Week 3: Graced & Growing Part 2
Graced & Growing – Part 2: This is the second half of Episode 3 in our Carried by Grace series — and today, we’re picking up right where we left off. We’re talking about how God can take what once limited you and use it to launch you.
Here’s what we unpack in this episode:
- How my childhood struggles now shape how I lead, teach, and see others through grace
- The power of speaking life over someone who’s still growing
- Why compassion matters especially when you’ve been through what they’re going through
- How God redeems every part of your story for purpose
One of my favorite reminders from this episode: “The labels didn’t win. The lies didn’t stick. God’s truth had the final say — and it’s still speaking.”
Want to go deeper? Download your FREE Carried by Grace Companion Journal
Reflect, journal, and rest in His peace as you walk this journey — one grace-filled step at a time.
Let this be your reminder: You’re not stuck — you’re still becoming. God is faithful to finish the work He started in you.
Transcript
Hello and welcome back to the Transformational Teacher Podcast.
Speaker A:I am your host, Titoya.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:Thank you so much for being here.
Speaker A:We are on week three of our Carried by Grace journey.
Speaker A:Now, this episode, we broke it down into two parts.
Speaker A:So part one, we talked about the messy middle, the lies, the labels, and how God's grace met me in the process of growing.
Speaker A:So if you didn't get to listen to that one, head over and listen to that one first.
Speaker A:Now I want to show you how those very things the enemy tried to use against me, God used to equip me.
Speaker A:Because again, all things work together for the good of those that love the Lord.
Speaker A:And I am so thankful for what God has done and is continuing to do in my life now.
Speaker A:As I said earlier, school wasn't easy.
Speaker A:Growing up, I had an iep.
Speaker A:I was labeled.
Speaker A:And people told me what I couldn't do because was people that spoke things over me that were not nice, let's just put it that way.
Speaker A:And for a long time, I believe them.
Speaker A:But what I walked through then, it shaped how I show up now as a teacher, as a leader, as a wife, as a woman of God.
Speaker A:I carry those memories with intention, not with shame, but with compassion.
Speaker A:Because I know what it feels like to be underestimated.
Speaker A:I know what it feels like to be overlooked because boxed in by someone else's opinion.
Speaker A:And I don't want to make anyone feel that way.
Speaker A:So I try my best.
Speaker A:Now, I don't always hit the mark 100%, but I try.
Speaker A:And again, while there were people who saw potential in me, the label stuck louder than what they saw.
Speaker A:And it wasn't until I started growing in my faith that I realized my past didn't get the final say.
Speaker A:God's truth gets the final say.
Speaker A:And now, again, I do my best in the classroom to see the whole child.
Speaker A:I ask deeper questions.
Speaker A:I try different methods.
Speaker A:I reach out to people.
Speaker A:I bring people in to help me see them as a whole, to see if there's anything I can do on my own.
Speaker A:I look at each student again through the lens of grace and possibility, seeing that no God has uniquely created them.
Speaker A:So let me see what he's put inside of me to.
Speaker A:To bring out of them.
Speaker A:Because I remember again what it's like to need someone to believe in you before you believe in yourself.
Speaker A:And that same lens, it helps me to extend grace to myself.
Speaker A:Now, even now, I remind myself the labels didn't win when I started to feel defeated.
Speaker A:No, the labels didn't win then the lies didn't stick.
Speaker A:They can't stick now.
Speaker A:God's truth again had the final say.
Speaker A:And his truth is forever speaking.
Speaker A:He, his promises is what I stand on now.
Speaker A:Now, even during my college years, when I wanted to quit, God kept me.
Speaker A:I remember my freshman year feeling defeated.
Speaker A:And one of my sweet friends, she played a Mary Mary song.
Speaker A:And part of the song said, he didn't bring me this far to leave me because I wanted her to help me with something.
Speaker A:But she refused to help because she was like, no, you can do it.
Speaker A:And I'm so thankful that she did, because again, that showed me I.
Speaker A:I can do this.
Speaker A:So again, he didn't bring me this far.
Speaker A:He didn't bring you this far to leave you.
Speaker A:So keep going.
Speaker A:But as you're going, go with him.
Speaker A:Allow God to lead you.
Speaker A:And I realized again, I couldn't wait on someone to carry me anymore.
Speaker A:I had to lean into God's strength and do the work.
Speaker A:And what I endured back then, again, it just didn't just prepare me academically because again, when I came to A and T, I, I came to go to college.
Speaker A:But there was so much more in that.
Speaker A:He planted me in the ministry that I'm a part of.
Speaker A:And that ministry helped me to blossom.
Speaker A:It helped to pull back lies.
Speaker A:It helped me to see who I am in God.
Speaker A:So that is why it is so vital to make sure you are a part of a church home now.
Speaker A:This prepared me for my assignment.
Speaker A:To lead with compassion, to teach with purpose, to speak life into students, into women, into you.
Speaker A:So if you're in a space right now where your growth feels slow, where you're questioning the process, I want you to hear this.
Speaker A:The labels didn't win.
Speaker A:The lies didn't stick.
Speaker A:God's truth had the final say and is still speaking.
Speaker A:You hear me say that a lot because God is still speaking.
Speaker A:God's word is alive.
Speaker A:God's word is true.
Speaker A:God's word is active.
Speaker A:Allow it to become real to you.
Speaker A:Live his word out.
Speaker A:God is doing something in you that will bless someone else down the line.
Speaker A:So keep going.
Speaker A:Now, let's pause here for a moment.
Speaker A:Maybe this is where today's message meets you.
Speaker A:You've said yes.
Speaker A:You started doing the thing God told you to do.
Speaker A:But change feels slow.
Speaker A:The progress feels messy.
Speaker A:You're still battling those old lies, hidden insecurities.
Speaker A:You're in the messy middle.
Speaker A:But here's the thing.
Speaker A:You don't have to be in alone.
Speaker A:God is right there with you.
Speaker A:Cry out to him Reach out to Him.
Speaker A:Pour your heart out to him, and let him know how you feel.
Speaker A:Invite him into your situation.
Speaker A:You're showing up, you're doing the work, but you're wondering if it's even working again.
Speaker A:The work that God started in us, he's going to finish it, but we have to do our part in it.
Speaker A:Now let me tell you what I've learned through this process.
Speaker A:That if you're growing, you're not failing.
Speaker A:If you're rooted in him, you're exactly where you need to be.
Speaker A:So again, celebrate your small steps and keep showing up, because grace is carrying you forward.
Speaker A:When you release the lies that tried to hold you back and pick up the truth of God's word, step by step, you will become who he has always seen in you.
Speaker A:So keep going.
Speaker A:Keep doing what God is telling you to do.
Speaker A:And I know sometimes we may feel weary, but here's the thing.
Speaker A:Galatians 6:9 says, Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap if we do not give in.
Speaker A:So even in those moments where you feel weary, you feel discouraged, guess what?
Speaker A:Turn to God.
Speaker A:Turn to God when things are going well.
Speaker A:Turn to God when the discouragement is trying to creep in.
Speaker A:And here's the thing about God.
Speaker A:He has placed people in our lives to help us on this journey.
Speaker A:So embrace the community that you have.
Speaker A:And again, it is key to be a part of a local church.
Speaker A:Ephesians 2:10.
Speaker A:It says, for we are his workmanship, his own masterwork, a work of art created in Christ Jesus, reborn from above, spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used for good works which God prepared for us beforehand.
Speaker A:Taking paths which he set so that we would walk in them, living the good life which he prearranged and made ready for us.
Speaker A:So you may not see the whole staircase today.
Speaker A:But guess what?
Speaker A:God knows the whole staircase.
Speaker A:He's already prearranged things for you.
Speaker A:We have to come in alignment with Him.
Speaker A:So I want you to keep going.
Speaker A:Stay rooted in grace, and the harvest is on the way.
Speaker A:And as you align with God day by day, you will keep walking in that very path again that he pre arranged for you, that he designed for you all along.
Speaker A:So again, keep doing what God is telling you to do.
Speaker A:Keep showing up.
Speaker A:But when you show up, don't show up in your own strength.
Speaker A:Show up in history.
Speaker A:Ask him to.
Speaker A:To strengthen you.
Speaker A:Ask him to grace you each and every day.
Speaker A:So I want you all to make sure you head over to thetransformationalteacher.com to grab your companion journal if you haven't already.
Speaker A:Because the second part of this week's prompts are what will I do when discouragement tries to come in?
Speaker A:Because here's the thing.
Speaker A:We have to have a plan.
Speaker A:We have to know, okay, if discouragement comes up, I know I can go to this scripture.
Speaker A:I know I can pray this.
Speaker A:I know I can ask this person to pray for me.
Speaker A:We want to have things in place.
Speaker A:What truth of scripture will I stand on again when I feel stuck?
Speaker A:I want you to write out a prayer that anchors you in grace.
Speaker A:Now again, take your time with this.
Speaker A:Let the Holy Spirit speak to you.
Speaker A:Let the Holy Spirit guide and direct your path.
Speaker A:Now again.
Speaker A:You're still growing.
Speaker A:I'm still growing.
Speaker A:We're in this together.
Speaker A:And the amazing thing is that God is right there with us.
Speaker A:He will never leave us.
Speaker A:He will never forsake us.
Speaker A:He will guide and direct our footsteps.
Speaker A:And the thing about God, it says in Psalms 32:8, that he will instruct us, says the Lord, and guide you along the best pathway for your life.
Speaker A:I will advise you and watch you progress as continue on this journey that he is leading you on.
Speaker A:Allow him to guide and direct your footsteps every step of the way.
Speaker A:Well, again, make sure you grab your companion journal and remember this.
Speaker A:You don't have to rush, you don't have to have it all together.
Speaker A:Let grace guide you and let God help you along the journey.
Speaker A:Well, let's pray.
Speaker A:Well, Heavenly Father, we thank you right now.
Speaker A:We thank you Lord, just for who you are.
Speaker A:We thank you for your faithfulness.
Speaker A:We thank you for your love.
Speaker A:We thank you, Lord God, for your guidance.
Speaker A:We thank you, Lord God, for the things that you have pre arranged for each one of us.
Speaker A:I pray that we come in alignment with you, Lord God, and we walk along that path that you have paved out for us.
Speaker A:Lord God, we thank you right now that we give every care, every lie, every ounce of anxiety.
Speaker A:We give those things over to you that try to weigh us down.
Speaker A:And we receive your peace.
Speaker A:We receive your love.
Speaker A:We receive your guidance.
Speaker A:We receive your strength, Lord God, for this journey, Lord God.
Speaker A:And we thank you, Lord God, that we will continue, Lord God, to do your will.
Speaker A:And we give you glory and we give you honor.
Speaker A:In Jesus name I pray.
Speaker A:Amen.
