THE GROW PODCAST | S1E7 | Discernment | Summer Lee | Purpose Driven Coaching & Consulting
Beth 0:00
Welcome to the Grow Podcast. I'm Beth, and this is the last episode of this season. I think this might be one of the most personal and powerful conversations that Summer, and I have had yet. The topic today is discerning God's voice, and when Summer talks about hearing God's voice, she doesn't just mean with her ears. She shares how God uses all of our senses to lead us, to comfort us and to confirm his presence. Now what she shares today is probably not gonna surprise anyone, but I do think it's gonna stir your heart in a fresh way. I start the conversation by asking her, could you please tell us how you personally recognize God's voice over all the other possibilities whispering in your ear. I think it's time to lean in and just jump in to hear her response to that very question. Let's get started.
Summer 0:50
I think this is such an important thing, and it's something that I've been tuning into a lot more lately. I think when we hear God's voice right hearing God's voice, we so often just think of that from the perspective of our sense of hearing and hearing him speak. And while God does speak to us that way, I have been learning a lot more lately about how God uses all of our senses to communicate with us. And for example, our five senses right, our sight, our taste, our touch, our smell, our ability to hear, and then that sixth sense of knowing and I started to tune in to things like, how is God showing me something with my eyes, right? Or, how is, how is something that I may feel in my body a sensation or an experience? You know, how is God communicating with me that way? And it's been really cool to experience God in all those different ways in my senses. So you asked me, How do I personally recognize when God is leading me? I think that when you when I experience God, it is usually undeniable, and it does come through one of these senses, but its test is me knowing God's character and nature enough to be able to recognize that it is him. So often God will just give me a picture in my mind's eye. Sometimes I do feel like I hear words. I hear sentences. They're not audible, but I still feel like I've heard them. There have been times when I've walked into a space and the smell in there was it triggered something in me that that made me want to flee the space. I've had that happen so many it reminded me of things that I recognized as not the type of environment or spirit that I wanted to be associated with. And I think very often for me, God just gives me these, these knowings. There's just something in my spirit that that knows what he wants. And there is a clarity in that, and a piece about that. And so then you asked me, like, how what does it feel like? Anytime I feel like God's leading me, it feels I don't even know if I could describe it. How do you describe experiencing God? You know it's it's hard to describe, but often I'm brought to tears. I will have chills in my body. You know, it's just I feel in awe of, oh my gosh, the God of the universe is communicating with me, and you crave that more and more and more. And so my heart's like posture has been to to experience more of that. So what can I do to experience more of that as just been my mission lately,
Beth 4:08
When we become so intentional about our senses like that, might be like an aha moment. I know it was for me. I don't remember who first originally told me that I was dealing with some anxiety at the time, and they asked me, What is God saying to you? I'm like, I don't know. I can't hear him because of the anxiety. They gave me the suggestion that when you're the moment you realize that you're feeling that anxiety, just go through each sense, find something in your atmosphere that you can smell, find something that you like, pay attention to the dog barking, or the car making a noise, or wherever you are, just intentionally step back into the moment it grounds you by going through each one of the senses and forcing yourself to smell something, to taste something, to feel something. Then being aware of those senses brings you back into the moment. And that anxiety was pulling me back into the past, or making me like worry about the future I was so not in the present moment. What you just said brought me back to that memory. You said it so beautifully that you can confirm it, because you you've gotten to know him, and you know His character and you know his nature. So can you share a time when God's direction became clear to you, maybe in an unexpected way?
Summer 5:31
I think I've told the story in one of the other podcasts. But as it relates to this question, when I was struggling with the decision of selling my financial planning practice. I felt conflicted, and I didn't really know the right decision to make, but the clarity came when God dropped the name of the my business, my new business into my spirit and gave me just a glimpse of what that business would look like. And that was when you ask, What's unexpected? I think it was unexpected because that was, I won't say that's never happened before, but to be given the name for my business with such clarity, I wasn't expecting that, but it was so compelling, and it was so clearly God, that it moved me to quick action to take steps to make the changes, some excitement too, and fear all at the same time. You know, it was all the things, yeah, all the things. But I fully recognize that if God is giving me direction and I don't obey, I mean, I'm not going to live the life that he wants me to live, right? And so even though I may fear it, even though it may be scary, even though I don't know what it looks like between A and Z, you know, my response was just Yes, yes and Amen, yes, yes and amen. Okay, what do I need to do first?
Beth 7:17
That is so that's so good because, you know, a lot of times that takes a while. I mean, definitely when you're in rhythm, it happens more quickly. It seems like you're tuned into what he's saying, and he's so, like, tender and just confirming, you know, what he's the direction he's taken us into. But sometimes that doesn't happen, you know? And so I love that story, because when it does happen, you know, now you're, in hindsight, you have your business established. You've, you've, like, walked into that. And so it seems like just second nature, purpose driven, like, purpose driven, like, but he's so multifaceted. Like, look out many different directions and layers that's come into and just your whole framework, it's, it's really, truly remarkable to to understand the story behind that.
Summer 8:07
Yeah, because at the time, I really didn't know anything about what the business would look like, who I would serve. You know, it was a name. It was literally just a name.
Beth 8:17
I know, when you were telling that story this time, I was thinking, golly, like you're, you're you say you're wrestling with selling this other business and the logistics of that, and then God gives you this name for a new business. I mean, it's more than just him providing you with a name. It's providing you with cement confirmation that, hey, you it's time to leave this one thing. There's a necessary ending there, and transition into this new thing, because he doesn't give a name for something new, just because it sounds cool. You know what I'm saying? It's like, Hey, baby girl, you're, you're moving into this new season. Yes, your name, like, here's something you can walk toward. It's just very powerful.
Summer 8:55
And I would imagine anybody might ask, Well, how did you know that was from God? And my answer to that would be that I felt like it was confirmed by the glimpses that he gave me of what that looked like. It was twofold, and it was very much in alignment with what I think God's character and nature is and
Beth 9:16
And you probably laid it down in front of someone else, your husband, your friend, or whatever, and so you have people around you that are like, yes, that resonates. My spirit is able to resonate with that. And the truth is, is we might hear God and misinterpret it. I mean, I've done that before, sure, you know, and then it's taken me a little time to go full circle. I've also had times where I've heard God very clearly, and I was just adamant, and it just didn't work out the way that I thought. And I could look back and I could say, Yeah, I jumped out of alignment. But it was only in hindsight. I had no awareness of it at the time. So it's not at this intentional, oh, I'm going to just jump out of alignment. You know, it's, it's, it's not, but to just tune into his voice and know that that grace covers you. When you get it wrong a little bit, when you don't have it all figured out.
Summer 9:39
And sometimes we may hear God, but it doesn't look like what we think it's going to look like. You know, for example, the kidney stone that I had last year, that I battled with for several months, I felt very clear that what I heard God say to me meant that the stone would pass naturally the way I wanted it to. And while what God said to me did come true, it just didn't happen the way I thought it would, right. It looked a little bit different, but that's okay, because I still knew that, like God, God had my back, right?
Beth 10:46
And don't you think a lot of times when that happens like that, it doesn't happen the way that you thought. You can go back to the original vision or dream or word or kind of concept that you had in your mind, and you realize God didn't change what he said. It was my limited perspective, yes, willing to step into an unlimited source. And so, yeah, it doesn't happen the way that I thought that it would happen. The more you get to know him, you can kind of like, understand that you need to step into that rhythm in a different way. So it's not always hindsight that, you know, hey, this is this is happening. You can stand firm on something that is that, with all other metrics, seems impossible
Summer 10:47
well and you know what keeps coming to my mind, that I just think is so amazing about our God, is, even if you misinterpreted what he said, maybe you even missed it and you didn't hear it right, or you weren't whatever wrong? Yeah, you got it wrong, right? God's character in nature, he loves us enough that he's going to bring that back around, right? Like I felt, I felt with like my husband, God would not let me ignore the messages that just kept getting sent. You know, that I was supposed to meet him, and when I tell the story of how we met, I'll often just joke that, like, like, God just wouldn't let me say no to him. He just kept putting him in my face. You know, he kept doing these things. And so I love how God would will, will bring it back around. If it's part of it, if it's his direction, and if it's his leading, he's not going to let us completely miss the mark, right? So you don't have to fear that. You don't have to worry about that. God's going to bring it back to you at some point and help confirm for you the direction that you need to go.
Summer 12:39
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Beth 13:08
I love that your framework and the whole thing from like, if you just rise above it, and you look at Grace, and you look at rest, and you look at obedience and waiting, it really is the guardrails between getting out of alignment and to stay in alignment with joy and eager anticipation. You want to be hearing his voice. I mean, he's everywhere, all at once, right? I mean the Word says that, but we want to host his presence, you know, and it's what you're teaching is very, very important.
Summer 13:43
Well, you just made me think of something. I heard a message recently where he was talking about how God is always speaking, right? He's always trying to communicate with us. It's just our job to tune in to that. And we might have mentioned this on a different episode, but I heard this great it was a podcast or a reel, I guess, from Preston Morrison to have to give him credit for this. They were talking about how sometimes God changes channel and how he's speaking to us. Don't, don't think God's quiet, because God's never quiet. He's always communicating with us, but maybe he just kind of switched to a different channel that you need to tune into. And that was just like, whoa. You know, for me, like, that's so right. So I just want to encourage people with that, that if you feel like I don't hear, I don't hear from God, you know, he's He's not speaking to me, well, where might you need to tune in, through these different senses to reconnect with him.
Beth 14:42
That's really, really good. I think the more you hear him, the more confident you become, um, in knowing that you're going to hear him. So when it comes to confidence, like, what's something you've learned about God's voice that has strengthened your confidence? Like, is there an anticipation there for the people listening that, hey. I if I'm not confident that I hear God's voice right now, the confidence does come
Summer 15:04
Absolutely. It's a product of of our spiritual maturity, think and, and I think it's a product of our disciplines to to to intentionally tune into him, right? Like I'm not going to as clearly hear God's voice if I'm like, never slowing down, right? Or I'm not creating space, or if I'm not reading His word, if I'm not spending time in prayer, if I'm not spending time in worship, right? So I think that it's important to say that if you're not experiencing that and you want to, you have to learn how we all have to you. We all have to learn how to cultivate God's presence. And you know me personally, I know you probably did the same, but you know, I'll turn on worship music. I know you're so good about having your your space, you know, and you're like, This is my space and in quiet time, and I've been trying to develop better disciplines around that, but I will say this is going to contradict what I just said. I mean, I was vacuuming the other day, and I was praying, and God spoke to me so clearly while I was vacuuming, so God still has a way to get through, I mean, but I do think it's important to make sure that we're cultivating his presence, so that we give opportunities to be able to hear what he's telling us.
Beth 16:34
Yeah, and the anticipation is, the more you do that, the confidence becomes a god confidence, like he instills that confidence. This isn't something that you can manufacture and just like, be like, Oh, I'm confident. But then you become confident.
Summer 16:48
Well, I think the biggest confidence comes from knowing that if God is directing me, and God is leading me, if I step into that, it will be fruitful, it will be blessed, it will be favored. Doesn't mean it's not going to be challenging or might not be difficult at times, but it's, it's that piece of obedience to Me that is so freeing. You know, to know that God's way is the best way. I didn't have to figure it all out, right? And so, you know, it becomes this, like, strong, strong desire, like, Please God, like I want. I'm desperate before you, you know I want to hear your voice, because I know that any step that I take, that is a step that you're directing is going to be the right way.
Beth 17:31
That is so, so good.
Summer 17:33
And I think we have to have that, that belief, because we may not have always in our lives, right? Everyone may not be so sure is God's way better than my way. And I'm here to tell you that God's way is better than our way. It absolutely is. And when you experience that, and you see the fruit of what God will do with your obedience, like, you can't go back,
Beth 17:54
I love that. There's no going back. Yeah, there's no going back.
Summer 17:58
Well, you know, you and I talked a little bit about some of the practical ways of like, how do you test or confirm that something that you have is truly from God? And I know we spoke to that a little bit, but I just think it bears mentioning again that you know, if you're experiencing, well, let me, let me say it this way, we test that by God's Word does just what we feel like we've received, or what we've heard, or the leading that you know that we feel that we're the guidance that we're getting. Does that align with God's word? Does it align with his character and nature, and what fruit is it producing? So if we're going down a path is producing fear in us, or it's producing guilt in us, or it's producing anger in us, or all, all these emotions, right? That that, that we know are not godly emotions, I think that that helps us discern that we're not on the right path. Right? I have no peace. I've done like I'm not feeling there's, there's something in me that is stirring up anxiety, right? That's, that's how I would kind of test that. But if, if the leading is, it gives me peace, it gives me joy, it gives me confidence, and it's in alignment with God's word, that's how I would test that what I'm hearing is from God. Would you agree?
Beth 19:24
I mean, I agree like probably 99 point 9.9% and the point 1% would be like, I know that my personally, my emotions are not always caught up with what I should and could be doing. A lot of times, my emotions are just they're indicating one thing, but I'm letting them, like truly dictate. So if I rely completely on how I'm feeling, I think I would get off track a lot.
Summer 19:52
That's a good point.
Beth 19:53
I believe everything you said, but it's and because emotions, they lie to us. They really do. They don't always now, I mean, I can walk into a room sometimes and feel something instantly and be like I didn't ask to fill that. I don't want to know that, and I can't even explain how I knew that. And it makes me anxious. It makes me hurt. It makes me feel sorry for that person. It gives me major anxiety. But the Lord's like, No, I'm calling you to confront reality with that person. I'm calling you to support that person. I'm calling you to do this. And I'm like, I don't want to. I don't want to. And so where I've really fallen into an awareness is sometimes I have these conversations with God where I'm like, I don't really feel like it, but I'll do this. I'll start negotiating kind of sort of in my spirit. Like recently, I heard him say he tends to, like, slap me up the face, like, in the most gentle way, right? But I literally heard him say that Partial obedience is disobedience, yeah, and so if you are asking to hear His voice, and you are and you are getting in rhythm, and you're drawing closer to him, and you're hungry for him, that doesn't produce an emptiness. It doesn't produce like a comparison or feeling like you're inadequate or don't have the energy. It doesn't produce any of that. It produces the opposite of that. It makes you feel really, really full. And that's been a reality check for me lately, because, of course, I want to be obedient. No one that knows me would say that I was disobedient. But if I fly under the radar like that and just kind of like justify doing what I want to do. It always gets me sideways.
Summer 21:44
You're reminding me of a story this actually happened to me. Was it this week, last week, when I was vacuuming that's
Beth 21:52
I am going to be here the next time you vacuum after this episode?
Summer 21:57
Well, I I had been praying most of the morning. But as I was vacuuming, I began praying about surrender. I think I've said this in a few other podcasts, that I've been spending a lot of my time in prayer, surrendering in minute detail lately. And as soon as I began that in my prayer, God dropped in my spirit that I needed to surrender my time? Oh, wow. Well, my first response in that, I don't know if this is exactly what you're saying. Maybe it's a little bit different, but I felt like the enemy jumped on that. And my first response was, all of my excuses, right? All of my excuses of, how do you what do you want me to do? God, I mean, I got this. I've got that going on. You know, what am I? You know, all the things, the the excuses. But I recognize just as quickly, that's the enemy. No, that's that's not from God. And then I remember I literally said, I mean, okay, God, I recognize that I need to spend more time in the Word. What do you want me to do? I mean, I'm going through, like, a Bible study right now, where or a small group. We're going through the Bible chronologically. And, I mean, that's cool. I've been reading a lot. It's been really cool. But, you know, he's still convicting me with this. So I'm like, What do you want me to do? God, just go open it up. What do you want me to read? I don't know. I mean, I'm in this dialog with God. So finish vacuuming. I go sit down on the floor. I grabbed my Bible. I just open it up to like this page that it was marked not intentionally. There were some I have several things just stuck in my Bible. And there was, like, a poem My mom had written me when I went off to college that was stuck in there. And I opened it up and I began to read, and it got my attention enough that I backed up to the beginning of the chapter. It was Isaiah six, and as I started reading through it, I started crying, because here I am going, what do you want me to do? God, just open it up. Yes, I do Summer, you know.
Beth 23:57
And I say he slapped you in the face. I opened it up, and I literally started reading through lyrics to a song that has been one of my favorite songs that has just been on repeat for me lately, the holy song, holy, holy. Holy is the Lord God Almighty. All the earth is full of your glory. And I mean, I just couldn't help but cry, because I think God was like, I don't really care what you open it to. I'm gonna I got something whatever pays you turn to. I got something there for you. But he let that experience kind of show me that. And as I kept reading, there was so much relevance in that chapter to, like, what's going on in the world lately, around Israel. And I mean, it was just so relevant. And I thought, wow, you know, wow. But back to your your story. The point is, I had to recognize God's voice from these other voices that were not from God that were trying to create excuses and reasons why. I shouldn't just obey, right?
Beth 25:03
That's really, really good.
Summer 25:04
It was powerful, yeah, after I had kidney stone removal surgery, there had been course months that were hard, but the last several weeks, it had been unrelenting pain, and it had really moved me into a just a dark, isolated place. And surgery is really hard. Recovery from surgery was very difficult. There's just been so much pain. And normal for me prior to this is I wake up with, you know, no, I don't just wake up with. I have worship songs in my spirit a lot, and I'm always kind of singing because I listen to it, right? I kind of marinate in this and I hadn't been having that for a while. You know, I had been a little angry at God, even though I knew I had no right to whatsoever at all. You know, sometimes you you do feel that way. And I had just been in this difficult place, and maybe the second or third day after the stint had been removed from my ureter, I woke up, and the first thing I had in my my spirit, was the song, Hallelujah to the one who came and paved away. Hallelujah to the one who died and rose again. You know, Hallelujah to the name above all names, glory, honor and power. And I was just singing it, and I hugged Jason, and I told him that song was in my spirit. And he said, well, not he said, I said I didn't have a song. My spirit had a song. I mean, it has been so powerful to me to realize that two things, one, even when we don't have anything in us, our spirit is alive and it's working, and what it wants more than anything is to worship God.
Summer 26:59
That's so good, yes, and that's what I realized in that moment, is that it didn't matter about my pain. It didn't matter what I, you know, had gone through. What mattered was that God carried me through it, and the posture was to worship Him, and that's what my Spirit did. And you know. So when we say, when God speaks to you, you just have to, you know, it's the experience, you know, I can't really describe it to you. I think my prayer for everybody that's listening is that you'll do just that, that you'll experience God, that you'll give God the space to work so powerfully in your life, and that you'll experience Him in a way that changes your life forever.
Beth 27:42
What a way to end the season that was so rich. What I love about summer is how she invites us to listen for God in the everyday things, not just in the quiet times or the big decisions, but in the vacuuming and the surrender and in the stillness and in the struggle and the way she lives it out, not perfectly, but wholeheartedly. It reminds me that hearing God's voice isn't about getting it right every single time. It's about drawing near and trusting his heart, even when we don't fully understand the path. If this episode encouraged you take a moment to sit with it, God might be speaking more than you think, something else may surface and really, really consider sharing it with a friend. Thanks for joining us for this series, and we cannot wait to see you for season two.
