Woman Evolve with Sarah Jakes Roberts - By Any Means Necessary

Episode Date: October 8, 2025

Sis what is the tea?! SJR is minding ya'll business this week! Sometimes we get so used to surviving that we forget how to just be. In this solo episode, Sarah slows us down long enough to check in on our hunger, our wholeness, and the one thing that really matters. She's talking about prioritizing what God is actually asking for, not what everybody else expects from us. If you've been carrying too much, running on autopilot, or trying to make peace with a season that feels uncertain, this one's for you. It's real, it's reflective, and it's a reminder that what God placed in you deserves your focus. It's that serious. Call in and let Sarah mind your business at 214-790-7871

October is breast cancer and domestic violence awareness month. And this month, we want to highlight stories from women who are survivors and are willing to share their stories. Before we drop into today's episode, I want you to hear this story from Whitney Sanders. I believe that it will bless you. Hi, I'm Whitney Sanders. I'm a stage three breast cancer survivor, a single mom of two. I was diagnosed in 2023 with breast cancer and after chemotherapy. radiation, and a double mastectomy, I just celebrated my first year in remission. For me, breast cancer taught me a lot about freedom and about surviving hard things. It was during this journey that I never expected to be on,

that God really showed me what it meant to surrender to his will for myself and for my life. I wasn't able to work during breast cancer treatments. And so I had a lot of time to just sit still and really ask God what was his plan in all of this? What was the purpose of this pain that I was going through? And it was in that moment where God said, when are you going to set aside your plans and allow me to have my way? And I said, God, okay, you have your way. and in that it was such a freedom and release that came with knowing that I no longer had the burden of my plans.

I didn't have to force myself to fit into societal norms or what others expected me to be or do. And with that, after months and months of treatments and multiple surgeries, I started to find my path and find my path. and find this purpose that God had for me. And it was, after years of things not working out, God is showing me that surrendering to him and giving him the freedom to have his way in my life. I've been able to start walking in my purpose. And now I'm speaking and advocating for women in healthcare

and women who have survived other hardships outside of medical hardships. I just completed my first book. about life after survival of hard things to help other women on their journey of healing. And I know that had I never faced breast cancer, had I never just allowed myself to surrender to what God was trying to do with me, but I was always too busy to accept that and listen, that this wouldn't have happened. and it was truly one of those moments where you see God working all things together for your good and his glory. And it reminds me that God is often trying to show us his plan for us.

And he's giving us the reminders that we have freedom in him and we have purpose in him. but sometimes we are just too busy within our own plans to hear him. And so there are times when he forces us to rest and forces us to sit still in these seasons. And as much as breast cancer wasn't a journey I ever expected to be on or a club I ever thought I would join, I am so thankful for the journey and for the opportunity because I never would have experienced. this level of surrender and freedom that I have now. And it's made me not just a better woman. It's made me a better mother to my daughters.

And hopefully an inspiration to them that it's okay to just be. It's okay to not have all the answers. It's okay to not have a plan. It's okay to just be and know that you are enough and know that God is never going to let you. be without or that he's never going to not allow his will for you to work out. It's not our burden to figure out. It is our job to just trust and have faith. And at the end of the day, that's what I want to be is an inspiration to my daughters and to other women that it's okay and

that you are enough and freedom and surrender are just as beautiful. I have to let you know if you're anywhere near Dallas this Friday, you need to be at Hey You. Hey you doors open at 6th and we're kicking it off at 630 sharp. This month's theme is freedom to change. We're bringing that to life with games, giveaways, worship, sisterhood, testimonies and some real conversations that I promise will bless you. So grab your girls, grab your mama, grab whoever you need to, and come hang out with us. It's going to be a whole experience, and I don't want you to miss it. With that being said, let's go back to the episode. Good morning, good morning, good morning. Is it morning? It's morning for me. I am recording this.

In the morning, I just finished school runs, and I am excited about today's episode because it is a solo episode, and I have been praying and really seeking God about a few things that I want to share with you that I think will be helpful with you in your journey. But first, let's catch up. At an incredible, incredible weekend, I went to New York. My son moved to New York in June, and it was supposed to be for a six-week program. But we knew that once he got there, he wanted to, you know, network, make connections and see if he could land a job so that he could stay. Before he even left for the six-week program, he had already landed a job. And so he He's since been promoted twice. He's doing some work with musical theater and Broadway and really

enjoying it. This weekend, I got to go to New York and to see him and deep clean his apartment and feed him and just totally act like a mom. And it was really, it was really restorative to see him living out his life and his dream. You know, this is my baby that I had at 14. And I know, I don't know. I like I talk about that a lot and maybe it's because it was a big part of my identity for a long time just being a teen mom and that being something that I had to work through. But seeing him be fulfilled and to live out his life at 23 in a way that I would have never been able to do was just beautiful for me and to be just grateful to God that I was able to help provide an environment and possibilities and opportunities for him to do that made me feel like,

you know what? We had some turbulence for takeoff and a few rough spots, but we finally hit this space of, you know, smooth sailing, which I know isn't always promised, which is why when you are in smooth sailing, taking the time to acknowledge it and embrace it can be very empowering. So being able to spend some time with him was really great. my brother and sister and love went up with me, and then our kids who met us up there, my bonus babies, the older kids, the siblings met us up there. And it was just a good time to be with him. And lots of opportunity for reflection, he's grown now. And now that he's

navigating the world, you know, he's able to see and imagine what it was like to have two children. I had two children at his age, two children. And at 23, let me see. see it, 23, what year was at? If I'm 30, that was 14. That was just doing math here. In 2011, I was probably just beginning to ask myself some serious questions about my life

and my future and what I could and could not invest in if I wanted to really be the kind of person that I was hungry for. everyone always wants to know like how do you transform your life it starts with hunger not doing a lot of people want to transform their life by doing something different but you got to be hungry for it first so hungry that you're willing to do whatever it takes to get that transformation so in scriptures like blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness it's not blessed are those who want to be righteous it's blessed are those who hunger and thirst. Because from that place of hunger and thirst, you're willing to walk away from the toxic friendships. You're willing to get the support you need. You're willing to create those

boundaries and to live a life that reflects God's glory. Transformation starts with hunger. And so I was just beginning to get hungry at 23 for a different version of myself. What I know now, but I didn't know then, was that I was hungry for a holier. And by holier, I mean literally more whole version of myself and when you get hungry for a more whole version of yourself, you have to start with the one who created you as whole, right? Before I formed you in your mother's womb. I knew you. I knew a whole version of who you were. I knew you before the words were spoken over you. I knew you before you made the choices. I knew you before your heart was broken and your lens, the lens in which you see life was contaminated. And so when you get hungry for a whole version of yourself,

you got to go back to the manufacturer. When something, an appliance, a device gets broken in our lives, and we don't know how to fix it. We turn it off, turned it back on, plugged it in, plugged it in, plugged it back in, and it still didn't work, we take it back to the manufacturer because you know it better than I do. If you're at a place where you truly believe that your life started with God, even if you've lived a life that doesn't reflect God's goodness,

if you take that broken life, those broken pieces back to the manufacturer, God can show you how to get to a place of wholeness again. And that's where I was at his age. And I see him doing life with the manufacturer. Like he's getting the inspections. He's getting the oil change. He's doing all the things I didn't know how to do. And I'm just hopeful for him.

And then we got back at like 2 a.m. Sunday morning, went to church. And went out to dinner with my parents. My dad had a little. choking spell situation during service. And so we tended to him. But he was fine. He got checked out because he had his heart attack last year. The paramedics are like, you know,

you should probably go to the hospital just to make sure you're okay. And he was. He got a perfect clean bill of health. And we went to eat afterwards. It's Monday. I'm going, oh, I'm going to Nashville. I just forgot I'm supposed to be posting. I'm really talking to y'all like we're on the phone.

I'm supposed to be posting about me doing the, the presenting at the Dove Awards and I leave for Nashville tomorrow, go back to New York for a work event, come back Thursday morning at 5 a.m. to go to my daughter's volleyball tournament. And that's that. I got a big week this week, some incredible opportunities just to continue to you know, do the work of WOM and Evolve without one of my goals for 2026 is to continue to to grow the vision of woman evolve. And in order to grow the vision of woman evolve, it takes resources. And so I'm trying to be intentional about creating opportunities for resources that are meaningful and impactful. I've got, God's given me such a big, a God-size vision for woman

evolve that is so much, you know, bigger than let's just do the conferences. I really do see it as a companion for women who are committed to really being everything that God has called them to be. And so how do we continue to create conversations, content, touch points, tools and resources to help them take the inspiration and motivation and divine impartation they receive at our events and turn it into meaningful, tangible change in their lives? And what's so interesting is I felt like in order to do this, I was going to need to bring in people with more wisdom, and more experience, more knowledge than I. And I did.

And none of those pathways have worked so far. And I feel like it's God telling me, you know what? I don't want anyone, I think I shared this. I don't want anyone to get the glory out of it but me. And so you're going to have to take the little bit that you know and allow me to do the rest. And I've been trying to take that little bit over the last few months. And God's been opening up just some incredible opportunities. I try not to count anything as done before it's done.

but God's just been creating a lot of opportunities for me to learn and to think on a different level by some of the relationships I've been exposed to. And so I get to continue those lessons this week. And hopefully you will experience the impact of those things. And so that's what's going on with me in my world. I'm going to finish this podcast. I'm going to work out. I'm going to pack him to do all the things. And let me mind your business.

Hi, Pastor. My name is here. I'm a call from North Carolina. first off I just want to say that I love you I thank God for you and I just adore the way that you continue to walk this calling out even though it gets hard sometimes I just thank you for your obedience my question is I have been dealing with a separation with me and my husband for quite a few years now and some things have changed within that and one of the things is his religion he has had a has converted to being a Muslim now. And when we got married seven years ago, that was not the case. We got married as a Christian couple. So my question is, is how do, what would you say or what advice would you give

to continue to remain a prayer for wife without losing yourself in that being the focus of what you're praying for? I know that there's a lot that God has called me to pray for, but this just seems to be one of those things that I find a little hard to separate myself from. I mean, I definitely know that it's a process. It's a, you know, a greeting process as well because I'm like, oh, you know, this is somebody that I walk this faith wife out with. And now we're on two different sides of, you know, the faith spectrum. And so that gets a little challenge in itself.

But how do you remain being a prayer for wife without having to be consumed with all of his being a white duty? Like, I hope that makes sense. So if you have any advice, I'll love to hear back for me. I really want to take the time to thank you for sharing this question with me. I can imagine the grief that you are experiencing. I think that there's probably no better word to use than grief because we have this idea of what our lives will look like, what our marriage will look like. And then to experience a shift and to experience a transition means that we have to let go of the dream that we once possessed.

and that can be very, very challenging. Without having all of the context, I just want to offer you some things to think about and to pray about as you seek out what it looks like to be committed and to fulfill your desires as a wife while also navigating the grief. I would be curious to understand whether or not you've had conversations with your husband about what brought him to this place of transition. Now, I can tell you, and I'm sure there are a lot of people who are listening who may have grown up in church or read in scripture about being unequally yoked. And unequally yoked with non-believers talks about being yoked up with people who

don't believe in the same thing that you do. And so you guys have this reality that your belief systems have changed. And while it would be so easy for some to just kind of be very cut and dry about, you know, what that means as it relates to your choices and decisions, I'm curious to understand whether or not you guys have talked about what brought to this, what brought him to this place of transition. What was it about his faith that he felt unfulfilled in where it no longer resonated with him or what was it about Islam or yeah Islam what was it about Islam that felt like it was more fitting for him because I think it's important to understand where the division began where the separation began this is his personal walk with the Lord right so we don't get

bonus points because our partner is walking things out but there is something that happened in his personal relationship with the Lord or something that didn't happen that that I left him open to other possibilities. And I think to know your husband and to have the desire you feel called to walk this out, to walk this season out with him, I think it's praying into that area of separation, that area of division and what healing and restoration can look like in that area. And then I also think you've got to be honest about where you are and what you need. You guys got married under a certain set of conditions.

And yes, you are grieving. but what exactly are you grieving beyond the idea of we both believed in God? I had a prayer partner. I had someone who understood the deep things of God, or at least we're pursuing the deep things of God, and I miss having that in my life. I think you've got to be honest about what you're grieving. And if it is as important to you as it sounds like it is, I think it's important that you create space where you're able to understand where that division came about for him

and you're able to unpack for him what it is that you're grieving. It's not something that I would necessarily, you know, treat as casual. That actually leads me to what I want to share with you guys about what God gave me actually ties into this. I think that in an effort to be digestible and palatable that we make things casual that are actually too big of a pill, too hard of a pill for us to swallow. And I don't want you to choke trying to make sure that you are digesting a version of your life that you don't even have a taste for. With that being said, if you feel called to this, God's going to give you strength, wisdom, and discernment on how to walk it out.

Because you ask for my opinion, I'm going to tell you where I would start. I would start with understanding not where you guys separated, but where he separated from God to the extent. that he's willing to share. If he's not in a space to share, I believe the Holy Spirit will give you wisdom and discernment on how to pray into that. And then to be honest about what it is you're experiencing, and if you all have that type of dynamic

to share that with him, that, you know, it may require you kind of getting plugged in to a connect group or support group or going deeper and building relationships where people share your faith because you want to be edified where two or three are gathered in my name, I'll be in the mist. Well, he's not gathering in the name of Jesus anymore in your household. And yet you need the strength and the impartation that comes when you are

amongst fellow believers. And so if there are choices that you're going to have to make in order to continue to enrich and edify your spiritual journey, I think it's important that all of those cards are on the table and that you're not just making space for his transition and being gracious towards his transition, but you're also creating space for the transition that you're having to undergo as a result of the transition that you've been placed in. So I say this all the time, you know, take everything to the Lord in prayer, even these words that I'm giving you. But you asked me specifically about how to pray through this, and that's where I would start. Thank you for sharing your heart with me. There's no relationship that's more intimate, more vulnerable, more

taxing and more expensive than marriage because it is a commitment to do life with someone, to become one with someone. And all of us, whether it's a difference in beliefs, a difference in raising children, a difference in how we're raising finances, have had to confront the reality that becoming one isn't always easy. How we overcome those challenges comes down to having two willing partners who are willing to do whatever it takes to become one. And becoming one, especially in the context of marriage as it is explained in the Bible and in scripture, it's more difficult when you have someone who doesn't necessarily hold those beliefs. I want to clarify that too because when I talk about becoming one as it relates to the Bible and

scripture, for me, it's one having someone who wants to become one with God first. And when you have someone who wants to become one with the God that you know, the God that you believe in, then becoming one with you is easier because you're on a journey of becoming one with God. And because you all are headed in the right direction, headed in the same direction, taking parallel paths, what you can't do to meet as one in the flesh, you can meet as one in the spirit. And right now you're in a difficult spot. But I feel like God's, I know that God's a redeemer, God's a restore. And if this is the person that God has called you to love, if this is the person God has called to love you in return,

then I believe that the steps will be ordered and the words will be clear. And this will be something that you look back on as a testimony. But I would go back to prioritizing your relationship with God, praying for him from that place of seeing him be reunited with God, and asking God to make clear his path, his direction, his will for your life, which we know is for you to one, be at one, to be at atonement, to be at one with him. And I don't believe that there's anything that God wants to stand in the way of that. That's all I got for you. I know, I know.

Let me interrupt the podcast for one second. There's something that I want to share with you. I don't know if you were in the room or not, but Woment Evov, 2020. was such a vibe. There's something to be said about women coming together to experience the presence of God together. Whether you were in the overflow or the main arena, you already know that the glory was flowing any and everywhere.

We've only got a few tickets left for Wee 2026, and so I wanted you to hear it first that were close to having to move into the overflow space. But let me tell you something. The overflow girlies told me they had a good time. So if you want to be in the main space, We only have a few tickets left. However, if you want to be in the overflow, just give us a minute.

We're going to pop it open. Overflow was an incredible experience because there was also a podcast stage there, and there were also panels. So when we weren't having the main session streamed from State Farm Arena, you were able to experience live panels and podcasts from some of your faves. And then also, the Expo was live and in charge, DJ, rest and relaxation spaces, shopping, just all of the goodies. So really, there is no big.

bad spot. If you missed out, though, don't grab your tickets. You still have time. Just head over to WomanEvolveconference.com so that you can find your face in this space. I'll be there. So when I was praying about what to share with you all today, it always starts with me. If anyone's wondering how I even get to the place where I have something to share with someone, I start by one centering my soul, praying and really becoming, one with myself, stopping my mind from racing, checking in, how am I feeling, what's going on in my world, how do I feel about what's happening in my world? And I really use feelings words. So if you don't have a feelings will, you need your feelings will. Because I want to pray with

real intentionality and accuracy. And so before I had a feelings, I would be like, I'm fine, I'm fine. Everything was fine. But the feelings will help me to understand. Okay, so, I just saw my son and maybe I'm experiencing some grief and some joy. I have a busy week this week. Maybe I'm experiencing some anxiety. And so to really give language to where I am and how I'm feeling, it changes the way that I come into the presence of the Lord. Because there's a vulnerability connected with identifying those emotions that I take into the presence of the Lord. And I say, here's my heart.

Here's what I see that's in my heart. but Lord, search my heart, show me what else I may be missing. And from that place, I just begin to experience the presence of God for myself. And I started thinking about where I'm experiencing hunger and where I'm experiencing, sometimes I just feel like God is asking me to dig into him to search his presence for an answer, for a word about the season and the way that I am to show up. And sometimes God gives me the word and then I get the word and I continue praying into that and giving it language. And what I heard the Lord say to me is it's that serious.

And I'm sharing with you what I receive from my personal devotion is that we can become we. and I do mean heavy on the we. I'm not speaking French. This is you and I can become so used to surviving, so accustomed to everything being an emergency. I think especially in our technology generation where a notification goes off for almost everything, it makes it seem like everything is a priority. And when everything is a priority, nothing is a priority. and it can blind us from the things that we really need to prioritize.

And when we are blinding from the things that we really need to prioritize, we lose the momentum, the inspiration, the creativity, the power that is required to take our priorities and to allow God to lead those priorities into the manifestation of His glory on Earth. When God gives you an idea, it's not just an idea that is, it's optional. It's not just an idea that we could or could not have in the world. That idea, when God gives it to you,

is an opportunity for his glory to be manifested in the earth. And when we do not treat it like it is something that is serious, God takes someone who's going to treat it like it's serious. God takes someone who's going to use it and prioritize it because they recognize the urgency of releasing what he wants to do in the earth. I'm thinking about Saul. Saul wouldn't listen to God. He already didn't want to put him in position as king. If you read your Bible, there's a king, the people of Israel wanted a king. And the people of Israel wanted a king so bad, even though they had God that God says, you know what, I'm going to give you a king. And he even tells him in advance, he's going to be a rackety king. And they're like, we'll give it to him anyway. But God being as gracious as he is, is like, you know what, I'm not going to let y'all go out like that. If your king listens to me, if he obeys me, if he keeps my commandments, Even though you really do deserve a Raggedy King because that's what you are willing to sign up for, if he keeps my commandments, I will allow him to sit on the throne and his descendants to sit on the throne forever if they keep my commandments.

Does he do that? No, he doesn't do that. He doesn't keep God's commandments. And so, you know what God says? I'm going to raise up another who understands what it means to be one after my own heart. I say that to say, do not make it seem like, like, I know we have this what God has for me. is for me mentality, but I don't want you to have the what God has for me is for me mentality to the point that you are willing to put on the back burner what God has for you. You got to treat

what God has for you with honor, with integrity, with urgency, and with determination. God's plan for your life is not just going to be on layaway until you feel like you've done all the living you need to do, gotten over all of your fears, and now you feel ready to step into it. God is going to always use someone who doesn't mind sacrificing themselves for his will. What does it mean to sacrifice themselves? I don't feel the most confident. I don't feel like I have what it takes. I am afraid of how people will receive it.

I am not sure that it will work in this space in this field in this industry. But I am willing to sacrifice my thoughts, my will, my ways to say yes to what you want to do in my life. And so don't put what God has for you on the back burner. It is serious. And when I say what God has for you, I mean, not just in your doing, but in your being. If God is calling you to a place of sobriety, if God is calling you to a place of honesty, of integrity, of being more careful and compassionate with your words, take that seriously. Even if everyone else is giving you a pass, even if everyone else is willing to accept this

version of yourself that God is uncomfortable with, you treat it like it's serious because it is serious for us to do the will of the Lord. We must be about our father's business. And when we get serious, I believe that it's going to create an environment for revival to rest not just on our lives, but on our country and our communities. So my country, I know we have international listeners. I mean, whatever region of the world you're in, that is my whole heart of belief. And so, of course, I had to take it to the Bible because whenever I get this word from God and we're working it out in my prayer closet. I'm like, okay, well, God, can you give me an example of this in scripture that I can feast on?

And I was taken to Luke 10, verses 38 through 42. This is the story of two sisters named Mary and Martha. And in this story about two sisters named Mary and Martha, and you can read your Bible, open your app and read it in your own spare time, or you can open it up and read it with me. But in this story, we've got a sister named Martha. who is hosting Jesus and others in their home. And she's doing what women are accustomed to doing at that time. She's, you know, taking care of the food, the dishes, creating an environment for the men. Mary is not doing what needs to be done. She is sitting down. Men were encouraged at that time when

there was a rabbi or a teacher who was speaking. Men were encouraged to sit at the feet of that rabbi and to take in whatever was being said. And I am sure. sure that women probably did some ear hustling, but they dare not violate the customs of the time by sitting down and actually listening. But Mary does this. She's sitting at the feet of Jesus and she's listening to his word. And Martha was distracted with much serving. And she says to him, she approaches Jesus and says, Lord, hello, the rules are being broken here. Do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone. Tell her to get up and help me. I, okay, I feel away about this and I'll unpack it with you. But Jesus says to her, Martha, Martha, when he double up on you,

Martha, Martha, girl, you are worried about many things. You are worried and troubled. Come on, worried and troubled. Let's look up that word. I want to look up that word in the Greek, because sometimes looking at that word in the original language gets us closer to the original intention. So that word worried in the Greek means anxious. I had a feeling it was going to be about anxiety. And it comes from the root word, distraction or solitude. But it's to be anxious. So you are anxious and let's see what troubled means.

Troubled means emotionally upset by a concern. or anxiety. So you are anxious and emotionally, like visibly upset about many things. What's interesting to me is that Martha was serving. It says that she was distracted with much serving, which means that she was still serving, but underneath the serving, she was anxious and she was emotionally troubled. And I wonder if anyone saw that, but Jesus. And we know that she was emotionally troubled beyond just like keeping it under wraps is because though she was upset that Mary broke protocol, she broke protocol by speaking directly to Jesus. Women were to be seen and not heard.

She could have given Mary the stink eye. She could have been like Mary, puss, puss, get you know what I mean? She could have really hollered at Mary differently, but she goes straight to Jesus. She sees Mary breaking protocol and she ends up breaking protocol herself to talk to Jesus, which means that whatever she was feeling on the inside made her come completely out of character. And guess what? That's what we need.

Sometimes what we need is to break out of character, to break out of our rhythm and to break out of our routine. And it took Mary breaking out of character to make Martha break out of character. Can we talk about the influence of other women on our lives? If peer pressure is something that just happens in adolescence, then, you know, tie me up and call me something different. Insert whatever country saying you want to put in there.

Because the reality is that peer pressure exists throughout our lifespan. But there is something to be said about pressure, peer pressure that leads us into, I think there is it called, hold on, let me look at it up before I'm loud and wrong, pro-social, period. I almost said parasycial, which is when you have, you know, relationships with people who you don't really know, but they feel like they're real. Anyways, that there can be, there's opportunities for peer pressure to also lead us into pro-social behaviors. And this is an example of that. When we see someone who's willing to break protocol to go after the things of God, when we see someone who's willing to break out of the customs of the world to go after the things of God, it gives us permission to, now she,

She's approaching Jesus in a way that she would have never approached Jesus because Mary did this as well. We need people in our lives who are willing to get out of line, to get out of protocol, to break the rules of engagement in order to go after and to seek the presence of the Lord. And what's beautiful is that like it sounds like she's complaining, right? She's complaining when she seeks Jesus. It doesn't necessarily seem like she's trying to get a touch from him or she's trying to receive from him. but even your complaints are something that Jesus wants to hear. Even your frustrations are things that Jesus want to hear. You don't have to come to Jesus when you know exactly what you want.

You don't have to come to Jesus just because you have worship and prayer in your heart. You can come to him for all of those things. But Jesus wants to hear every little thing that's happening in your heart. And so she takes her frustrations to Jesus. And she's like, Jesus, do something about this frustration. And you know what? Jesus doesn't respond in the way that she wants him to. I got news for somebody.

If you think that when you give Jesus your frustrations, that he ought to do something about it, I want you to know that this is a prime example of what it means to be in relationship with Jesus. In her taking her frustrations to Jesus, she gets to air out what's on her heart. But Jesus then gets to redirect her. There will be moments where we take our frustrations, our complaints to Jesus. And Jesus responds. He fixes it. He gives us peace.

He says vengeance is mine. sayeth the Lord, like he takes care of what matters to us. But then there will be moments where Jesus corrects us. And he helps us to understand that what we are frustrated about does not matter in the grand scheme of things. That what we are frustrated about is a distraction from what God really wants to show us in our lives. And it takes a certain level of humility and a certain level of hunger to say, Lord, I'm going to tell you what's on my heart. I'm going to be honest about where I am and where I'm feeling frustration and disappointment, but also, Lord, I want you to point me in the right direction. And Jesus, when he says to her, you are worried, you are anxious and obviously visibly upset.

No one may be able to realize it, but me, I see that you're visibly upset. Don't let the fact that other people are willing to accept this version of you make you believe that I don't see what's happening underneath the surface. I see what's happening underneath the surface. But I want you to know that you're worried and troubled about many things, but only one thing is actually required. Okay, wait a minute. Martha thinks to herself,

I have to do these things. I must get this done. These are the customs. These are the things that the world expects of me. And this is what I must do. And Jesus says, I want you to understand amongst all of the things

that you think you need to do, there's really only one thing that is needed. What is the one thing that is actually needed from you today? I started this day. I'm like, I got a pack. I've got to do the podcast. I've got to do carpool. I need to pack snacks. I need to download the analytics for the meeting. I got to prepare to make sure that we have all of these things that I feel

like I need to do. But if you are not taking a moment, many moments even throughout your day, and asking the Lord, what is the one thing that is actually needed? I did that in the car today. I was almost on autopilot and turning on my worship music, a sermon or a lecture is just part of what I do the moment I dropped the girls off from school. a moment and I'm like, Lord, what is the one thing that is needed from me in this moment? What is the actual need? The need that my soul has was going to bring my soul rest in this moment. And it was brought to my attention. I needed to have a phone call with someone, a conversation that I've been trying to have for the last few days. That was the one thing that was needed for me in the moment. Pardon the interruption. I just have a slight announcement for you. Here it comes. One of my favorite

parts of the podcast is when I get to mind your business. This is where I get to sit with your stories, your questions, your girl, let me just tell you what happened moments. And we just get to chat it up. I want to hear what's happening in your world. Sometimes I give advice. Sometimes we laugh. Sometimes we cry. And most time we get a little kiki all the time. If you want me to mind your business, drop me a message. You can call me at 214-790-8871. I would love to hear what's happening in your life. And if I can, add some value. And by the way, you can ask me anything. It could be as simple and petty, but not like too too petty. Like you can mind my business or I can mind George.

Just know that I want to hear from you and I want to do life with you. So drop me a line 214-790-7871. Now let's get back to today's episode. I want you to be willing to prioritize what you need from God by asking yourself, what is the one thing that is needed from me this week? Jesus says one thing is needed and Mary has chosen that good part which will not be taken away from her. That means that that one thing that is needed, what's on the other side of the fulfillment of that need, is something that cannot be taken away from you. I believe for me that what was on the one side of that thing that I needed in the moment

was a confidence that I can hear from God, was a confidence that. that the presence of God is with me. I felt like God was giving me language while I was on the phone call, that God was giving me vision and wisdom and insight about who I am as a leader at this time of my life. And I needed that. I needed that affirmation and validation. On the other side of your need is a fulfillment that will tie into your identity, that will help you be everything that God needs you to be.

What is the one thing that is needed? Mary chose that one thing that she needed, that good thing, and it won't be taken away from her. And I believe that that will be your testimony as well. What I love so much about this moment in this exchange is that Jesus sorts through Martha's things. He says, you've got many things that you're worried about, but I want to help you sort and find that one thing. And I believe that that's what God wants us to do in this season. I've been seeking God about the one thing that is needed for me as it relates to WOM and Evolve specifically for 2026. You all know that we like to have a theme to ground and base our year

and it's October. And I know that the Lord holds times and seasons in his hands. And so I've been asking God about the one thing, what is the one thing that needs to be expressed through Wom and Evolve? And I have to tell you, the Lord dropped a crazy phrase in my spirit. And I only say it's crazy because it is counterculture from, in its definition, it's counterculture to what I think aligns with what you would maybe hear a movement that is faith-based say, but I can't shake that this is what God is saying to me. And I keep hearing, go rogue. I need my women to go rogue.

And if you look up the definition of going rogue, I'm going to share it with you. I didn't have it pulled up, so you got to wait for me. Go rogue means to behave erratically or dangerously, especially by disregarding the rules or the usual way of doing something. Well, if you're like me, you're like, oh, wait a minute, I can't be telling women to behave erratically or dangerously at all. That's not what Womni Valle stands for. And yet the Lord keeps just imprinting this in my spirit. And so when I go to Scripture and I look at moments where Jesus, in the estimation of the world, Jesus was going rogue. He was healing people on the Sabbath. He was sitting with tax collectors. He was taking the woman caught in the act of adultery. And instead of stoning her, he did something that seemed erratic or dangerous. He covered and protected her. We serve a Jesus who went rogue as it related to religious systems and the culture. And I believe that many of us, of us are being lulled into the belief that we have to go with the flow of what's happening in the

world and the culture, that we have to believe whatever other people tell us to believe and we have to do what other people tell us to do if we're going to be safe. But our safety is in being in alignment with what Jesus is doing in our world, in our communities, in our lives. And sometimes being in alignment with what Jesus is doing means that we have to go rogue from what's happening in the world. Do not be. be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. You're going to have to rebel against the systems of this world in order to align with what God is doing. And when I look at what's happening in technology, when I look at what's happening in the entertainment industry,

when I look at what's happening in politics, we see people who are not subscribing to the way things have traditionally been done. It could be argued that they are going rogue. And as the body of Christ, we have to be willing to ask ourselves, Lord, what does it look like for us to go rogue for the sake of the kingdom? For us to go rogue as it relates to what we are being fed and what we are consuming and whether or not it aligns with the Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit is leading us and guiding us. There's a scripture that sounds absolutely crazy. It says the kingdom suffers violence and the violent take it by force. And depending on what commentary translation you read about the interpretation of this scripture, you could get any number of definitions. But I have always

understood this scripture to mean that the kingdom is suffering violence. You know what that means? It means that people are so hungry for the kingdom. They're so hungry for the kingdom in heaven that they're ripping roofs off of buildings and lowering their friends down. That multitudes are thronging around Jesus just to touch the hem of his garment. They are hungry for this thing, so hungry that they're willing to push and shove to get close to who Jesus is. And the violent are taking it by force. Those people are insisting that they receive the kingdom of heaven, that they receive this hope, that they receive this good news by any means necessary. So maybe it's not go rogue. Maybe it's by any means necessary. I got to figure out what the theme is because I definitely don't

want to advocate for anything that could be harmful or misinterpreted. But I also don't want to be so afraid of being misunderstood that I don't stand for anything. So you all be in prayer for me. And pray about what that looks like in your life. Maybe it's not going rogue. Maybe you're not comfortable with that statement. But I do think that there is a power behind those words, an intentionality behind those words that call us to look at what we are subscribed to, what we are subscribed to, we are conformed to, confined by, and to ask ourselves, does this align with who I know I need to be in order to pursue righteousness? And if it doesn't, what does it look like to go rogue in that area? That's my prayer. That's what I'm leaning into. I'm telling you right now, I'm going rogue.

I am breaking the rules of what it means to establish this organization. I'm going rogue. I feel like as it relates to ministry and pastoring, I don't know how to be anyone other than myself. And sometimes who I am doesn't feel like it fits in what's already been done. But I feel like God knows who I am. He knew who I was when he called me. And so there's space for me to be authentically who I am, to be anointed and powerful and maybe a little funny and maybe also struggling sometimes and sharing that struggles with a struggle with others and also putting on some clothes every now and then, but also being in

my bonnet. I feel like there's space for all of me and what God has called me to do, but I may have to go rogue in order to step into it. So I'm throwing that out there. I would love to hear your thoughts about it, not just about, you know, what I shared with you with Martha and Mary, but what I shared with you throughout this conversation, I want you to leave me a message. It's not just for me minding your business. It's also for me to hear your thoughts and your feedback. All you have to do is call me at 214-790-871. Leave your story, drop your question. Let me know what fell in your spirit when you heard that. Let's wrestle. Let's tussle a little bit about this. And maybe we'll plan the We-26 theme together. That sounds good to me because I just call me crazy, call me crazy.

But I feel like everything is better when we do it together. I pray that something's and said throughout this podcast that blessed you, that challenged you, that convicted you, that made you hungrier for the presence and knowledge and wisdom of God, that it allowed you to recognize and identify maybe some areas in your life where the Holy Spirit hasn't been dwelling. And you want to invite him into your heart of fresh. You can do that at any given moment. If you're listening to this podcast and it's like, girl, I like you. I know you down with GOD.

Yeah, you know me. But I don't know where I am in my relationship with the Lord. I just want you to know that my light shines to lead you to Jesus. My stomach is growling. I don't know if you guys heard that. Be still. Be still. Peace be still in the name of Jesus.

But I want you to know my Jesus. I want you to know my God. And I want you to know him in an intimate way that draws you closer and nearer to him. So that's my prayer. Lord, no matter where we are in our faith journey, whether we're new to this or we've been in it for a long time. One thing I know for sure is we don't know everything there is to know about you, that we still cannot fathom the depths of your love, the depths of your mercy, the depths of your plans for us. And so God, I ask that you would draw us in closer, that you would reveal your plans, your strategy, your wisdom to us in a way that makes us. undeniable, that you know us with personal intimacy. God, I thank you for every listener connected

to this episode, that you're doing a work inside of them. Thank you for trusting this space to be a part of that work, allowing it to be a tool in how you're building them. Give us wisdom, God, that we would take seriously the privilege and the honor to lead these your beautiful people. And also, God, give them wisdom and discernment, that they would understand what's for them and what's not, that they would take what has been spoken in this moment as an invitation, not a precedent, but an invitation for them to draw nearer and closer to you. May they open their word and open their Bibles with fresh wisdom and fresh insight, and may they understand further who you are. Someone's listening and they don't know you, Lord. I pray that they will find

the courage to say, Jesus, I need you. I believe that you're my Savior. I believe that you died so that anything that was standing in the way of me having full eternal life could be destroyed on the cross, that resurrection power is available to me and that I can walk with boldness and newness. God, I pray that as they receive that truth by faith, that you will continue to reveal to them the ways that you want to restore, redeem, and release them to do great exploits in your name. Thank you, God, for what you're doing in my life and what you're doing in may we be testimonies of your glory in Jesus name amen evolve