Detours of Discernment
RISE UP WARRIOR!
It’s a brand new week which means we have a brand new Blog Post….on Detours of Discernment! I started writing this post on Rout 66 in Oklahoma and ended up next to a buffalo farm after being ran off the road by a semi with my two sisters. A few weeks later on a breezy Sunday afternoon, I’ve found myself cuddled up with my blanket, Bible, and computer with a message on my heart from the Lord.
“The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8
Thinking back to our farm filled adventure on our way home from Arkansas, there was one pressing token of wisdom God whispered in my heart, “When unexpected circumstances arise, detours of discernment are underway!” While the verse above were written as a promise to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the promise land, we can take comfort in knowing that God has already gone before us, will always be with us, and will never leave us. As my sisters picked me up from work to venture on the sweetest roadtrip to visit our Mammaw and Papaw in Arkansas, there was one thing on our minds, having the BEST weekend ever! Singing with smiles on our faces and stopping at Chick-Fil-A for a sweet treat, we made our way to our Mammaw and Papaws home. After a weekend of memories flowing through our heart with the sweetest of melodies, we packed up our rental and hit the road, back to the Lone Star State.
Admiring the sunset, we set our gps home and played Mickey’s Runaway Railroad, “nothing can stop us now” (a sister sing-a-long tradition) Not even fives minutes down the road, our tire blew out! Looking at each other we thought, “there is no way..” With AAA and our papaw on the way, we prayed for God’s favor and safety over our journey home. “Yep, your tire’s shot. You can get a lift to Oklahoma for a new rental.” Looking from our AAA guy to each other we knew there was only one thing we could do, get to Oklahoma for a new car rental! Reaching Oklahoma, we felt relief, only to realize the only rental shop in town was closed. Hours later, we received our new rental and looked at each other, believing that everything happens for a reason, even when we can’t understand why. Loading our new rental, we made our way back on the road, this time on Route 66 in Oklahoma.
In need of an iced coffee, we set our gps to a local coffee shop. Not even an hour later, a swerving semi lost control with a tire popping off, running us off the road as one of the semi’s tires shot through the front of our radiator. Thinking back to this scary moment, everything felt as if it was in slow motion. I can see look on my sisters face as we braced for impact. With smoke filling the air from our rental, we ran out on the dirt side of 66 next to a buffalo farm. In absolute disbelief, with tears filling our eyes, we locked hands and ran to the nearest tree for safety. With no reception, no idea what had happened, or no idea what to do, we prayed and called 911. Hours later, two local sheriffs arrived, helping us to the only cafe in town for the night. “Thank God you girls were in an SUV” the sheriffs said. “If you had been in anything smaller, you girls wouldn't have made it.” Looking like deers caught in a headlight, my sisters and I looked at each other and said, “That’s why.”
In the moment, we couldn’t understand why our first car rental tire had blown out of nowhere, but in that moment with two Oklahoma Sheriffs, everything made sense. Our unexpected circumstance arising was God’s detour of discernment over our lives. Warrior, I don’t know what unexpected circumstances have raised in your life lately. Whether it’s spiritual, financial, metal, emotional, or completely out of the blue, I want to encourage you to RISE UP in FAITH. For your unexpected circumstances arising might very well be God’s detour of discernment over your life.
“The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8
-Jessica-Andrea Brown
