Signs You've Already Drifted From God (Even If You Don't Feel It)
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Signs You've Already Drifted From God (Even If You Don't Feel It)

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  • 10 min read

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Nobody drifts on purpose. But it happens to more leaders than you think — including ones who preach about it. The truth is, the biggest risk you face as a leader right now probably won't show up in your budget review or your elder board meeting. It's spiritual drift — and it's sneakier than you think. In this episode, Ryan Franklin gets honest about a recent season of spiritual depletion and draws from his doctoral research and Solomon's story to show you what drift really looks like. You'll learn the three signs drift may already be underway in your life and three practical protections to get back to alignment before it costs you.






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Transcript


welcome to the Christian Leader Made Simple Podcast. I'm your host, Ryan Franklin, and I'm an executive coach and the Vice President of Strategic Leadership and Operations for Pentecostal Resources Group and the United Pentecostal Church International.


If you're leading in ministry or a business, then you likely know just how easy it is to get scattered, to lose your focus, and to start feeling ineffective. I've been there myself, and that's why I created the Christian Leader Self Assessment. It's free, and in just 10 minutes, it'll show you exactly how to gain clarity and confidence as a leader. Go to ryanfranklin.org or you can click the link in the description to take the assessment today.


And so now let's dive into today's episode.


Nobody drifts from God on purpose. You don't wake up one day and just decide to move away from God. It's always slower than that and quieter than that. It looks like a packed schedule or skipped prayer time or maybe a decision that was made without really thinking it through. And then one day you look up and you're not exactly where you thought you were or where you would be.


So let me ask you something here, and I want you to actually think about this for a second. When was the last time that you were honest with yourself about your spiritual condition? Not with your ministry's condition, not with your church numbers, your condition?


Because here's what I've noticed: Most leaders are really good at evaluating everything around them and almost never evaluate what's happening inside of them. And that blind spot, that's what this episode is all about.


I'll be honest with you, I'm not coming at this topic from a distance, because the past couple of months have been one of the more transitional seasons of my entire life. There's been a ton of change, a lot of moving pieces, a lot of days where things just didn't look or feel like they normally do in my life.


And what I noticed, almost without realizing it, is that my devotional life started to suffer. It wasn't something dramatic, nothing nobody would have noticed from the outside, but I found myself rushing through my quiet time with God, skipping some of that stillness that I normally count on every single day. Doing my devotion out of routine instead of out of hunger.


My normal routines—the places I go, like the POA sanctuary—the routines I've built for many years, the patterns that have kept me grounded. Well, these past few months, they got disrupted. And when my routines or my rhythms broke, I felt it in a major way, but it wasn't immediate. It was sort of more gradual. It was sort of a low-grade depletion.


I think the best way to describe it was that it was sort of a spiritual flatness.


You know, I've been a pastor or on the pastoral team at POA for over 21 years. I've preached and taught this stuff for many years. I coach leaders on the same stuff. And it still happened to me because drift does not discriminate. It doesn't care how long you've been in ministry or how many people you lead.


It happens in the quiet, unguarded spaces of an overly busy life. And if I'm being honest with you, that's what made me want to do this episode.


Here's the thing: what I just described is a spiritual problem, but it's also a leadership risk.


I've been working on my doctorate degree in strategic leadership. One of the research areas I've been studying is risk management—specifically the kinds of risks that conventional frameworks completely miss.


What I found, backed by research, is that the biggest risk most leaders face is not financial; it's not a strategic risk; it's not even a relational risk.


Believe it or not, it's actually spiritual risk—and more specifically, spiritual drift.


And the reason it's so dangerous is because you just don't see it coming.


Today I want to do three things for you:


First, I want to show you that spiritual drift is a real documented risk. This isn't just a devotional idea; this is an actual leadership risk with real consequences.


Second thing I want to do is walk you through Solomon's story because as I was studying this for my doctoral class, I realized his trajectory is one of the most instructive and sobering case studies in leadership history.


Thirdly, I want to give you something practical—some very specific indicators and habits that can protect you before the drift goes too far.


So let's jump in.


Here's the first one: the risk that nobody names when we're talking about risk management.


The research says that risk frameworks—the ones organizations use to protect themselves—are built to identify problems that can be measured; things like financial exposure or operational failure or strategic miscalculation. And they're good at those things.


But here's the problem: every single one of those risk frameworks assumes something—they all assume that the person at the top making decisions is spiritually sound; they assume that the leader's internal compass is still pointing north.


But when it's not, then that framework has no mechanism to detect that—none.


Because pastors and Christian leaders—unfortunately—you can't put your spiritual condition on a spreadsheet; you can't audit spiritual condition in a boardroom or in some performance review.


And that's what I'm calling spiritual risk.


Here's my working definition: Spiritual risk is simple—it's when your leadership keeps moving forward but your walk with God slowly stops keeping up. It's like the engine is still running and moving forward; it's just not connected to the right power source anymore.


This typically isn't sudden—not one big dramatic moment—but progressive—and I call it drift.


I preached about this once at POA—that's the key word—because that's how it works: slow and subtle.


By the time consequences show up in your leadership or organization or relationships, then drift has usually been happening for a long time.


Here's why this matters so much for Christian leaders specifically: We aren't just managing organizations; we are shepherding people—even if you're leading in a secular business—we're making decisions that affect families and futures and faith—and the quality of those decisions is directly tied to the quality of our connection with God.


Proverbs 4:7 says: "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." Notice it doesn't say wisdom is one of many things—it says wisdom is THE principal thing—not strategy, not experience, not skill—but wisdom!


The moment a leader starts making decisions without wisdom, things begin drifting—and people around them pay the price.


Now here's what makes spiritual drift particularly sneaky—it doesn't feel like drift while it's happening—it feels like busyness; it feels like productivity; it feels like just a season—and you tell yourself you'll get back to your normal routine when things settle down; you'll get back to depths when projects finish; you'll get back to intimacy with God once you get through this transition...


And problem is something else always gets in the way—and drift continues quietly.


I want to give you three signs drift may already be underway—not to create anxiety—but because early detection is everything; awareness is vital—I had to do this myself:


First sign: Your prayer life has become functional rather than relational—you’re still praying but mostly requests and reciting prayers—it’s routine rather than conversation—a real relationship conversation with God has shifted away.


Second sign: The Word has stopped surprising you—when reading Scripture nothing hits like it used to—nothing convicts or stretches or encourages—you know sometimes this happens—but if consistently nothing moves you—that’s obligation rather than encounter—a problem sign!


Third sign: You’re making decisions on autopilot now—leading by experience and instinct instead of discernment—the decisions may be okay but aren’t filtered through genuine spiritual wisdom as before.


If any one of these spoke to you—stay with me—what’s next will help!


Now let me show you full-scale drift through scripture via Solomon—the most gifted leader in Bible history:


Solomon didn’t start badly—in fact he started at best place possible!


When God appeared at Gibeon in dream He said ask whatever Solomon wanted—not wealth nor military nor long life—but wisdom—to discern good from evil!


Solomon knew what mattered most—and result?


Unparalleled prosperity!


International influence!


Completion of Temple!


Kingdom at its peak!


1 Kings 4:29 says God gave Solomon wisdom exceeding much even as sand on seashore—a leader whose decision-making aligned fully with divine wisdom—and results showed it!


But then something shifted—not all at once—but gradually…


Here’s where story gets uncomfortable—the drift didn’t start with rebellion—it started with relationships!


Solomon made political alliances as kings did then—and those alliances came with wives…lots of wives…


Those wives brought their gods—their altars—their worship practices…


Solomon accommodated all—not because he stopped believing—but because easier than conflict…


Relationships mattered…


Alliances strategically useful…


Each compromise small enough individually justified…


Sound familiar?


1 Kings 11:1-4 says King Solomon loved many strange women…and when old his wives turned his heart after other gods…and his heart was not perfect with Lord as David’s was…


His heart was turned away—not flipped—not shattered—just slowly over time turned…


That’s exactly how spiritual drift works—a thousand small accommodations no one flags…each individually justifiable…moving further from alignment protecting him…


Research calls this organizational hubris—a pattern developing in high-performing leader/organization where past success replaces present dependence—you stop needing God as before because things going well budget growing people responding name known…


Suddenly without realizing trust system more than source lead from resume instead knees…


Solomon multiplied wives accumulated wealth made alliances—all prohibited by Deuteronomy 17—not restriction but protection mechanism knowing these would replace what made Solomon effective initially:


Wisdom


Dependence


Connection


That “north star” effect from God—the clarity from genuine spiritual connection—the heightened judgment internal compass keeping leader oriented amid uncertainty—


When Solomon had it led extraordinarily—


When eroded decisions reflected cultural accommodation personal appetite instead divine wisdom—


Kingdom paid price—


Kingdom unified under David built peak under Solomon split after death—


Not enemy attack


Not economic collapse


But long-term consequences leader’s spiritual drift


Pause here—I ask directly:


Have you looked back on decision made year ago maybe five years ago thinking wouldn’t have made if healthier season?


Worth reflecting because questionable decisions often evidence drift already happening when decision made—


Drift came first then decision reflected drift—


Solution isn’t just better decisions—it’s getting back alignment producing them—


Good news:


Spiritual drift not inevitable nor irreversible—


But can’t manage via spreadsheet nor fix by strategic plan alone—


Requires something personal—


Here are three protections research/scripture point consistently:


Number one:


Build active discernment practice daily not seasonal—


Solomon’s early reign worked because decision-making anchored bigger than him—


Anchor doesn’t maintain itself—


Deuteronomy 17-19 commands Israel’s king write law copy keep with him read all days life—not once ordination nor hard times but daily protection mechanism—


Drift always available pull toward self-reliance constant only counteracted by consistent engagement source wisdom—


For me during recent transition normal devotional rhythms disrupted usual places/prayer times/pace life changed bomb blew up daily rhythms instead protecting life let thin out—


Within weeks noticed flatness lower discernment subtle anxiety wouldn’t leave—


Honest reason simple daily connection God weaker paying price—


So let me ask humbly:


What does consistent engagement with God’s wisdom look like for YOU right now?


Not Bible college days nor sermon prep mode but actual daily leadership life?


If answer thin—that’s indicator first step rebuild practice—not perfect nor dramatic—just consistent practice especially during tough seasons—


Number two:


Build relational accountability having real access your spiritual condition—


Sobering part Solomon surrounded himself people accommodating his drift—


Scripture records no advisor prophet friend stood up saying King Solomon turning away must stop—


Maybe tried maybe ignored but accountability dysfunctional


Research confirms leaders lacking genuine accountability lose internal checks recognizing values-behavior gap starting


Important distinction:


Not accountability partners knowing sin struggles only


But people accessing soul


Dr John Townsend calls Life Team members


People telling when joy low preaching head not heart something off countenance picking up subtle signs


Question isn’t having people around probably do


Question do they have permission speak into spiritual condition? Access inside not just ministry politics version?


If no one has such access operating without early warning system serious issue must correct soon


Number three (more practical):


Define personal markers spiritual alignment before need them


Vague commitments staying close insufficient because drift doesn’t feel like drift midstream feels normal busy season expecting return old season


Need specific personal markers YOUR markers not someone else’s


For me clear indicator alignment waking settled peace heart even amid hardship groundedness connected bigger than chaos surrounding peace supernatural presence within absent signals off balance


Another marker quality prayer—not length/location but quality talking genuinely vs babbling task losing conversation feel signal decline


Encourage spend time soon identifying YOUR markers start mine use others study figure early signs emotional life decision making relationship changes connected vs running empty disconnected write down these signs


Consequences visible leadership mean drift long ongoing catch early save cost later


To close:


Solomon started advantaged leader divine wisdom covenant alignment unparalleled resources influence ended fractured kingdom—not external attack nor strategy failure but spiritual drift slow invisible disconnect between leadership God who enabled success


Most striking no single moment choosing walk away but series accommodations distractions seasons drifting new normal until looking up realizing far from intended place


Most dangerous leadership risk may hide outside budget review board meetings may happen quietly unseen places no eyes watching


Leaders finishing well looking back saying stayed true aren’t necessarily most gifted talented resourced but those repeatedly returning alignment despite seasons drifting despite realizing lost way—they come back!


One next step today:


Be honest about actual spiritual condition get quiet ask God honestly show where drift started already then DO SOMETHING about it because YOU are too valuable kingdom people lead letting drift go unaddressed hurts everyone involved!


My name is Ryan Franklin thanks so much for joining me today on Christian Leader Made Simple Podcast!


Copyright © 2026 Ryan Franklin. All rights reserved.


 
 
 
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