Episode 3
Divine Detours
Faith Anderson and Mark Reynolds explore Glenn Bleakney's book "Three Ways to Discern if God is Leading You in a New Direction," discussing how to recognize divine guidance amid life's uncertainties.
Book available at: https://a.co/d/h5XNN1h
Key points:
- While we easily recognize temptations, we often miss God's subtle nudges toward new paths
- The "disruption of plans" can be a divine detour for growth, not a setback
- Periods of resource scarcity might actually be invitations to a new spiritual chapter
- Ending relationships can sometimes be God's way of redirecting us
Book available at: https://a.co/d/h5XNN1h
Transcript
Foreign.
Speaker B:Hey, everyone, and welcome to this deep dive where we.
Speaker B:Well, we really try to get into the nitty gritty of things that I think a lot of us are thinking about.
Speaker B:And today is no different.
Speaker B:We're going to be diving into a book called Three ways to discern if God is leading you in a new direction by Glenn Bleatney.
Speaker B:Now, have you ever had that feeling like God might be kind of nudging you towards something new, you know, like a change is coming, but you just.
Speaker B:You're not quite sure what it is?
Speaker B:We're going to try to unpack that today with Blikney's help.
Speaker C:Oh, yeah, for sure.
Speaker C:I mean, that.
Speaker C:That resonates so much with me.
Speaker C:You know, we often really just crave that feeling of certainty, you know, of knowing we're on the right track.
Speaker C:And Bleakny, he really.
Speaker C:He taps into that desire with his insights in this book.
Speaker C:And you know, what I really appreciate about Bleakny's approach is that he has this gift for making complex speech, spiritual topics feel really relatable.
Speaker C:And, you know, his background with Awake nations and Kingdom community really informs his approach.
Speaker B:Yeah, he's definitely got that practical, down to earth style.
Speaker B:It's not like super churchy.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:So Bleakney jumps right in, talking about the ways of the Lord.
Speaker B:And that sounds a bit intimidating at first, you know, but he makes a great point.
Speaker B:He says we're usually pretty good at spotting temptation.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:You know, those Satan's devices he talks about.
Speaker B:But how often do we miss those subtle ways that God tries to guide us?
Speaker C:It's like we're so busy, you know, dodging the potholes, we miss the scenic route.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:And Blakeney suggests that sometimes God has to kind of interrupt our plans to get our attention.
Speaker C:Like, think about it.
Speaker C:Have you ever had a door slam shut that you were absolutely convinced was meant to open?
Speaker B:Oh, yeah, all the time.
Speaker B:It's like running headfirst into a brick wall.
Speaker B:And then it's like, okay, what now?
Speaker C:And that's kind of what Blakeney describes as that in between place.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:Not where you were, not yet, where you're supposed to be.
Speaker C:Just kind of stuck.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Like in limbo.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:And it can be so frustrating.
Speaker C:Totally.
Speaker C:He calls this the disruption of our plans.
Speaker C:And get this, he uses the Apostle Paul as an example.
Speaker C:Even Paul, you know, who had this incredible mission to spread the gospel.
Speaker C:He experienced times where God was basically like, nope, not that way.
Speaker C:Remember in Acts 16, when Paul and Silas are trying to go into Asia, but the Holy Spirit stops Them.
Speaker B:Yeah, and they even try a different direction.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:They head towards Bithynia.
Speaker B:But again, it's a no go.
Speaker B:It's like hitting one detour after another.
Speaker C:It is.
Speaker C:And I think we can all relate to that feeling of just being stuck, not knowing what to do next for sure.
Speaker B:It's like that default mode we all have when in doubt, revert to what you know.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:But Blakeney suggests that instead of retreating, we should be seeking.
Speaker C:You know, he says, just like Paul had his vision and Jesus appeared to the disciples, God will show us the way forward.
Speaker C:Sometimes it just takes a little patience and prayer to figure out what that is.
Speaker B:Okay, this next one's a little bit of a head scratcher.
Speaker B:It's called dissipation of resources.
Speaker B:I always thought, you know, God's blessings meant abundance.
Speaker B:But Bleakney suggests that sometimes God might allow our resources to dwindle to prepare us for our next chapter.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:It's counterintuitive, but it makes you think.
Speaker C:He uses the story of Elijah during the famine, which is so powerful, you know, Remember how God miraculously provided for Elijah at the brook?
Speaker C:Sheriff ravens bringing him food, water from the brook.
Speaker B:Yeah, he was all set.
Speaker C:He was taken care of.
Speaker B:But then the brook dries up.
Speaker B:It seems a bit harsh, doesn't it?
Speaker B:Like, why would God do that after just, you know, getting him settled?
Speaker C:That's where it gets really interesting.
Speaker C:See, Bleakny points out that cherith actually means cut covenant.
Speaker C:So it was a place of provision.
Speaker C:Yes, but also a place of preparation, where Elijah was hidden and could draw close to God.
Speaker B:So it wasn't just about physical needs, but spiritual growth too.
Speaker C:Exactly.
Speaker C:And then when the brook dries up, it's almost like God's saying, okay, you're ready for the next step.
Speaker C:Let's go.
Speaker B:It makes me wonder, have you ever felt like your brook has dried up?
Speaker B:Maybe a job loss, a financial setback, even that feeling of creative burnout.
Speaker C:You know, those are definitely Cherith moments.
Speaker C:Bleakny reminds us that sometimes those difficult experiences are God's way of transitioning us, just like he did with Elijah.
Speaker B:This has given me a lot to think about.
Speaker B:And we haven't even gotten to Blakeney's third way, which might be the toughest one to swallow, but we'll save that for the next part of our deep dive.
Speaker A:Hey, everyone.
Speaker A:Glenn Blakeney here.
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Speaker C:Welcome back to our Deep Dive.
Speaker C:Before we went to break, we were talking about how God might use those unexpected dry spells in our lives to get us moving.
Speaker C:You know?
Speaker C:But Blakeney doesn't stop there.
Speaker C:He presents a third way God might guide us that I found particularly thought provoking.
Speaker B:You mean the one about relationships?
Speaker B:Dissolutional relationships.
Speaker B:That was a tough chapter to read.
Speaker B:I mean, relationships are so important, you know?
Speaker C:Yeah, I agree, it's a sick, sensitive topic.
Speaker C:But Ligny is careful to clarify that he's not talking about things like ending marriages or anything like that.
Speaker C:Rather, he's suggesting that sometimes God uses the ending of certain relationships to kind of nudge us in a new direction.
Speaker B:It's still hard to wrap your head around though.
Speaker B:Like, why would God do that?
Speaker B:He uses that story of David and King Achish and how Akisha's favor towards David suddenly changes.
Speaker C:Yeah, and it's easy to see that as rejection.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:To feel hurt and confused when someone we thought was on our side kind of turns away.
Speaker C:But.
Speaker C:But Blakeney brings up a really interesting point from Proverbs.
Speaker B:Oh, you mean Proverbs 21.1.
Speaker B:The King's heart is in the hand of the Lord.
Speaker B:Like the rivers of water, he turns it wherever he wishes.
Speaker B:I have to admit, when I read that, it made me think about all those times I've questioned why a relationship ended.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:What if instead of seeing it as a personal failure or a sign that we're not good enough, we saw it as God's way of protecting us or redirecting our path?
Speaker B:It's a big shift in perspective.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:Kind of reminds me of that saying, when God closes a door, he opens a window.
Speaker B:We might not always understand why things happen the way they do, but maybe it's because he's got something Even better in store for us.
Speaker C:Blickney shares a story in his book about a couple from Asia that really brings this concept to life.
Speaker C:He was praying for them and had this prophetic vision of them walking with Jesus.
Speaker C:But the wife was lagging behind, filled with sadness and longing for her home country.
Speaker B:That feeling of being homesick, of missing what's familiar, is something I think a lot of people can relate to.
Speaker B:It's such a deep longing.
Speaker C:Absolutely.
Speaker C:And in the vision, Jesus speaks to her with so much compassion and says, I understand, but you're exactly where you need to be right now.
Speaker C:Stop resisting my Father's will.
Speaker C:He has a great plan for you and your family.
Speaker B:You know, what really struck me about that story was how her grief instantly shifted to peace and joy.
Speaker B:She ran to catch up with her husband and Jesus completely transformed.
Speaker B:It's such a powerful image of surrender.
Speaker C:And the amazing thing is that the couple later confirmed that the vision was accurate.
Speaker C:And it marked a turning point in their lives.
Speaker C:They finally understood why they were where they were, even though it had been so difficult.
Speaker B:It's a beautiful reminder that sometimes what feels like loss is actually God guiding us towards something greater.
Speaker B:You know, it was interesting that Bleakny doesn't just focus on these three specific signs of disruption, dissipation, and dissolution.
Speaker B:Blechne also uses the metaphor of the Israelites journey through the desert to illustrate this point.
Speaker B:It wasn't just about getting from point A to point B.
Speaker B:It was about a process of discipleship, of learning to trust God and depend on him.
Speaker C:And that desert journey wasn't exactly a walk in the park.
Speaker C:It was 40 years of wandering, facing challenges, and relying on God's provision.
Speaker B:It makes you wonder, what was God trying to teach them during those 40 years?
Speaker B:It couldn't have been easy, but there must have been some valuable lessons learned along the way.
Speaker C:Blickney makes this point that most of us are pretty good at praising God when we're in the promised land, when things are going well.
Speaker C:But how many of us have learned to worship in the wilderness?
Speaker B:That's such a powerful question.
Speaker B:Because it's in those wilderness seasons when we're stripped of our comforts and forced to confront our fears and doubts that our faith is truly tested.
Speaker C:And that's where the real growth happens.
Speaker C:It's in those challenging seasons that God is drawing us closer to himself, refining our character and preparing us for greater things.
Speaker B:Blikni's words remind me that it's okay to feel lost or confused sometimes.
Speaker B:It's part of the journey.
Speaker C:He encourages us to embrace those wilderness seasons not as places of defeat, but as opportunities for discipleship.
Speaker B:I love how he reframes it.
Speaker B:So easy to get discouraged when things are tough.
Speaker B:But to see those times as a season of preparation, of being molded into the person God wants us to be, that's powerful.
Speaker C:And he ends this section with this beautiful image from Psalm 23.3, where David says, he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Speaker C:Bleikni explains that in ancient Israel, those paths of righteousness were actually circular paths sheep would take as they climbed the hillsides.
Speaker B:So even when it feels like we're going in circles, like we're not making any progress, God is still leading us.
Speaker C:Upward towards that higher place, that breathtaking vista where we can see things from his perspective.
Speaker C:And that's such a beautiful thought to hold onto, especially when life feels confusing or uncertain.
Speaker B:It is.
Speaker B:And I think Bleakney does a masterful job of weaving together biblical examples, personal stories and practical insights to help us understand how God might be leading us.
Speaker B:What stands out to you the most?
Speaker B:From what we've discussed so far, I.
Speaker C:Think for me it's the reminder that God's ways are not always our ways.
Speaker C:What we might see as a setback or a closed door, he might see as a redirection or a protection.
Speaker B:That's so true.
Speaker B:And it makes me wonder, if we're so quick to label things as good or bad, are we missing the bigger picture of what God is doing in our lives?
Speaker C:It's a question worth pondering for sure, because maybe those difficult experiences, the ones we'd rather avoid, are actually the very things that are shaping us and preparing us for the destiny God has for us.
Speaker B:We're going to take a quick pause here, but when we come back, let's talk about some key takeaways from this deep dive and how we can apply these concepts to our own lives.
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Speaker B:And we're back for the final part of our deep dive into three ways to discern if God is leading you in a new direction.
Speaker B:By Glenn Bleakney.
Speaker B:You know, as we've been talking about these different ways God might be guiding us, it's.
Speaker B:It's striking how often we resist those nudges.
Speaker C:It's true.
Speaker C:We get so comfortable with our plans, our routines, you know, our familiar ways of thinking that when God tries to kind of shake things up a bit, we tend to dig in our heels.
Speaker B:It's like we want the destination without the journey, right?
Speaker C:Exactly.
Speaker B:But Blakeney's whole book emphasizes the importance of that journey, even when it's messy or uncomfortable.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:He reminds us that God is less concerned with our comfort and more concerned with our character development.
Speaker C:You know, he uses that powerful image of worshiping in the wilderness.
Speaker C:It's easy to praise God when everything is going our way, you know, but can we still worship him when we're in that in between place, facing challenges and uncertainties?
Speaker B:Yeah, that's where the rubber meets the road, isn't it?
Speaker C:It is.
Speaker B:And Blakeney really challenges us to embrace those wilderness seasons not as setbacks, but as opportunities for growth and deeper intimacy with God.
Speaker C:He reminds us that those challenging seasons are often where our faith is refined, our dependence on God deepens, and we emerge stronger and more equipped for the calling he has on our lives.
Speaker B:So instead of resisting those disruptions, those dissipations, those dissolutions, what if we leaned into them?
Speaker B:What if we saw them as invitations to draw closer to God and discover what he might be trying to teach us?
Speaker C:I think that's a powerful takeaway from this deep dive.
Speaker C:It's about surrendering to the process, trusting that God is at work even when we don't understand, and being open to the unexpected ways he might be leading us.
Speaker B:It's like trading in our old outdated GPS for a brand new one that knows the best route, even if it takes us off the beaten path.
Speaker C:I love that analogy.
Speaker C:And sometimes those detours lead to the most breathtaking views, experiences we would have missed if we had stayed on our planned route.
Speaker B:This has been such an insightful conversation.
Speaker B:And you know, what I appreciate about Bleakny's approach is that he doesn't just give us a list of signs to look for.
Speaker B:He also reminds us of the heart behind God's Leading.
Speaker C:Absolutely.
Speaker C:It's not about trying to crack some divine code or manipulate circumstances to get what we want.
Speaker C:It's about surrendering to God's plan, trusting his heart for us, and allowing him to lead us to where we need to be.
Speaker B:Because ultimately he wants what's best for us, even if it doesn't always make sense in the moment.
Speaker B:And that's a comforting truth to cling to, no matter what season of life we're in.
Speaker C:For sure.
Speaker B:If you're feeling that nudge to explore this further, I highly recommend checking out Glenn Blickney's book three Ways to Discern if God is leading you in a new direction.
Speaker B:You can find it on Amazon and it's well worth the read.
Speaker C:And if you want to learn more about Glenn Bleakney and his ministries, Awakenations and Kingdom Community, you can visit awakenations.org or tune in to Kingdom Community Television at KingdomCommunity TV.
Speaker B:There are so many resources available to help you grow in your understanding of God's leading.
Speaker B:Remember, he's actively involved in your life and he longs to guide you every step of the way.
Speaker C:Trust his heart, surrender to his plan, and watch as he unfolds his purposes for you in ways you never could have imagined.
Speaker B:Thanks for joining us on this deep dive, and we'll see you next time for another fascinating exploration.
