3:7-8 – God sees our affliction before He delivers us.
- Proverbs 14:1 – “The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.” (self-sabotage in action)
- Romans 7:15 – “For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (Paul describes the cycle of sabotaging self)
- John 10:10 – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (Jesus reminds us He came to break
- Self-Sabotage Defined Biblically
- Like Israel complaining in Egypt yet fearing freedom, we talk ourselves out of blessings.
- Self-sabotage is when you partner with Pharaoh instead of God.
- Modern Examples of Self-Sabotage
- Procrastinating on opportunities.
- Staying in toxic relationships because you fear being alone.
- Talking yourself down: “I’m not smart enough,” “I’ll just mess up again.”
- Blowing up blessings with bad habits (overspending, gossip, lack of discipline).
- Why We Do It
- Fear of failure or fear of success.
- Trauma bonds that make bondage feel safer than freedom.
- Forgetting God’s promises in exchange for “Egypt’s comfort.”
- Signs You’re Holding Yourself Hostage Through Self-Sabotage
- Constantly second-guessing decisions.
- Pushing away healthy relationships but entertaining broken ones.
- Stuck in the same cycle year after year with no growth.
- Complaining more than you’re creating solutions.
- Resolution: Diagnosis Leads to Deliverance
- Just like Israel had to cry out for God to intervene, we must be honest with ourselves.
- Healing starts when you stop making excuses and start making confessions: “Lord, I’ve been my own Pharaoh, but I’m ready to be free.”
Reflective Questions for the Audience
- What is one area of my life where I keep repeating the same cycle?
- What fear is keeping me from stepping out of Egypt into promise?
- Have I partnered with self-sabotage more than I’ve trusted God?
- What does freedom look like for me this year?
- Am I willing to let God diagnose me so He can deliver me?
“Family, before God delivers us, He diagnoses us. Tonight was about holding up the mirror and recognizing when we’re the ones chaining ourselves down. Don’t let self-sabotage be your Pharaoh. Don’t die in Egypt when God has a promised land waiting. If this spoke to you, share it with someone still stuck in a cycle. And remember, we’re live every Monday at 7pm CST on It’s Been a Journey — because healing is not a moment, it’s a journey.”