Woman Evolve with Sarah Jakes Roberts - Find Your Strength Again with Kayla Wanakee

Episode Date: July 9, 2026

If you've been feeling exhausted, discouraged, or like life just keeps throwing curveballs, this conversation is for you. This week, Kayla Wanakee reminds us that renewed strength doesn't come from doing more—it comes from staying connected to the One who restores us. Through honest stories about unmet goals, unexpected detours, waiting seasons, and learning to release the pressure to have it all together, she shares how God can use even the most chaotic moments to reshape our perspective and replenish our souls. Together, we'll explore what it looks like to trade striving for surrender, stop carrying burdens that were never ours, and discover the peace that comes from hoping in the Lord. If you've been wondering whether you're falling behind, this episode is your reminder that God may simply be renewing you for what's ahead. Get 10% off your first order at https://oseamalibu.com with code EVOLVE. Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made! Go to https://trymiracle.com/evolve and use the code EVOLVE to claim your FREE 3 PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode of Woman Evolve is brought to you by Alloy Health. I think one of the most frustrating things about being a woman is realizing how many changes to our bodies that nobody prepares us for. And for so many women navigating menopause or perimenopause, they're dealing with things like hot flashes, brain fog, trouble sleeping, hormonal changes without even knowing that support is available. That's why I want to tell y'all about alloy. Alloy connects women with menopause specialized physicians online who create personalized treatment plans tailored to your needs.

Everything is done from home and treatments are delivered straight to your door. Let me break it down for you. You'll need to complete an intake form and patient verification. Then you'll be matched with a menopause specialized physician who will create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs. Once you are approved, Alloy ships your prescription direct. to your door with automatic refills. What I really appreciate is that Alloy is helping women

feel informed, supported, insane during the season that so many people struggle through silently. So, if you or someone you love is navigating menopause, check out Alloy and learn more about your options today. I cannot recommend

Alloy enough. Join the 95% of women who tried Alloy and saw relief in the first two weeks. Head to My Alloy.com and use the code Evolve and tell them all about your symptoms and you'll get a fully customized treatment plan and unlimited messaging with your doctor. Plus, you'll get $20 off your first order today. Head to myalloy.com. That's M-Y-A-L-L-O-Y.com and use code Evolve to get $20 off your first order. This episode is brought to you by L'O-L-R-Roup. Beauty is a power. powerful force that moves us. That's why L'Oreal Group has built a business that is inclusive

at its heart with 100% of its brands, championing diversity. With 25,000 professional opportunities for people under 30 worldwide and 54% of leading positions held by women, diversity is a strength that helps L'Oreal Group create the best beauty products for all people. Visit L'Oreal.com to learn more. This is Sarah Jakes Roberts, and you are listening to the Women Evahaw podcast. What is going on with you. You may have noticed that I am a neck brace free shorty. That means that your girl has been released. I am four weeks post-op and we're just giving, we're just giving the Lord of praise out here. We're just giving the Lord of praise. I had my first outing on Sunday. I went to church to hear, it was our 30th anniversary of the Potter's House Dallas. And for me, honestly,

I think in many ways it was kind of bittersweet just because I was, first year as in pastoring just was not what I would have anticipated, but I'm also just trying to be conscious of the fact that like ministry in this format is it's a lifelong commitment to doing life with one another and being there not just for other people's highs and lows, but when you're pastoring, they become a part of your family and community and they're there for your tough moments as well. So I had pneumonia right after we got installed and then I'm closing it out with having had surgery. So I wanted to do more, offer more, but I'm offering what I can. And then my brother spoke, which was amazing. So, you know, all in all, things are, oh, I will say, so I went to church

on Sunday for the first time. I know I shared with you all that I went to my daughter's debutante, Catillion. And I'm just like checking my body, right? Like, when do I? I start to win and where do I start to feel like I'm pushing up against the limits. And we were towards the end of service and this thing happens. I think I told you all that like part of the surgery, of course, is I can feel like the tenderness in my spine where the plates and screws are. So like when I'm laying down, I'm moving and stuff like it hurts back there. But when I'm standing up, I feel fine. Like the doctor's encouraging, walking. And so I felt okay in service. But then there's this thing that happens where

it feels like the only way that I can explain is like if you are carrying a heavy bag on your shoulder and the way it starts to feel like your shoulder is pulled down and then it starts that muscle starts to like feel sore and like it's being pulled. That's what I started feeling and that's like one of the tell tell signs that things

are shifting. So I wrapped it on up, went on home, took some medication and man I'm just I'm learning so much about this season. I want to share that with you guys at another time. But first, you all have been minding my business so much. I want to take some time and mind yours.

So let's listen to this week's mind your business question. Hi, Sarah. I love you down. You are phenomenal. So my whole thing was right now, I am a daycare teacher. Working with infants, I've been a daycare teacher for about three years now. I'm also in school to be a youth minister. I graduate in 2029.

Just right now, being a daycare teacher, as you can imagine, I'm getting burnt out. And I am struggling with sticking with being a daycare teacher until I graduate or just not waiting until I graduate to actually take on my youth ministry. and actually do something phenomenal. I'm not sure how to navigate this. I'm in my word. I'm listening to you all of the time. But I just feel like I could be doing so much more until I graduate from school.

Right now it just seems like I'm just babysitting. Think a daycare teacher. I love my kids down. But I just want to do more with my life. just don't want to start my ministry after graduation. So if you could please help me a little bit, thank you so much, Sarah. I love you.

Thank you. I love you down. Thank you so much for the love, for the support. I feel you as it relates to your question. There's nothing like feeling like God's giving me a vision and a burden for something more, but I'm stuck in this world that doesn't look like it has any signs of that more that God has given me. And I think that it takes faith for you to come to a place where you're like, I'm willing to make a move and to not wait for, you know, the process to unfold on man's timeline.

If God is calling me to do something right now, I think that posture of surrender and willingness is what allows God to really see your heart and to move in and through your heart. The only thing I would say is this, you talked about that being a J-O-B. Somebody say J-O-B, it's got coins connected to it, right? So I don't know your financial situation, and I do believe that you really want to have a word from God if you're going to move and disrupt your financial situation because you just want to trust that God has you, which is a word for any and every of us.

If we're doing something that God has called us to do and we're trusting and obeying him, then the provision that is connected to that will find us. So I would pray about that transition, if you feel like God is calling you and leading you out of that position and that's something. The other thing I would say is oftentimes God gives us the vision and the vision is for an appointed time. It's not always for the now. And so what happens in the process is that the Lord begins to not just prepare where we're headed,

but to prepare us for where we're headed. And so I would just ask the Lord if it's not my time to move right now, but I'm feeling frustrated because I'm so excited. What could this season be teaching me in terms of development? and how do I make sure that I am postured from an inner position for what you have for me? So one of the things that I am guilty of is thinking that ministry has to look one particular way. And you're talking about being ready to start your ministry. And to minister means to serve, right?

It's not just about preaching or speaking or doing the thing that feels like ministry for us, the singing, the dancing, the serving. it's about being a minister in every aspect of our lives. And so I'm challenged to ask myself in moments where I feel frustrated, what does it look like to bring ministry into what I'm doing right now? If tomorrow's not promised, if 2029 does not arrive, what can I do in this moment to say I ministered every step of the way, not just when I graduated.

And it sounds like your position to minister. And so I would encourage you to consider what it looks like to bring ministry into what you're doing. Alternatively, what does it look like for you? to volunteer in different youth ministries or youth organizations so that you can begin to minister through those capacities while you're waiting for your degree. What I would not do, though, is just dismiss the feeling and sit on it because I do believe that this is a time of urgency where the people of God who are fortunate enough to have clarity and vision about who they are supposed to be in God have to move into position. And if you are feeling like you know exactly

where you're supposed to be and where you're called to, then I, would begin to make steps towards that direction so that you are exposed to children and opportunities that allow you to explore what it looks like to minister to them and to understand what they're up against and how you and why you have been called to be a part of what God is doing in their lives. I hope this is helpful. I love you tremendously. Thank you so much for allowing me to mind your business. Listen, you know I'm going to always keep it a thousand with you. And there is something that I have learned as I've gotten older. Your face is is not the only thing that deserves skincare.

For the longest time I had this whole routine for my face, serums, moisturizers, all the things, but my body, baby, she'd get whatever lotion that I had laying around on the way out the door. Then, one day I realized that, wait a minute, my skin is feeling a little dry, especially after being out in the sun or even after taking a hot shower.

It just felt like lotion alone wasn't quite doing the job anymore, and that's when I added a body serum to my routine. And let me tell you, I get it now. I've been using Ocea's hyaluronic body serum and what surprised me first was just how lightweight it is. It's a gel serum so I expected it to feel kind of sticky, but it actually disappears right into my skin. There's no tackiness, no waiting around for it to dry, just smooth, refreshed skin. I like applying it right after I was shower and then layering my body lotion on top. It gives my skin that extra boost of hydration and I can definitely tell the difference in how soft and

and moisturize my skin feels throughout the day. What I also love is that it's powered by five molecular weights of hyaluronic acids, so it's delivering hydration on multiple levels and helping support your skin's moisture barrier. It's even clinically shown to deliver instant 24-hour hydration and boost hydration after just one use. Osea has been creating clean, clinically tested skincare from the sea for 30 years, and you can really feel the quality. Their hyaluronic body serum is cooling, refreshing, weightless, and perfect whether you are using it every day or just when your skin needs a little love. O-Cia's hyaluronic body serum is multi-layer, hyaluronic powered hydration for the entire body.

And right now, we have a special discount just for you. Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code evolve at Osea, malibu.com. That's code evolve at OSEA.mala. Malibu.com. One thing that's a universal no-no in my house is coming inside and sitting on my bed with your outside clothes on. Absolutely not. Now, I know some people think that's being a little extra, but after learning what I just learned, I don't think that's being extra enough. Did you know that traditional bedsheets can actually hold more bacteria than a toilet seat? Yeah, I'm going to need you to let that sink in for a second. Now, imagine adding outside clothes on top of that.

That's exactly why when I heard about Miracle Made bedding, I was sold. Miracle made sheets are made with Nassau-inspired silver-infused fabric that's designed to help prevent up to 99.7% of bacterial growth. So instead of wondering what's living in your sheets, you can actually sleep a little cleaner and with a little more peace of mind. And if you're somebody who's always too hot at night or somehow freezing while everybody else is sweating, these sheets are designed to help regulate your body temperature so you can stay comfortable while sleep. Another thing I love, they stay cleaner and fresher up to three times longer than regular sheets because of that antibacterial silver technology. That means fewer odors, fewer wash days. And honestly, anything that keeps me

from doing extra laundry is a blessing. And they feel incredible. Seriously, they're soft, they're breathable, and have the luxury hotel feel without that luxury hotel price tag. Plus, cleaner sheets can be better for your skin, too. Come on skin, since bacteria can build up on traditional bedding and contribute to clogged pores, Miracle Maids' antibacterial design helps create a cleaner sleep environment night after night. So, if you're ready to upgrade your sleep, head over to try miracle.com slash evolve and use the code Evolve to claim your free three-piece towel set and save over 40% off. They make an amazing gift, and with a 30-day money-back guarantee, there's no risk.

Again, that's try miracle.com slash evolve and use the code evolve. Your bed and your skin will thank you. Thank you, Miracle Made, for sponsoring this episode. This week, I'm so excited. Last week, we got so much incredible feedback about Dr. Anita Phillips and the message of revival that she brought to your hearts. And this week, we asked someone who is a favorite. If you listen to the podcast but you haven't been to a woman evolve event or you haven't been to Hey You, then her voice may not be as familiar to you as it will be for some. But her name is Kayla Wannocky and Kayla has been a part of the Woman Evolve movement since it began in 2018.

She was a member at 1 LA where I had the incredible privilege to marry the pastor, but to also meet so many incredible people and to serve what God was doing in Los Angeles. Angeles. And I just knew instantly that she had the type of heart posture, relatability, humor, love, and kindness that could transcend the walls that often keep people from engaging in spaces of faith. And so I asked her if she was here, she's going through some transitions in her life. Come on, this must just be a season of transition. But she's going through a transition in her life. And I felt like she would be an incredible voice for you to hear as it's summer and we're rethinking, what does the rest of the year look like? And how can God use me, mold me, and serve me, and to the best version of myself. And I believe that

Kayla is going to be an incredible voice to guide you through it. So without further ado, let's get into this week's episode. Ladies, welcome to this week's WOMENEVOLF podcast. And if you're new to the delegation, then you probably have no clue who I am. But I am Kayla. want to key the woman evolve hostess with the most is and y'all i'm so excited to be here on the woman evolve podcast baby listen i am an o g around here okay i've been watching the woman evolve podcast since past as sarah was in her closet okay y'all remember that all right listen and yet i am here today and I am so honored and so grateful that Pastor Sarah would allow me this time with her babies, the delegation to spend time with y'all, talk to y'all, encourage you all. It is such an

honor and a privilege. And so I'm so grateful. Thank you, Pastor Sarah. Thank you to the delegation for welcoming me and allowing me to spend time with y'all. Listen, it's going to get good. Okay, it's going to get good because this week we here at Women Evolve are focused on renewed strength. And baby, don't we all need a little renewing of the strength, okay? Because it's been a year. It's been a year since the very beginning. All right. It was a year last year, all right?

And thought we was going to get a little relief this year. But Pastor Sarah had the prophecy of going rogue and what's going on? It's rogue everywhere. It's rogue all over the world. Okay. And here at Woman Evorb, and I'm sure for many of you all, life has been rogue. It is so hard to plan and know what's coming next all the way the grocery store runs.

Okay. We don't know how much the grocery is going to be. We don't know how much the gas going to be. We don't know if we're going to have a job. We don't know what the weather going to look like. It's just a rogue year, okay? And so here at WOMENEVVOL, we are focusing on taking time to renew our strength and encourage one another because it can get tough out here. And I know for me, it has been such a rogue year.

Most of the things that I wrote down in January that I was going to do didn't get accomplished, okay? said I was going to lose 20 pounds. Guess how much I lost? None gained five. All right. I said that I was going to start routines and do all of these things, but life has just been going. And it's like every time I think I'm going to start, something else happens. But I have started. I may have stopped, but I did start a lot of things. And that is what I am learning to appreciate because at least I put forth the effort enough to know what it takes to sustain it. Okay. So like those 20 pounds, let's get into it. So top of the year, I'm like, okay, girl, we're going to work out.

We go eat right. We're going to do all the things. And that's what most of us do. We pile it on. We say, if I want to accomplish this goal, I got to do everything at one time. hard to sustain it that way okay i'm proof now some of y'all y'all got a down pack but for me slow slow beginnings slow beginnings and so i started walking i was like okay i'm gonna do 10 000 steps a day and then i was like i'm gonna do that five days a week and then i was like well i'm gonna do it

three days a week and then i was like well i'm gonna just move my body and that's what i've been doing okay i've been staying consistent with moving my body Okay. And then the diet, that's been a big thing. So I have changed what I'm eating quite a bit. I'm getting into like the Mediterranean anti-inflammatory diet and Mediterranean food I love anyway. So it just works and it just so happens that my family loves it. And so I've really been getting into that. And so I've been able to be not consistent. Okay. but I have been able to dibble and dabble. The fact that I'm dibbling and a dabbling, I at least know what it takes in order to do it because I took the first step. Okay. I took the first step.

But I think a lot of the reason why I wasn't able to accomplish a lot of the things is because I was coming into this year on fumes. Okay. Exhausted. wearing myself out trying to hustle and bustle and looking at what everybody else is doing and feeling like I'm behind. And then looking at my babies, my son will be a senior this school year coming up. My daughter, she's going to be his sophomore. And I'm just like, ooh, I don't have time.

I got to do this, this, this, this, this. And I've been running like that for so long that when I finally decided to be committed, to a routine, I was exhausted. And then I just didn't want to do nothing at all. And so oftentimes that happens to us. You know, us as women, so many of us carry, we carry our families, whether that's our parents or our actual immediate family in the house. We carry the things that we have to do at work.

Lots of us want to strive to be excellent. And there's nothing wrong with that. But it's also super important for us to find time to rest and renew our mind and renew our strength. And if you know, like I know, renewing our hope and our strength doesn't come from us. It can only come from the Lord. And then Isaiah 40 and 31, he talks about, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They were sore on the wings like eagles and they will run and not grow weary and they will walk and not faint. And it's because they hoped in the Lord.

Huh? Not in us. Okay. Not hoping in us because us leaves us exhausted, depleted, tired, unable to even think straight. I haven't heard so many people talk about brain fog until the. The past 10 years, I didn't even know what brain fog was, but it's because we are just so consumed. Life in itself makes it consumed because now we have cell phones, so we're always reachable. We have social media and that.

I'm a doom scrolling. Okay. Sit there scrolling all day and I'm consuming so many different things and emotions based on what I'm seeing. And that hasn't allowed me to hope in the Lord. to rest in the Lord. And so that is what our focus is going to be. Listen, we go and rogue, okay? So we still go accomplish the things,

but we are going to focus more on accomplishing being rather than doing. Because the more we focus on being versus doing, the more that we are able to sustain where God is taking us. the opportunities that are presented, the obstacles and the challenges that are undoubtedly coming because life is going to life. It just is. But the only way we can renew our strength is with truly resting in him, hoping in him, growing in him.

And I can, let me tell you, let me tell you, I can tell you from experience. For me, like, I went to church and I would watch service. and podcasts and all of that through the week, I would pray for sure, but opening up my word would be not so consistent with that because I felt like, well, I'm listening to the worship music and I'm listening to the sermon and I'm going to church and so, and life is so busy. I got so much to do. I don't have time to just sit here and read my word. I'll pray. I know who God is. He know who I am. and we good. But let me tell you, baby, when I pulled out that Bible, top of the year,

now that's one area I've stayed consistent. And why? Because it is renewing my strength. It is allowing me to have a different mindset. Look and have different awareness and intentionality in my life. And that is so exciting. Like reading the word every day, I feel like there's something there waiting for me to show me something new or reveals something that I've been living in, but just have the wrong perspective. And so for me, that is one thing that is easy to stay consistent because that's the only way that I get strength.

The more that I read, the more strength that I get. And when I read in the Bible, my boy Solomon. Okay, Solomon said, eat, drink, and be merry. Not, okay, well, let me, let me rephrase that. Okay, eat well, okay, drink your water, okay, be merry and happy, and everything else is meaningless. You understand? And that for me, it freed me.

I was like, so everything else is meaningless? Because that's kind of how I felt. Like, the more I started reading and understanding that we're living this life for Christ, the more I realize that he is overwhelmed with joy when we focus on the fruits of the spirit, which are joy and kindness and gentleness and long suffering. And, you know, those are the things that pleases him. It didn't say nothing about your awards and your accolades, though. Didn't say nothing about that.

And that freed me so much, y'all. because I've always been a person that had gifts and talents, and I was always striving to achieve some goal that I saw for myself. But when I really looked at it, I said, what is that for? Is that for God or is that for man? Is that for an audience of one or is that for an audience of millions? And if it is for them, what are you gaining from that versus living a life of joy and kindness and gentleness and lovingness and all of those type of things.

Those are the type of things and long suffering. I can't leave out long suffering because that's one of the fruits of the spirit that we want to kind of bypass. Okay. We like, I can do the joy, okay? I can do the kindness, the gentleness. I can do all that. But that long suffering though, that's a fruit of the spirit.

Yes. Because it's showing endurance. It is showing that you are steadfast, that you trust him, that you are faithful in him. And that's all that really matters. That's all that really matters. And so for me, my strength is being renewed in ways that I never, ever thought because I'm in my word. And because I'm growing closer to him. and I feel so much more at peace knowing the burdens of this world are not mine to carry.

That right there, that in itself preaches down, okay? Because that means all of this stuff that's happening around me isn't necessarily happening to me. It's happening for me because it is allowing me to have a different mindset. And that allows life to look different. Is social media bad for your mental health? Are we spending too much on other people's weddings? And why is heteropessimism trending? If the culture's asking it, NPR's It's Been a Minute podcast is talking about it. It's Been a Minute stands for your right to be curious, one big question at a time. Four days a week, host Brittany Luz breaks down the ideas, trends, and conversations shaping the culture.

She goes beyond the obvious takes talking with creators, critics, and cultural voices who help you see things differently. You'll hear dialogues with both up-incomeers and cultural icons. Host, Brittany Luce, takes the things everyone's talking about and gives you new ways to think about them. It's not just what's trending, it's why it's trending and what that says about us. It's been a minute knows cultural trends don't happen by accident. Brittany and her guests dig into the latest memes to unpack how they got into your feed in the first place and why they're stealing our attention. These are the conversations you want to have and the ones you'll be bringing up later. One thing I love about NPR's It's Been a Minute is that every episode leaves me thinking about something deeper than where the conversation started.

I recently listened to an episode with author Sarah Wang talking about her new book, New Skin, and what stayed with, with me wasn't just the conversation about beauty standards for reality television. It was this deeper conversation about identity, immigration, trauma, and the pressure women feel to reinvent themselves just to survive. There was a moment in the episode where they talked about how sometimes people believe if they can change the outside of themselves enough, they'll finally gain acceptance, security, or even a different life. That conversation stayed with me long after the episode ended because it made me think about how often we attach worthiness to appearance, success, or validation instead of who we truly are.

Every conversation satisfies my curiosity while also challenging the way I think about culture, relationships, identity, and the world around me. It's one of those shows that gives you something to carry into your real life conversations afterwards. With podcasts like It's Been a Minute, NPR is here to listen, ask more questions, and take your curiosity further. Follow NPR's It's Been a Minute podcast and indulge your cultural curiosity. Y'all, I'd be excited all the time.

Like right now, I'm talking to you, and it's so much going on in my life that was unexpected things that were coming left and right. And if this was last year this time, your sis would have been down bad. I'm going to tell you right now, I would have been down bad somewhere in the corner. asking God to take it away. But now, now that I'm able to look back over my life, huh? Huh? What the church mother say?

You look back over your life and see what the Lord has done. This is per use. Stuff being tumped up, totally out of my control. Nothing I can do about it. And God always comes through. And if you're watching this podcast or if you're listening to my voice, you came through too because you woke up another day. You still have breath in your body.

Your heart is still beating. That means there's still purpose for you. That means there's still an assignment with your name on it. And how exciting is that? Because every day I literally feel like, like no cap. I really feel excited like a kid every day in pursuit and seeking what God has for me. Like, I know I can't control this chaos, all right? But I know that you love me.

Then nothing that is happening to me or around me is to hurt me, is to strengthen me. So it allows me to be a student of my own life, looking at the times and the things and the circumstances that I came through or have encountered. And what God has done in the past so that I can be assured he's going to say, see me through, but also make sure I don't miss the lesson. Okay. Oftentimes when you miss the lesson, he's been the block on you. You see what I'm saying? It come back around again. And it's like, why do I have to go through this again? Well, it's not to hurt you, boo. Okay? It's not to beat you down. But it is to teach you something that he knows about you. He knows the full story of your life, the beginning from the end.

So when you go through difficult times, that means he know you that girl. Okay, he know you that girl. So he like, baby, I need you to come through this because what I have for you on the other side of this is it's going to try to rock you, but it ain't going to tip you. Okay, because you're building that foundation in him. You're building this awareness of how God moves

and how he will. help you to get to the next level. And I think for me, that has been the biggest lesson of the year. So no, I didn't accomplish a lot of the things that I wanted to accomplish. But I was able to get this perspective and this knowing, huh, P.T. This knowing that God is going to come through, this knowing that when he does take me in a new direction, that that is him speaking to me. That is him aligning me.

When I'm convicted, that's him aligning me for who he knows that I am. And so every day I'm on the hunt, y'all. When I'm reading my word, I'm like, there's something in here for me. But not just in my word. Like just living your day-to-day life, that is constantly talking to us, whether that's through a conversation with somebody, a billboard, a book, a worship song, a sermon, a podcast, a post. God knows you.

And if you really seek, there are things that I might see that somebody that's in the same room, they didn't see. But that means it wasn't for you. It was for me because he's trying to commune with me. He's trying to direct my path. And it has made life so much more exciting. It has allowed me to experience this peace beyond understanding. Like I used to hear these things, but not quite understand.

what it was until now. Like now that I'm moving in it, now that I'm able to like to see life differently, it's allowed me to truly have a peace beyond understanding, even when it's chaotic. Even when I don't know what's about to happen the next week, the next month, I'm still living, I'm still breathing. So I'm going to live through it. And he's going to be right there with me because that's the one thing when I, I go through really hard times and oftentimes just people.

When you go through really hard times, you feel isolated. You feel alone. And people tell you all the time, like, you're not alone. Like, God is with you. But in the moment, it's like, where are you at? You know what I'm saying? Like, when these tears are strolling down my face and when I'm having moments where I just feel chaotic and anxious, this, where are you, God?

He's right there waiting for you to turn to him and lay it down. Like, I talk to God or Zay long, y'all, whether I'm in the car, walking around this house, dealing with these kids, that husband, this job, whatever it is, I'm constantly like, God, what do you want to get from this? God, give me a sign that you're here with me. Lord, help me to feel light when I feel so heavy. And those moments, even if it isn't instantaneous, it comes because I ask. I seek him and I ask for him to guide me.

And so that has been the biggest lesson this year. Okay. That's my big one right there. So the 20 pounds is still there. But baby, I'm growing. I'm learning. I'm getting super excited. for what life has for me.

And I want that for my girls. I want that for my girls. So I told you, this week we're talking about renewing our strength. And so we got some questions from the delegation. And let me answer a few. Y'all hear that tone when I just said, let's see. Okay, no. Never mind.

Okay. So let's see what my girls want to know about renewing. strength. Let me see. All right. The first question is, why do you think God connects renewed strength with waiting? Ah, uh, uh, renew strength with waiting, baby, that's a part of it. There are so many times that we are in the wait and we don't even realize that it's a renewing happening. So many people are in the wait and they feel forgotten about overlooked, prayers unanswered, don't understand what's happening and why I'm here when I've been working to be there is because he's teaching you something. Or maybe he just wants you to rest. Maybe he just wants you to rest because sometimes

it's not even about seeking to find something. It's about resting your mind so you can hear. And because we live in a world that's just going, going, going. And then it don't make it no better that when you get online, you have a sister girl over here, a brother man over there telling you, you got to get to it. You got to wake up at 3 a.m. You got to work hard. You got to do this. You got to do that.

And yes, a lot of those things do help us to be able to be consistent, to be able to sustain where we're going and what we're doing. but if you have a moment of waiting, if that is you right now, God either wants you to rest, or he wants to reassure you, or he wants you to learn something, or he just wants you to lean more unto him. So if you are in your waiting season right now and you're looking for renewed strength or you feel like you're strong, and he feels like you need a renewing and a refreshing, Take this time to rest. Take this time to quiet your mind. To block out all the noise. It's so much going on. Block it out. Even if it's for 10, 15 minutes, take that time to just sit and ask God, what are you trying to show me? And if you feel like you don't hear anything, then when you start moving around throughout your day or conversations you may have, be seeking to find out what it could be that's being conveyed to you in this moment.

I'm telling you nothing is wasted. Nothing is wasted. There's always something to learn. There's always room to grow. And so waiting, yes, it is absolutely associated with renewing your strength in so many ways. Because God didn't say those who grind, those who hustle. shall renew their strength. He says those that hope in the Lord. So in order to hope, that means that you aren't doing anything. You are hoping. Okay. Now, don't be lazy.

Understand this ain't the time just to sit and do nothing at all. Your something can be as simple as seeking. Your something can be as simple as being present. You're something. can be as easy as resting and getting your strength because your next season might be turned up and he know you might have long days and late nights. And so get your rest now, Boothay. Get your rest now and don't be anxious about the rest. If you're laying your head on that pillow,

ask God, God, continue to restore me, continue to make things clear to me, and then rest your mind, sis. Okay. So that's for me. You know what I'm saying? I'm no, I'm no therapist. You understand. I'm just talking from experience. I've lived a little life, you know, since I was about to, you know what? We're about to break that off right now. Since over 40, yes, I know it's hard to believe. Okay. But I am. And so now I can just tell you from my experience, my lived experience, that's what I notice in the waiting season, that yeah, renewing does require. waiting, but it's not necessarily just waiting. It's a refreshing that's happening. So that's my little two sits. All right, let's answer another question. What simple practices keep you connected to God when life gets busy? I feel like I shared a lot of those things. Like for me, when life gets really busy. If I want to continue to stay connected with God, I do listen to worship music often,

find ways, and not even just worship music with words. I don't know if you guys know what soaking music is, but look up soaking in his presence, okay? Soaking in his presence. Soaking music is just very peaceful instrumentals, but oftentimes, For me, that's my moment with God. Like, I'll turn that on while I'm in the shower, and I'll just start getting downloads and downloads of things that I might not have thought about or things that I thought about, but a better strategy. So that's a simple practice, turning on soaking music or worship while you're in the shower

or when you're in the car. Listening to sermons and Christian podcasts, definitely finding time. for my word. And I know some of y'all like, oh, everybody say that, baby, I'm telling you right now. For me, when I read that word, I am so powerful. I am unstoppable. I am so confident that God got my back, that he is always working for me, that wherever I'm led to, even if it's darkness for that moment, is teaching me something.

and the light is on the other side of it. Like, it's not something I just say. It's something that I know when I read my word. So finding time just to read your word, a lot of people do the Bible app, and there'll be a scripture on there. And if you're busy and you don't have time to just dive in, just reading on the Bible app, the verse of the day.

And then taking a moment just to be like, God, reveal whatever it is you wanted me to get from that. Bam, pow, we move it. Because you on that, Instagram, you on that Facebook, you on that TikTok, you on that Snapchat, you find a time to be on your phone. So download that Bible app and read the scripture of the day. It takes two seconds to read it. And then just ask God, God, reveal whatever you wanted me to get from that. Bam, bye, we move it. Okay. So there are so many simple ways that you can connect with God and keep him

at the forefront because really, y'all, that is the only way we are going to get through this life and get through it whole is with him. There is no way to get through this world. This world is crazy and chaotic. And you know it. I know it. The whole world know it. Especially right now. So just finding those quiet times and those moments to really just allow God to show you who he is all throughout today, God, show me in some way, shape, or form that you're real. That's a big one, because oftentimes, especially now with so much new age and things like that, they're like, oh, if your God was real, then why he let that happy? If God is real, then why you in that circumstance? Ask him to show itself. Ask him. And I'm telling you, that situation and circumstance

probably ain't going to change, but your perspective, we're going to. But your perspective, the way you look at it will. So yeah, just ask him. That has been the biggest thing for me. And I know for a girl that didn't grow up in the church, a lot of this stuff sounded like cliche to me. But now that I'm living it and doing it, just try it. Just try it.

And then let me know. Let me know what happens when you actually just take a moment to seek him. I'm telling you, it's a game changer. It's a hack. It's a life hack for show, for sure. So just try it. Let me know. All right. Let me do one more question. I want to make it good. I don't even know. That jumped out. Let's see what it is. Okay. What's one thing you've stopped carrying because you realize it wasn't yours? Baby, what other people think? Huh? What other people think? I'm carrying that no more. Listen, I am. a retired, proud and retired people pleaser. Because that's not of God. If I'm pleasing people, then how can I please God? So that is one thing that I stopped carrying because I realize it is not

mine to carry. You can never, ever change how somebody else views you. It doesn't matter because they don't know all of the things that you know about yourself, all the things that God knows about you. Most of the time, transformation happens in the secret place. So they don't know that you're transformed. They don't know that you're new. Or even if you are those things like, they may just not like you. That's a personal preference. And I can't change that.

So that is the number one thing. You see how quick I answer that question? Okay. Because that is the number one thing that I stopped caring. I came into this year and I said, listen, God, it's me and you. audience of one around these parts. So I can't change how you view me. I'm going to always be authentically me.

And that's just it. You know, I'm going to be authentic to who I am. But that doesn't mean that characteristics about myself won't change. The more awareness you gain, it's going to change you. It's absolutely going to change you. But allow yourself to change. That's being authentic. allow yourself to be the new version that God has shown you of yourself.

And that's okay. Everybody is like, oh, you didn't change. You don't win Hollywood. People are going to always say something. But if you're transforming and changing for God, he's the only one that matters at the end of the day. So that has been my biggest change. That's the one thing that I refuse to carry is the thoughts and the opinions of of others because I have no control over it and it doesn't matter.

You don't know what happens in the secret place. You don't know how God has transformed my heart and the new eyes that he's given me and how he peeled the scales back. You don't know, but I do. And the choices that I'm making my life, the things that I do are because me and him have had a conversation. And yeah, sometimes I still mess up and he redirects me every time. time. So that's why I can only live my life for an audience of one and that's God, because he's the one that speaks directly to my heart through convictions, you know, through moments of awareness, all of that. That is what has allowed me to truly transform

and stop carrying the burdens of this world. Had to let it go. So that right there, that's for the birds. Y'all can keep that. Y'all can keep saying what you want to say, thinking what you want to think because I know and God knows and that's all that matters. A clock that right there. Okay. Okay. All right. Should I do one more question? Let's do one more question. Let me see. Why is waiting so difficult for us? Because we want to see. We want to know. We want to have some type of control. And that's just a natural humanistic characteristic, right? Like we all want to know.

We do. I mean, we understand that you won't ever know because life is going to life and things are going to happen. But waiting is hard when, especially when you feel like you have ordered your steps. You, I didn't say God ordered them. You ordered them. You went to school. You got the degree. You got the job. And you've been living right. You've been seeking the Lord and you're not married yet or you didn't have the kids yet. Or you haven't obtained a certain amount of wealth that you thought that you would have. Or you had the job and then the job left without explanation. There is no way to predict the future. And so it's hard in the waiting season when you don't know because we want to have some type of predictability. So where we're going. And so it's like you have to relinquish that. There's nothing you can do about that. Life is going to do what it does. You can't control the narrative. All you can control is your actions, how you learn from it, how you grow from it. And that's why we are putting down the doing delegation and we are being.

Because the more that you focus on being, the more you are able to find yourself from within. And the more that you seek within and you find yourself, the more the waiting allows you time to renew. renew your strength, renew your mind, renew your spirit, renew your routine, renew whatever that is. Renew your outlook on your surroundings, your community, your village. It allows you that time waiting is a dope season. And I say that only in retrospect, okay?

Because when I was in it, I was like, what are we doing? God, I remember when we first moved to Atlanta, from L.A. I used to be a teacher, especially a teacher, 14 years. And the whole time that I was in it, I knew that God was calling me to more, but I still thought it was my desires, my will, you know, and that's being a dancer, being an actress, you know, doing those things. Once I started hosting for Women Evolve, I loved it. I was like, this is who I am, this who I've always been, I always been a yapper, a yapper, okay? When I was a kid, I used to get in trouble in class for talking too much.

If that's your kid and they get in trouble in class, listen, they could be a host, they could be a journalist, they could be a reporter, you never know. But I'm just saying, I digress. In those moments of waiting for me, I was able to see that, like, God was redirecting my path. I feel like the wait season is either a redirecting. a conviction or an awareness. There's something that he's doing in that season. And you have to rest assured in that.

Like you're either convicting me of something because you need me to change my heart posture. You're either redirecting my steps so you're moving and shaking on my behalf, speaking my name in rooms I might not even know about, or leading me to an opportunity that I didn't know to do at the time. When it comes to the wait season, just overall, God is doing something.

So if you find yourself in that wait season, since you got this, you got this. And God has you. That's why you got it. It's because you woke up this morning. You have breath in your body and you are God's beloved. And that's something that you can rest, 10 toes down on. Okay? So in that waiting season, it's tough.

It's hard. especially when you don't know where it's leading you, but just know and rest assured is leading you somewhere. So that's all I got to say about that. Y'all remember on that scissors song? Well, this is woman evolve. Y'all know. Don't play with me.

Cizers, grandmama, and she's, it's okay. We'll let that go. All right. Let's do one more question. When you hear renewed strength, what comes to mind? When I hear renewed strength, what comes to mind? I think the first thing that comes to mind is a refueling. A refueling and a refreshing.

Like, I know that I have strength, but if it's being renewed, that means that I'm tired or I'm exhausted or I'm depleted. So there has to be some type of refueling, refreshing that is happening on the other side of that. And it might not be comfortable more times than not. It's not. But it is a moment that allows you to grow, to learn, to rest. Okay. Renewed strength sounds like you should be strength training. Okay. But when I hear renewed strength because I know it's from the Lord, I think of rest. Just the opposite. like so many things. And I'm not going to go down that, slippery soap, or maybe I will. Just like I said, fruits of the spirit is what God seeks or loves and enjoys about us

versus hustling, grounding in this world with the accolades and the accomplishments and the awards. And there's nothing wrong with that. But just at the end of the day, oftentimes what God is doing is very opposite of what this world tells you. So strength, renewed strength, sounds like I'm lifting weights. But in my Jesus eyes, it sounds like laying down. Okay. It sounds like stretching versus weightlifting. So that's what I hear when I hear renewed strength. And once again, it's perspective. It's, you know, your mindset and your awareness of how God has moved in your life and how he moves.

and that happens from being encouraged with your word. I'm trying to tell you, the girl's going to be some Bible girls, all right? We're going to be some Bible girls moving forward. Yes, we know the Lord loves us. And we also are going to know our word for ourselves. So that's our goal. And I want each and every one of us to take a moment and let me see. I want to give you guys a challenge for the week.

So it's going to be for all of us. As we are working to renew our strength and focusing on that for the week, what I want you all to do is to take 10 minutes of uninterrupted time with God. 10 minutes. That's it. Okay, so whether that's first thing in the morning, for you stay at home moms who got littles, that time when you are in the bathroom, lock the door. close it because I know they like to come in. Okay, close the door and sit there for 10 minutes,

uninterrupted and just ask God, what is it that you want to reveal to me today? What is it that you want to reveal to me today? Just take a second. And if you don't hear a voice, if you don't feel something raised up in your heart. After you take those 10 minutes for the rest of your day, I want you to be seeking. I want you to look at everything that comes your way and seek to see if there is something that God is speaking to you. I am 100% he is,

100% sure that he is. He's talking to you. He's always talking to us. It's just that we're too big. busy to see it. So that is my challenge for each and every one of you for this week. I want you to take 10 minutes of time to be uninterrupted with God and ask Him, God, what is it that you want me to see? What is it that you want me to know? What is it that you want to reveal about my circumstance and situation that I might not be looking at correctly? That's our goal. So listen, ladies,

been a pleasure being here with you all on the Woman Evolved podcast. Mama, I made it. I got my first episode and I am so, so grateful. If you made it to the end, thank you so much for watching and listening to the podcast today. And before I let you go, I just want to pray for you. Lord God, we thank you. We thank you for waking us up this morning. and we thank you for the breath in our bodies, oh God. Thank you for whoever you have led to listen to the Wominee Bob podcast, God. May they have a renewing and a refreshing of strength, God. May they lean on to you, God, versus their own strength, their own might, God.

You said that you will carry our burdens, oh God, and we trust you to do it. We trust that you are there in the hard times. We trust that you are there in moments of uncertainty. We know that you are there when we feel depleted and exhausted, God. So may we be filled up in you, God. May we have a strength that we don't understand. And it comes from you. Lord, God, I want to lift up past Sarah to you right now, oh God.

May your renewed strength find her in this time of healing and restoration. May she have a strength in her body that raises up so strong that she comes back better than she was before, oh God. We trust you. We thank you for everything that you are doing in her life and in the life of the delegation, God. we thank you that we don't have to journey this life alone and that we have you in our lives. Forever we love you. Forever we will magnify and glorify your name and forever we will honor you. In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen. Thank you, ladies. Love you. I pray that you felt the spirit of God, the strength of God, the power of God, speaking and ministering through Kayla. I hope that you feel a little bit more known, loved, and seen as you've had an opportunity to hear what is happening in her world and how God is meeting her and you in the midst of it all.

Listen, we are all growing and evolving, and sometimes it's giving by force and not by choice, but no matter how we get there, I trust that God is with us every step of the way. And as a result of that, something's being produced on the inside of us. I can't wait to share it with you what God is revealing to me in this season. I've been writing. I've been praying. I've been pressing into the presence in a fresh way. And I believe that what God is doing in me is going to first benefit me, my family, my friends, our church,

and anyone who is connected to watching and observing the way that God moves in my life. And prayerfully, that means you too. Holy Spirit, we welcome your presence. Thank you so much. being in communion with us, for never allowing us to face anything on our own. God, I pray right now that you would strengthen each and every person who's listening to this podcast where stress, fear, anxiety, trying to control them, God. I pray that the peace of God, the presence of God would rest on them, that they would be reminded that you are sovereign, that you are powerful and that with you, they cannot fail. And so, God, I pray that this podcast finds them right when you, they need it the most and that it would be a life jacket in a season that may feel like it's

drowning them. And may we always leave them at your feet where we know they become better as a result of experiencing your glory. In Jesus name I pray, amen. I'll see you next week. Hey y'all, it's Kelly Clarkson with Wayfair. Ever order furniture online and wonder what if? Like, what if it doesn't hold up? That sofa was four days old. You should have ordered from Wayfair. With Wayfair, there's no what if. Just style you love and quality you can trust. Visit wayfair.ca. Wayfair, every style, every home.