'The Lessons in the Detours - The Response of a Disciple' by Nicolene Du Plessis

We often crave breakthrough moments, hoping God will deliver us from our struggles.

But in reality, He’s often more interested in breaking into our hearts to teach us something

valuable.

I was reminded of this when I entered an 8 km trail run. It was a night race, requiring headlamps and flexible ankles for the uneven terrain. My cousin, more interested in fun than fitness, showed up in a colorful wig and accessories, not seeming particularly focused on winning. The race began with excitement, and I quickly found myself pushing ahead, fueled by the energy of competition. By the time the race ended, I had lost track of my cousin. When I finally found him, he was far from the cheerful person who started the run. His wig was skewed, his knees were scraped, and his smile had been replaced by frustration. He explained that someone had moved the directional arrows, and he’d run off course, covering much more distance than necessary. He was angry, confused, and tired—certainly not the finish he had envisioned.

That experience made me think about the seasons in life when I’ve found myself on a difficult-unexpected detour. It’s confusing and frustrating, and my first reaction is often to cry out, “God, get me out of this!” When He doesn’t answer right away, discouragement sets in. But over time, I’ve learned to ask a different question: “Why am I here? What do You want to teach me?”

"We want the breakthrough, but God often wants to break in. We seek deliverance, but God desires transformation."

He uses these moments to shape us, even when we’re tempted to take matters into our own hands. God is more committed to our growth than our comfort, and if we don’t learn the lesson the first time, He’ll allow us to face it again and again until we do.

The Role of God as Our Teacher

In biblical times, a teacher was called a Rabbi. This title, derived from the Hebrew word rab, meaning “great” or “master,” was reserved for those who taught the law, interpreted Scripture, and served as spiritual guides. Rabbis had disciples—talmidim—who followed them closely, learning not only from their words but from every aspect of their lives.

There was even a saying in rabbinic tradition: “May you be covered in the dust of your Rabbi,” which meant disciples should follow their teacher so closely that the dust from their sandals would land on them. This is a powerful image of how closely we should follow Jesus, our ultimate Rabbi, learning from His teachings, actions, and heart.

Jesus is the greatest teacher, and His lessons lead to transformed lives. He taught with authority, embracing people of all ages, races, and backgrounds, revealing God’s heart and His desire for us to grow.

Encountering God in Difficult Seasons

One of my favorite biblical examples of encountering God in a moment of uncertainty is Mary Magdalene in John 20. After Jesus' crucifixion, she stood weeping outside His empty tomb, confused and grief-stricken because she couldn’t find His body. Like Mary, I’ve found myself in seasons where everything seems lost—when all I see are the ashes of what I thought would be. It’s in those moments that we must ask, "What are You trying to teach me, Lord?"

As Mary stood by the tomb, Jesus appeared to her, though she didn’t recognise Him at first. He asked, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” (John 20:15). When He finally revealed Himself, Mary turned to Him and cried out, “Rabboni!”—which means "Teacher." She knew immediately who He was and what He meant to her.

This in-between space—where promises seem unfulfilled and the way forward is unclear—is often where God meets us as our Teacher.

Do we trust Him when we can’t see the victory? When everything seems like failure? Mary’s response teaches us to turn toward Jesus, even when we don’t understand, and to trust that He is leading us.

A few verses later, Jesus appears to the other disciples. They were locked behind closed doors, crippled by fear and uncertainty. But Jesus came and stood among them, saying, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19). Amid chaos, He brings peace and clarity.

His presence is the revelation we need, not just to escape trouble but to learn through it.

Learning From the Teacher

In those locked rooms, behind barred doors, Jesus showed His disciples the scars from His crucifixion—the proof of His love, His sacrifice, and His faithfulness. The disciples rejoiced as they recalled all He had done for them, realizing that the same power that carried Him through suffering would guide them, too. Jesus’ scars were evidence not only of His victory but of the lessons He had taught them along the way.

They were filled with Joy as they recalled and remembered that His past actions solidified his future faithfulness.

The lessons are not just for me.

The disciples’ encounter didn’t end there. Jesus gave them an assignment—He commissioned them to go out and share what they had learned, empowered by the Holy Spirit. (Jn 20: 21-22)

The lessons we learn in the presence of Jesus are never just for us.

They lead to the next step, a mission to help others on their journey.

The next assignment comes when we grasp the lesson and grow forward in connection with His heart.

Our Response as Disciples

As followers of Jesus, our response should be one of learning and applying the lessons He teaches us. Charles Swindoll once said, “Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.” God is always teaching, and our growth is determined by how we respond to His lessons.

Here’s how we can respond:

1. Spend Time with Him

The people we spend time with influence us the most. The more we spend time with Jesus, the more His presence will rub off on us. When people see us, they should see the impact of Christ in our lives.

A.W. Tozer said, “The man who would truly know God must give time to Him.”

2. Be Teachable and Humble

God can’t work with a prideful heart. We must remain open to His correction and guidance, willing to adjust our ways.

3. Obey His Instructions

Learning doesn’t happen without action. If God reveals something to us, we need to apply it in our lives. The mark of true learning is change. Wisdom comes from applying the principles of God’s Word and trusting His leading, even when it’s difficult.

Sometimes, the dark moments—the times we feel off course or stuck—are the very times God is doing His deepest work in us.

As Corrie Ten Boom wisely said, “When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.”

When the going gets tough, the tough get learning.

So, when life feels tough and the answers seem far away, don’t abandon the process. Trust the Teacher. Ask Him to show you what He’s teaching, and be willing to learn.

Sometimes, you have to take the very thing you are aching for and put it back in His hands and say - I trust your process.

Reflecting on different seasons of my life, I can see how God worked through challenging circumstances to shift my focus from wanting change around me to experiencing transformation within me.

When I could not find a job after many applications, God gave me this scripture: “I am your ever-present help in times of trouble.” I knew then that He was teaching me to gain strength and hope in difficulty from Him alone. This lesson cannot be taught if there is no difficulty.

I remember working under a difficult boss and praying for God to open the door to a new job. Instead of moving me out of that situation, He revealed areas in my character that needed growth. He taught me to be spirit-led in my responses and to handle conflict with grace. Sometimes, God allows us to work under a “Saul” to get the “Saul” out of us.

In my marriage, when my husband made decisions that weren’t spirit-led, I prayed for God to change him. But God’s response was different than I expected: “I am your rock and security, regardless of your husband’s choices.” Through this, I learned to find my stability in God alone, not in my husband’s actions. No matter where my husband was in his walk with God, I could remain anchored in God’s unchanging faithfulness.

Then, when my children went through a difficult season and strayed from the path, I pleaded with God to intervene and bring them back immediately. But once again, His response was about my heart: He reminded me that He loved them even more than I did and that I had to trust His process. Instead of removing the struggles, God showed me that the very challenges I wanted Him to take them out of were the moments He was using to shape them. I had to press into His promises and walk by faith, believing in His timing before seeing any breakthrough.

Each of these moments has taught me that while I may want circumstances to change, God is often more focused on transforming me in the process.

God reveals a lesson to be learned and a change to be made in every season.

Through it all, He’s shown me that His ways are higher, and His plans are always for our good—even when they don’t unfold the way we expect.