102. The Long Way Is Still God's Way. Why God uses Detours and Circles to Grow You

Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in the same place — going in circles, facing detours, or walking a longer road than you expected? You’re not alone. In this episode of Curious for Christ, Alexandra explores how God uses those very detours and circles to strengthen your faith and shape you into the person He’s calling you to be, unshakable in your faith in Him. Remember, you belong to Him!

Through the story of the Israelites’ wilderness journey, we discover why the “long way” is actually part of God’s purposeful plan — to grow trust, build perseverance, and deepen your relationship with Him.

You’ll be encouraged to embrace your current season, trust God’s timing, and understand that even what feels like delay is part of your spiritual growth.

 What You’ll Hear:

• Why life sometimes feels like a circle or detour — and how God is still moving in it
• Biblical insights from the Israelites’ 40 years in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:2, Exodus 13:17)
• How detours and delays develop perseverance and faith (Romans 5:3–4)
• Encouragement to trust God when progress feels slow or invisible (Philippians 1:6)
• A prayer to renew your courage and hope in God’s plan

 Key Scriptures:

Deuteronomy 8:2“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart…”

Exodus 13:17“God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter… God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’”

Romans 5:3–4“Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

Philippians 1:6“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

 Free Devotional Download:

“The Spiral of Trust: Learning from the Wilderness”

Includes:

• Scripture passages to meditate on
• Reflection questions to explore your journey
• Journaling prompts to help you process and grow

 Grab your free copy here

Connect With Us:

Join the Curious for Christ Facebook community — a safe space to ask questions, share stories, and deepen your faith alongside others on the journey.

Final Encouragement:

Remember, just because it's taking longer doesn't mean God isn't working. You're not starting over. You're starting deeper. And God is with you, even here!

Thanks for listening to Curious for Christ. Join us next time!

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Want to go deeper? Let's connect—set up a FREE Discovery Call today. See you next time!

Transcript

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Hi, and welcome back to Curious for Christ. I'm your host, Alexandra, and today we're diving into something I think we all wrestle with. At some point, we set goals, we dream, we try to move forward, and we genuinely want to invite God into that process. But sometimes life doesn't move, at least not the way we hoped. Sometimes it feels like we are repeating the same patterns or facing the same situations all over again. Can you relate? Have you ever had that feeling like you're back where you're started, you're going in circles, maybe you missed it or worse that God's waiting for you to finally get it. But here's the truth I want to explore today. What if you're not behind? What if this isn't a setback, but a spiritual spiral where God is doing something deep, not just fast? You've probably heard it said God is never in a hurry and he's never late. So today we're looking at the Israelites in the wilderness, the delays, the detours, the unexpected path, and how God was leading them all along, even when it didn't look like it. It's about learning to keep going in faith, even when the road feels familiar. It's about understanding how God works. Not always quickly, but always purposefully. Are you ready? Let's go. Welcome to Curious for Christ. Do you ever find yourself lying, awake at night wondering about God's plan for your life? Maybe you wake up with big dreams, but feel unsure where to start or what your next step should be. If you're curious about exploring your faith and finding purpose, then you've come to the right place. Hi, I'm Alexandra. I too felt lost and sure of the direction my life was taking. I yearned to understand my purpose and have someone guide me, but I kept telling myself I was too busy. The timing wasn't right, and my lack of clarity prevented me from being consistent until I found Christ. He brought peace into my life and revealed the way to find purpose by anchoring myself. In him. In this podcast, we'll journey together exploring the Bible to gain a deeper understanding of him and cultivate your own personal relationship with Christ. So open up your Bible, put in those earbuds and listen up because God is speaking to you. He's making everything new and you don't wanna miss it. Let's get started. First of all, I wanna talk about when it feels like you're going in circles. Have you ever thought I should be further along by now or am I missing something? Why does this same lesson keep coming up? You're not alone. I've been there too. In healing, in relationships, even in my walk with God, and it can feel like failure, but here's a different perspective that has helped me. What feels like a circle may actually be a spiral. You're revisiting a place, but from a higher, deeper place of growth. Number two, the Israelites journey wasn't a straight line. Let's look at scripture. Deuteronomy one verse two says It takes 11 days to go from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by the Mount Ser Road. But how long did it actually take them? 40 years? Was it just rebellion that delayed them? Sometimes yes, but more often God was intentionally shaping them. Deuteronomy eight verse two tells us, remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness, these 40 years to humble and test you in. Order to know what was in your heart. And in Exodus 13, verse 17, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. God said if they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt, which is the place where they were enslaved. Not to punish them, but to prepare them for victory. To protect them, to teach them who he is and who they are to help them grow in their faith in the God who saves and gives life. Number three, you're not starting over. You're starting deeper. What if your life isn't going in circle, but a spiral? A spiral may feel like you're in the same place, but you're not. This time, you are wiser. Or you're more surrendered, you're more healed, more teachable, more trusting. God has taken you in those detours and he was doing something. When you stop and ask God you may see God at work. Philippians one Verse six reminds us, he who began a good work in you will carried on to completion. Romans five, verses three and four says, suffering produces perseverance. Perseverance. Character and character. Hope the Israelites came out of slavery, but slavery had to come out of them. And in his mercy, God gave them space to become someone new. So maybe you are not late, you're not behind, you're not failing. God is giving you space to become someone new too. So I wanna give you encouragement for the wilderness, those places where you feel like you're just going in circles. Here's what I want you to remember, when it feels like you're stuck, God's timing isn't random. It's higher. Isaiah 55 verses eight through nine, reminds us that his thoughts and ways are not like ours. They're higher, wiser, and more purposeful. Even delays have divine intention. His patience gives us space to grow. Second Peter three, verse nine says, he's not slow in keeping his promise, but patient with us, giving us space to align with his heart and be transformed. You're not the same person you were the last time around. You've changed even if it doesn't feel like it. Each familiar situation is an invitation to deeper surrender and trust, and God is more interested in growing your faith than rushing your success. Let's pray. Father, strengthen us when the path feels slow and uncertain. Fill our hearts with courage to follow where you lead, even when we don't understand the way. Help us choose faith over fear, trust over discouragement and obedience over delay. Shape us in the people you've called us to be bold, faithful, willing to walk the walk you've set before us because you love us, God, because your way is the path to life. There is no other way. So I pray God for endurance as well, And that no matter what happens, God, I pray that we can rejoice in you. The God of our salvation. God, you are our strength. In Jesus name, amen. If this episode starts something in you, maybe you are in a season that feels like a repeat. I want to invite you to download a free devotional I created just for you. It's called the spiral of trust learning from the wilderness. Inside you'll find scripture, reflection questions, journaling prompts to help you trace your growth and lean into what God is doing in this season. Grab at the link in the show notes. And don't forget to join our Curious for Christ Facebook community. The link also is in the show notes. We're not made to live this life alone. We need all the encouragement we can get and the reminders that God is doing something, God is at work. Don't give up. Friends, just because it's taking longer doesn't mean God isn't working. You're not starting over. You are starting deeper and God is with you even here. Thank you for listening to Curious for Christ. Again, I'm Alexandra. I'm with you. I'm praying for you and I will see you next time. Bye for now. Hi, I hope you enjoy today's episode. If so, would you like to take 30 seconds and share it with a friend who may also struggle with knowing God and his purpose for their life? Also, leave a review on Apple Podcast and let me know what topics you'd like to hear about in the future. Your voice matters. I'll meet you back next Friday. For another episode.