August 1, 2024 • 38 mins
Unlock the true essence of waiting on God with Prophetess Carla Clark on this episode of the Graced to Lead podcast. Waiting isn't about inactivity; it's a dynamic journey of faith and movement, even amidst delays. Carla shares her personal experiences, offering profound insights into how these waiting periods have fortified her trust in God's timing and meticulously prepared her for the divine plans ahead. Together, we redefine waiting as an active period of spiritual growth and preparation.
Transitioning to leadership development, Carla shares lessons from her career journey from a teacher to an administrator, underscoring the significance of utilizing waiting seasons to hone essential skills for future leadership roles. We explore maintaining faith, humility, and a positive attitude during frustrating delays, demonstrating how persistence and continuous learning can shape one into a capable leader.
Lastly, we spotlight the crucial role of trusted advisors and feedback in both personal and professional growth. Carla provides invaluable advice on handling relationships and the necessity of having a seasoned mentor with a genuine track record. This episode is packed with wisdom, encouragement, and actionable steps designed to help you thrive in your leadership journey and maintain a strong devotional life with God. Tune in for a transformative experience that promises to enrich your faith and leadership skills.
Mentioned during the show:
Connect with Carla Clark and Lion's Roar Ministries
Facebook: Carladclark
IG: @Carladclark
Please subscribe to our mailing list to stay connected and get updates! Thanks for listening to the Graced to Lead Podcast.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Belinda Gaston (00:08):
Welcome to the Graced to Lead podcast.
I'm Belinda Gaston, your host,and listen.
If you are a Christian womanwho leads at work, in your own
business or even in ministry,you are in the right place here.
You'll find practical adviceand encouragement as you lead
through real conversations thatwill challenge and inspire you.
So join me on this journey tobecoming better leaders God's
(00:31):
way.
Are you ready?
Let the journey begin.
Welcome to the Grace to Leadpodcast.
I'm Belinda Gaston, your host,and listen.
Today we have an amazing guest.
Today we're going to be talkingabout what it means to wait on
God, and I have with me someonewhom I deeply admire, none other
(00:54):
than the prophetess Carla Clark.
Carla Clark is a woman ofpassion who's driven to see men,
women and children walk intheir God-ordained destiny.
She has co-labored for over 18years in pastoral ministry with
her husband, pastor Dawn Clark.
(01:14):
She's the founder of Lions Roar, a ministry designed to train,
teach and activate believers intheir prophetic gifts.
Train, teach and activatebelievers in their prophetic
gifts.
Her School of the Prophets ispreparing prophetic people all
over the nation to walkeffectively in their prophetic
gifts.
She believes that everybeliever should impact the
(01:35):
kingdom of God and the kingdomof hell.
By using their gifts, sheendeavors to create atmospheres
where God can dwell and heartscan be mended.
And her genuine love of Godwill compel you I know it
compels me and her boldness willencourage you and her faith
will motivate you.
(01:56):
Not only is she the founder ofLions Roar, but she has authored
several books on the subject ofthe spiritual gift of prophecy.
Those titles include Finding myRoar this is one of my
favorites a prophetic trainingmanual.
She also has Finding the Lionwithin a prophetic, a prophet's
manual, and 30 Days of PropheticActivation a devotional journey
(02:19):
.
Her manual has reached so manydestinations.
People are reading her books inKenya, in Ghana, in Nigeria, so
you need to get those.
I'll make sure to put those inthe description, and she's a
native of Atlanta y'all.
After 30 years she has retiredfrom her role as a school
administrator.
So, leaders, she is a leader,leader.
(02:41):
Her academic accomplishmentsincludes a BA degree from
Georgia State University, amaster's degree in education
from Mercer University and anEDS degree in educational
leadership from the Universityof West Georgia.
Can you join me in welcomingnone other than the Carla Clark
(03:04):
Welcome to the Graced to Leadpodcast?
Carla Clark (03:08):
Well, thank you, Belinda, for having me.
I'm excited today for what theLord is going to do and just for
the conversation and theinsightfulness that the Lord is
going to give.
Belinda Gaston (03:16):
So I'm just excited to be here Thank you so
much and, for leaders, for thoseof you who are listening, there
are a couple of things thatwe're going to talk about, but
the main thing we're talkingabout is waiting on God, and if
you have listened to the lasttwo episodes, you know that a
couple of weeks ago, we hadMichele Scott, who talked about
hearing from God.
(03:37):
She talked about cultivating arelationship with God and, as
leaders, the importance of that.
And then last this week, I dida solo episode where I was
honest with y'all about listen.
I wanted to quit this herepodcast, like I was done.
I'm tired.
You know, god said that if Idid this thing and I led in this
way, that all these things weregonna happen, and they didn't
(03:59):
happen, and so I was like I quit.
If you haven't listened to thatepisode, please go back and
listen to it.
But I talked about what you dowhen you feel that way and how
you push through, and one ofthose things is you have to wait
on God, and so that's where ourconversation is going to pick
up.
This is very, very timely giventhe conversations that we've
had so far, and so, carla, we'regoing to get started by just
(04:21):
talking about what it means towait on God.
I think people have so manynotions of what that means, but
can you tell us what it meansfor you when we say wait on God?
Carla Clark (04:35):
So, belinda, thank you.
When we talk about waiting onGod, I guess I wanted to refer
to Isaiah 40 and 31.
And it says but they that waitupon the Lord shall renew their
strength, they shall mount upwith wings as eagles, they shall
run and not be weary, and theyshall walk in not faith.
When we talk about waiting,it's a delayed action for a
particular thing to occur oreven a particular destination.
(04:58):
But when we think about waitingon God, I believe it's not
saying that we are standing inone place, right?
So, even if what we are waitingon is delayed, that we don't
just wait in that place.
That's like if you're at atrain stop and the train is not
coming, you're just standingthere.
But I believe when we talk aboutwaiting on God still means that
(05:19):
there is action and there'salso movement until the thing
that we're waiting on occurs.
And let me just say this, andas we wait and a lot of times we
don't want to do this itaggravate and it aggravates our
flesh, it frustrates us in thenatural.
But really, when you talk aboutwaiting it, it really kind of
(05:41):
uh, releases the gift, thefruits of the spirit, that place
of enduring.
It tempers us, it forces us totrust God, trust his timing,
trust that he knows what he isdoing, and I would say that it
is a process of learning totrust him over years, over time,
(06:02):
that when you have had asituation where you've had to
wait on the Lord and he camethrough, then the next time
comes, it gets to be a littlebit easier.
I believe that waiting on theLord also increases our trust in
him.
I think, as leaders, as people,that and this is easily said
and done that it's a learningprocess.
(06:22):
We have to learn to waitnothing done.
Belinda Gaston (06:26):
That it's a learning process.
We have to learn to wait, yeah,and I'm glad that you mentioned
that, because a lot of timeswhen we think about wait, we
think of it as passive, we'rejust going to sit and we're just
going to wait, and that can bereally frustrating.
And so the idea that, as wewait, it's an active thing to
wait is really important.
And I know that you mentionedover time, you learn how to wait
(06:50):
and you learn to trust in God,and I know that when you wait,
you are listening and you'rehearing and you're trusting
while you are actively waiting.
But how is it all reallyrelated?
What if I'm a leader, I'veprayed for some things and I'm
waiting on some solutions orsomething from the Lord and I'm
(07:12):
new to the faith, or maybe Idon't know what it means to hear
from God?
How is waiting on God andhearing God or listening to God?
How is that related?
And hearing God or listening toGod?
How?
Carla Clark (07:25):
is that related?
That's a great question,because many times when we're
waiting sometimes and not allthe time, but sometimes when
we're waiting many people see itas God being silent, or they
have experienced him beingsilent in the waiting, or
sometimes he is givinginstructions.
So when you're talking aboutwaiting and listening, that in
(07:47):
the waiting season, in the placethat you're being active, that
you have to become verysensitive to what the Lord is
saying to you, because in thewaiting, I believe that he is
giving strategy for preparation,especially as a leader, that he
is giving strategy forpreparation before he tells the
train to leave the station.
There are some things that youhave to do to prepare for, for
(08:10):
example, you and your podcast.
Maybe there were some thingsthat he calls a delay on or
calls you to wait on.
But even in the midst of that,what was the preparation?
Who were you then saying?
You know what?
I didn't think about thisperson to come and speak, but
you know what?
Maybe, lord, this person cancome and speak.
Or that he began to change someof the topics that he was
(08:30):
giving you in the waiting.
So I think that when we arewaiting on the Lord, that we
should press into or desire ordiligently seek his voice.
I think that would be a goodterm to begin to diligently seek
him and seek his strategy,begin to ask him why the way or
what should I be doing in thewaiting?
(08:51):
Am I preparing, am I gettingmore knowledge on the thing that
I need to be doing?
Am I even reaching out topeople who may be a little bit
further ahead of me while I amor even maybe I'm supporting a
leader who's doing what I wantto do at that level?
Because that causes a place ofpreparation.
(09:13):
I think many times as leaders wemove out into places that we
have no knowledge of, we havenot sought any help, we haven't
sought any wisdom for them, andI think those kind of things
cause delays.
Those things cause us to be ina waiting season so that we can
strengthen our position and ourconviction for where we are
(09:34):
right now.
Because once it really gets tomoving, things really get moving
, whether it's in ministry,whether in business, whether in
career.
Once things get really moving,many times we find ourselves in
places that we don't have timeto listen as intently because
things are moving.
So I think that the listeningand the waiting kind of run in
(09:55):
the same stream, I guess I wouldsay.
Belinda Gaston (09:58):
You just brought up.
Something that we don't thinkabout often as leaders is what
are the things that you can bedoing while you're waiting?
Right, and so you talked abouteven reaching out to other
people who may be ahead of youin leading.
Or if you're thinking aboutsomeone right now in my network
who's trying to make a decision,a leadership decision, that's
(10:19):
going to impact other people inher business, and while she's
waiting to hear from God, Idon't think it's ever dawned on
her to reach out to someone whomay be more experienced in that
area to seek wisdom and advice,and that's something that we
definitely can do while we'rewaiting.
So thank you so much forsharing that, and I wonder, if
(10:41):
you were to describe for leaderswhy this process of waiting is
so important, what would you say?
Why is waiting on God importantfor leaders?
Carla Clark (10:55):
I think I touched on it just a little bit about
what it does to character, right, what it does to who we are.
I mean, you know, you've heardthe quote that says that your
guilt can get you a place, butyour character keeps you there.
So in the waiting, ourcharacter is being built.
(11:17):
I want to give you an example.
I retired as a assistantprincipal and so I was a teacher
, and as a teacher I knew Iwanted to be in leadership.
I knew that I wanted to be anassistant principal and listen,
it was like it just took so long, like I had delays where it
seemed that everybody else hadan easier journey.
(11:38):
They like they jump right intothe process.
I was having to go to peopleand having to have them to vet
me to another person and it justseemed like the truth is, just
throughout my entire journey,that it has been a journey of
waiting or delay, but in themidst of that, so I was.
I was an instructional coach orsomething like that before I
(11:59):
became an assistant principal.
But I work very closely withthe assistant principals and
anytime they ask me to dosomething, I always say yes,
whereas you find people thatmany times they'll say, well,
I'm not getting paid for that.
I'm not doing that.
They keep asking me to do allthis.
I'm not getting paid for that.
That's not my title.
But in the waiting process thatyou need to be doing more than
(12:23):
what's expected.
Even if people think they'reusing me, they're taking
advantage of me, let them takeadvantage Because in the midst
of them taking advantage, in themidst of them quote unquote
using you, you are stacking yourresume by learning new skills.
And I give the example that bythe time I became an assistant
(12:44):
principal, I walked in the doorready.
I didn't have to get ready.
I didn't have to walk aroundthe building talking about what
should I do, because I used thatwaiting time, which was very
frustrating.
I used that learning time toincrease my skill set.
So I moved from the teacherarena, from a classroom of 120,
(13:06):
where I became responsible for400 kids plus 20, plus adults
and sometimes 100 adults whenyou're talking about school-wide
.
But I was ready to walk in thatand this is a true story I
walked in ready.
So my first year was not like afirst year, because I had done
so much, I had gained so muchexperience that my learning
(13:29):
curve was not as great.
And so sometimes in our waitingperiod, we have to humble
ourselves.
As the scripture says.
Humble ourselves under themighty hand of God that in due
season, that he will exalt us.
But in our humbling, so youcan't think of it, they're
humbling me, they're doing thisto me you need to think about
you know what?
Oh, you want me to do this withthis Excel file?
(13:50):
Oh, I'm learning this.
You want me to do this withparents?
Oh, I'm learning this.
So it's about in the waiting, asa leader, what can I learn and
who can I learn it from?
It humbles us, it tempers us.
It tempers our need to justjump right in there while we're
in the process of waiting.
I think that it can beextremely frustrating because
(14:13):
you know, the scripture talkedabout, we talk about Joseph.
He has a dream.
It takes him 20 years.
The scripture says that theword tried Joseph, that it tried
him, which means it was kind ofaggravating.
He's like well, you said thatmy brothers were going to bow
down to me and I'm in a pit, I'mbeing accused of this.
Belinda Gaston (14:32):
But when he became a leader, when he got to
that destination, he was betterfor it, even though we don't
want to say that, but we arebetter for it sometimes it is
incredibly frustrating, andthank you for being so
transparent about your ownexperiences, I think, as leaders
, especially if you have an ideaof where you think God is
(14:55):
taking you right.
So there's some leaders who arelistening, who have an idea of
where God is taking them, orthey have a vision of what they
should be doing, and the longerit takes to get there, the more
frustrating, especially is what.
Something you said is that yousaw people who would just get in
there and they'd be promotedright away, or they get in the
position and you're like well,I'm still, I'm still here, and
(15:19):
so I think that's wise advice.
And you talked about humblingourselves.
I'd like to know, in yourmoments of frustration, how did
you snap out of it, so to speak?
I mean, how did you bringyourself out of being frustrated
?
What would be your advice forpeople in that position?
Carla Clark (15:42):
that's a good question, but I'm going to be
honest in this, that I don'tknow that the first instruction
left the.
The point of it is, though,that you cannot allow the first
instruction to show.
So, when you're talking aboutcareer moves, when you're
talking about ministry moves forme and this is honest, and for
(16:04):
other people, maybe they can saythat this is what I did for my
frustration, but it speaks tothe same thing about growth and
humility that frustration neverleft.
However, I did continue todeclare the word, I continue to
lean into faith, and my faithwas growing, knowing that.
(16:25):
God, you know what, even thoughI'm right here, that I know
you're going to work this out,who do I need to talk to?
What door are you going to open?
For me?
It's kind of like I still had,you know, the battery ram that I
continued to knock at the door.
I just continued to knock, likeI was frustrated, but I did not
allow the frustration to show,and many times and I know this
(16:48):
because I've done this longenough that you see people who
want to move up and they allowtheir frustration to show.
You can't play that hand.
You can't allow that, and youget an attitude, you get bitter
with the people that are beingpromoted.
You get bitter with the peoplethat are above you, as opposed
to allowing that frustration togo in another place and begin to
(17:12):
put on a different face.
It's not being fake and it'snot even faking it till you make
it.
It's just that in professionalsetting, when you're trying to
move up, are you really showingthat you have what it takes to
be a leader?
Because when you get in thatplace of leadership, you're
going to have so manyfrustrating things that happen.
(17:33):
And if you have not learned howto deal with that once again,
because you're dealing with thefrustrated in the waiting if you
have not learned how to manageyour emotions, when you get into
a place of leadership and thatseat of leadership it is going
to come out, it's going toexplode, it's going to manifest
and the people are going to belike, oh, my goodness, and then
(17:55):
it's going to be well.
That's why we didn't promotethem in the first place, right?
And I also wanted to add to thisthat sometimes in our waiting
of leadership and promotions andthings like that, that the Lord
also uses that place of waitingto move us to another place for
(18:16):
some of us, Because sometimeswe're in companies and careers
and we're like why are they notmoving me?
Why are they not moving me whenthe Lord is saying move to a
different place, whether it's adifferent company, a different
school, a different peoplebecause he's trying to get you
to move.
Because sometimes the Christian, if you're new to this, you're
like I'm going to be remote inthis place, in this office, in
(18:39):
this company, and the Lord islike no, I need you to move to
this place.
Not for everybody, but thatdoes occur.
Like I've had to tell peopleyou need to go to another school
.
If they're not going to vet youhere, go somewhere else.
It is a learning process and weonly learn that in the waiting.
Belinda Gaston (19:01):
You said so much the idea of movement.
It makes me think aboutposition.
You talked about waiting andworking.
You've talked about waiting andpreparing.
It also sounds like waiting isalso a part of positioning and I
don't think that people thinkabout that, because sometimes we
have our hearts set on thething.
It's like I have this.
(19:24):
I remember I remember when I gotmarried, when I was preparing
for the wedding, I had this ideain my head of what the wedding
was supposed to be.
I've been dreaming about thiswedding since I was a kid.
It was.
I was going to have this kindof dress, I was going to have
this kind of you know, it wasgoing to look this way.
And I remember, as we startedplanning, as I started planning
(19:47):
the wedding, it was nothing atall like I imagined it would be,
and I remember being frustratedabout it and I had a friend
that says why are you missingout on the blessing of the right
now?
Because you're holding on to animage that never was, and
that's what came to my mind whenyou were talking.
(20:08):
Some of us in leadership whoare waiting are waiting and
missing out on all theopportunities that you described
of being able to train undersomebody or learn new skills or
whatever that is, or even moveto a different place, because
we're so focused on our idea ofwhere we should be.
Carla Clark (20:30):
Yeah, it's true, because when I was and I'm only
talking about from moving fromthe teacher to the assistant
principal that every time theyasked me to do something new
that I had never done, I waslike, oh, that's that in my
resume.
I was big on that, so that whenI walk into an interview and I
tell people that I will mentorpeople that are moving into
(20:53):
leadership, just it's stackingyour resume.
Do find out how to do that andthen begin to just add it to
your resume Because, once again,you don't have to get ready.
Your learning curve is not asgreat.
And just think about this whenyou walk into an interview and
I've had this happen so manytimes that many times people
come into an interview andcertain things they're not able
(21:15):
to speak on, not because theycan't do the job, they don't
know the job, but if you walkinto an interview having never
done the job but you're able tospeak to the responsibilities of
the job because you've done it,the likelihood of you getting
the job is greater than ifyou've just sat and been mad and
(21:37):
talk about they're trying touse me, they're walking all over
me.
I'm not doing that because I'veheard people say this.
I'm not doing all that.
I'm not getting paid to do that.
I'm not doing any extra.
I'm not staying late.
I'm not doing all that.
I'm not getting paid to do that.
I'm not doing any extra.
I'm not staying late.
I'm not doing any of that.
Because, to be honest, all ofthose things play into the
promotion, play into the next,play into the place of leading.
Belinda Gaston (21:56):
That was great advice.
Thank you for answering.
So I think this really does getus into the next question,
which is what are some practicaltips we can use?
Carla Clark (22:07):
while we're waiting .
I think I've shared a few, butI want to add this one, though,
that I don't really think Ireally talk as much about as
just finding a place of prayerand solace with the Lord, that
Lord, wherever I am.
The scripture says that inwhatever state I am in, that I
(22:28):
am content, that I know how toabound and I know how to abase
that, even in my frustration,that I can be content, or I can
look content in this momentbecause I am building my
relationship with the Lord, I amtaking more time out with the
(22:49):
Lord, I am seeking him, and inseasons of waiting, they
definitely cause us to pressinto the secret place a little
bit more.
And that's OK, right, becauseit's really for some of us.
It almost feels like a valleyexperience when we are in a
place of waiting, whether and Iknow it's about leadership, but
(23:12):
whether or not, whether it issomebody waiting to have a child
, waiting to get married,waiting to get promoted, waiting
to have your idea vetted, ideaof that, it, this, these great
ideas that you have in your life, but they're not listening it
is an opportunity for well, Idon't even necessarily think
it's an opportunity, but it is away that the Lord begins to
(23:33):
take us through the fire torefine us, because it is very
frustrating.
People, uh, lose their vision inthe waiting.
People begin to lose their yesin the waiting.
People begin to lose their yesin the waiting because they
begin to say well, you know what?
This must not be for me, lord.
You gave me this strategy, yougave me this business plan, but
it's not coming to pass, so it'snot even.
(23:55):
It's not even for me, but intruth it is.
It is for us right, because itis about faith.
It's the service of thingshoped for and the evidence of
things not seen.
And I'm talking about thingsthat I know.
I'm not talking about just myopinion.
I'm talking about things that Iknow in the Lord, that we learn
to trust him in the process.
(24:17):
So it's a process of waitingand in that we learn to trust
him, we learn to build ourrelationship with him when we
feel that we're in the valley,and we learn to handle our
emotions.
We learn how to not show ouremotions.
And I'm going to be honest,this is not an area that I've
(24:38):
been successful in, but as agood leader, you know how to
manage your emotions, because ifyou can't manage your emotions
over on this side when you'releading 100, 200, a whole
company or organization, aministry, it's going to come out
, and so one of the preparationsis to build that devotional
life in spite of what you'regoing through.
(25:00):
So that was one.
Number two definitely begin totalk to people that are in a
position that you want to be in.
And also I did not talk aboutthis Find books, find podcasts
In 2024, let me tell yousomething In 2024, there's
probably not there.
(25:21):
There's nothing that you can say.
I cannot find information thatwe are an informational rich
society.
So, whatever it is that youwant to do, think about hope, to
do just a thought or impressionthat there is information, that
I mean.
So now you know, used to bewhere people can make an excuse.
There is information I mean.
So now you know used to bewhere people can make an excuse.
There is no excuse.
There are no excuses for notknowing, and even I would say
(25:45):
you know I'm not.
You know we're talking aboutbeing promoted mock interviews.
If we're talking about how dowe vet an idea, then seek out
that information, because thething is we think we know right,
especially when we are alreadyleading and, depending on
whether we're in the CEO suitehigh up, we think we already
know.
(26:06):
I'll give another example inthat, no matter I had been an
administrator, and this is for15 years that and I went to
several jobs and every job thatI went to I did not go in there
talking about I already know.
You know what I mean.
I went and looked I was likelet me fire some interview
questions.
What kind of questions are theygoing to ask me?
What is new about this school?
(26:26):
Because I didn't know and Ihave seen people because I was,
I was a person that interviewedpeople.
I we hired people that I'veseen people walk into interviews
and completely unprepared, andI'm thinking you didn't get the
job not because you didn't know,but because you did not prepare
.
So there has to be, in theseason of waiting, preparation
(26:47):
for whatever it is you believein God to do for you, whatever,
whether it's promotion, whetherit's, like I say, you're trying
to vet an idea that people arenot listening to.
You want to lead a differentteam.
You even want to begin to buildyour own team of people.
That there are places ofpreparation, that there's a work
of preparation that we have todo that.
(27:08):
Can I be honest?
So many people are unwilling todo it and they don't do it Even
at the highest level.
You still have to prepare.
I don't want to belabor thatpoint, but I do want to press
that point because I've justseen it time and time and time
(27:29):
and time again where people comein and they're just unprepared
in the next thing that they wantto do.
So I want to say that buildingyour relationship, your
devotional life with the Lord,that place of preparation, to me
those are two big things.
When we talk about waiting, andI would just say just trust him,
trust the process, trust theprocess.
(27:53):
Learn to manage your emotions.
That one thing, right there,that's a big deal.
You have to manage youremotions.
You one thing right there,that's a big deal.
You have to manage youremotions.
You see people just come onGoogle.
Whether it's at work or inministry, you're like you can't
lead like that if you can'tmanage your emotions, whether
it's anger, whether it'sfrustration, whether even if
(28:14):
you're just so excited sometimes, even in that, depending on
where you are, you have tomanage your emotions.
So I think those three are very, very important.
Let me say this, and I thinkalso, when we're talking about
waiting on the Lord, thinkingabout how you deal with people.
So relationships, relationalbehaviors that begin to think
(28:35):
about how do I deal with people,behaviors that begin to think
about how do I deal with peopleand and you know also the
feedback of is something keepingme in this place of waiting,
like what, what is keeping me?
Many times, when I went from ateacher to the assistant
principal, I began.
It took me a couple ofinterviews, right, and so every
time I begin to go in and Iwould say to the deep, can I get
(28:55):
feedback on my interview, likewhat happened or what did you
think?
And many times we don't want toget any feedback and many times
we need feedback.
It is a small thing thatsometimes we miss because we
don't listen, we don't want tolisten to others, and so,
finding a trusted voice that'sin your field or is already
(29:18):
doing what you want to do, andallow them to give you feedback
about you, what is it that someof your blind spots that you
don't see, and even some of thegreat, some of your gifts that
you don't know, are apparent toyou, that both of those things
are necessary.
So receiving feedback as well.
Those were really really good.
Belinda Gaston (29:40):
I was trying to make sure I got all of the notes
, but you talked about spendingtime with God and really digging
into that devotional time withGod.
You talked about positioningyourself and making sure you're
in the right position.
You talked about preparationand listen, that's the hard one.
That's the one that I have tocontinuously remind myself of,
(30:01):
because preparation is hard,especially when you feel like
okay.
So I'll just say for thelisteners, I have a know-it-all
spirit sometimes, and sometimesI feel like, well, I already
know that one.
But once you start to prepare,you realize that there is always
more and more and more that youcan know, because things are
constantly changing.
(30:22):
So preparation is huge.
And then the people aspect of itand the relationships.
I think we take for granted,particularly in a world where a
lot of communication is digital,that relationships still matter
and how you handle people inthe place that you are, that's
(30:42):
preparation for how you're goingto handle people in the next
place that you go, and so Ithink that was really good.
And then, finally, you saidhaving a trusted advisor and I
think this topic has come up acouple of times during the
season on these episodes of howimportant it is to have that
person that you trust, that youare willing to receive.
(31:05):
So it's one thing saying goingto someone and saying, hey, I
need a mentor, hey, I need youto be my advisor, but if you
don't listen which is what youtalked about if you don't listen
, then what's the point?
And so someone that really youcan receive from and you're open
to listening.
And so those were excellent,excellent practical tips that we
can use.
Carla Clark (31:25):
And I think about the trusted advisor as well that
let the trusted advisor bedoing something that you want to
do or that they are ahead ofyou.
Many times, especially now withsocial media, that we don't vet
people.
And then all these people theywant to teach you about life
coaching, they want to teach youabout money matters, they want
to teach you about all thesethings, but they're not doing it
(31:49):
.
Not only are they not doing it,they've never even experienced
it.
And so when you're talkingabout a trusted advisor, you
need to know their resume, likewhat have they done in their
life, in their business, inministry?
And we got to be able todiscern that, because even
people that we believe that maybe trusted advisors, they can't
(32:10):
teach us something that theydon't know.
Even though they may think theycan, they can't.
So I wanted to definitely throwthat in for our listeners and to
be discerning when we talkabout who are our trusted
advisors.
Who can I go to?
And sometimes you know you'rethinking to yourself well, how
do you know what the person hasdone?
(32:31):
Google, google, like really,what have you done?
Because people can talk a goodgame, what can I see your resume
?
And I and I'm very and I'm veryserious about that, because
people say they do somethingyou'd be thinking you have not.
So I want to leave that as anumber one point, that when
(32:53):
you're talking about a trustedadvisor.
Belinda Gaston (32:54):
So thank you, belinda that is, and we are and
I'm laughing because we're in asociety where everybody has a
book, a course or something onhow to do something and most of
the time they haven't even doneit.
They took somebody else'scourse and they repurposed the
content and then somebody elsebuys it for 99.95.
So that is excellent advice,boy.
(33:19):
This conversation has been sorich listeners.
I know that you are takingnotes.
Because I'm taking notes, Ithink I'll just I'll stop here
and ask you if you have anyfinal thoughts.
It feels like that last commentabout trusted advisors is
something we can hang our hat on.
But perhaps there's somethingelse.
If you had to leave ourlisteners with any additional
final thoughts, what would youshare if you had to leave our
listeners with any additionalfinal thoughts.
Carla Clark (33:39):
What would you share?
Belinda Gaston (33:40):
If anything.
Carla Clark (33:41):
I guess my final thought would be, just
especially because this is aChristian based podcast is to
trust the process, trust theLord through the process and
don't give up.
Like don't give up in themiddle, don't stop in the middle
just because it seems hard,because it's a delay, because
people are not favoring you inthis season.
(34:03):
I would just encourage you notto give up.
And you know I've heard peoplesay and I like unseating things
that that people think thatpeople begin to say it's not his
will for me.
And I had a testimony that Iwas going from a
paraprofessional to a teacher tosomebody and we were praying
about it and the person told mewell, it's not the Lord's will
for you to teach right now.
I was like no, that's not true,like I had to like back up from
(34:27):
that.
So when people tell youdifferent things, don't don't be
discouraged in the middle.
Know that the thing, the visionthat he has given you, the call
that he has given you to thepromotion, the people that he is
calling you to gather that heis faithful, the Lord is
faithful to his word, that he'snot going to leave you know as
(34:49):
he forsaken you, and so stay thecourse.
I guess I would that.
That would be what I want tosay Stay the course and trust
the process and count the cost.
Jesus talked about counting thecost.
Count the cost of where you'retrying to get to.
So those are my last words,melinda, and be prepared when
(35:10):
you get there.
Belinda Gaston (35:12):
Those are excellent last words.
I have been blessed with thisconversation.
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for sharing.
I know that our listeners wantto know.
First, share anything that youhave coming up, that you'd like
to share, any new resources,anything like that.
But also, how can people reachout to you?
How can they connect with you?
(35:34):
How can people find?
Carla Clark (35:36):
you.
I am on Instagram and Facebook.
You can find me there underCarla D Clark and under Lions
Roar.
You could also find me under mywebsite at lionswarorg.
You could DM me, you can sendme an email and those are the
ways that you can find me.
If you are, you know you canemail me.
(35:58):
I'm definitely open to peopleemailing me.
You can find my email throughthe lionsroar.
org website and I think that'sthe easiest place, if you're not
on social media, to connectwith me and contact me is
through my website.
Belinda Gaston (36:12):
Thank you so much, and so for our listeners,
as always, I'll put all the waysthat you can connect with Carla
Clark in the description box,so you'll have that in the notes
, as well as all of the linksthat she had mentioned during
this interview.
Providence, carla, thank you somuch for your time today.
(36:32):
You have really given us somethings to think about while
we're waiting.
I know this is going toresonate with people based on
the messages I've been receivingduring this season, that there
are people this podcast season,there are people who are waiting
and are frustrated, and I thinkyou helped us to change our
mindsets a bit on the wait, andso thank you for that, thank you
(36:55):
for your time and thank you foryour wisdom.
Carla Clark (36:58):
Well, Belinda, thank you for having me on the
Graced to Lead podcast and thankyou, audience, for being
attentive and engaged with ustoday.
And those of you that areleading, keep on leading, even
in the difficult times and thedark times, because we need
those in leadership that peopleare waiting on you.
Some of you are not leading now, but people are waiting on your
(37:20):
leadership.
So don't draw back from theplace that the Lord has called
you to, whether it's in themarketplace, whether it is in
corporate America, whether it'sin the educational system or
whatever mountain of culturethat you are on.
Don't draw back from that place, because the world needs you
that.
They need the light in darkplaces.
(37:40):
So, once again, thank you,Belinda, for allowing me to be a
guest on the Graced to Leadpodcast.
Belinda Gaston (37:46):
Thank you and for our listeners.
Thank you for tuning in.
Remember to subscribe.
If you're listening to Apple,amazon or Spotify, you can
subscribe to the podcast.
You also can click on the linkin the description box and
listen directly from the website.
There is a feature where youcan chat with me.
Some of you have chatted.
(38:07):
You can always send me a textmessage.
They come directly to me and Ido respond.
So thank you for that.
And share, share, share thepodcast.
We are just a few downloadsaway from 500 downloads from our
podcast, and so I am justgrateful, grateful, grateful for
you even listening in andsupporting the Graced to Lead
(38:28):
podcast and remember always,until we meet again, that you
are indeed Grace to Lead andwe'll talk again next week.
Take care, bye-bye.
Welcome to the Graced to Lead podcast.
I'm Belinda Gaston, your host,and listen.
If you are a Christian womanwho leads at work, in your own
business or even in ministry,you are in the right place here.
You'll find practical adviceand encouragement as you lead
through real conversations thatwill challenge and inspire you.
So join me on this journey tobecoming better leaders God's
(00:31):
way.
Are you ready?
Let the journey begin.
Welcome to the Grace to Leadpodcast.
I'm Belinda Gaston, your host,and listen.
Today we have an amazing guest.
Today we're going to be talkingabout what it means to wait on
God, and I have with me someonewhom I deeply admire, none other
(00:54):
than the prophetess Carla Clark.
Carla Clark is a woman ofpassion who's driven to see men,
women and children walk intheir God-ordained destiny.
She has co-labored for over 18years in pastoral ministry with
her husband, pastor Dawn Clark.
(01:14):
She's the founder of Lions Roar, a ministry designed to train,
teach and activate believers intheir prophetic gifts.
Train, teach and activatebelievers in their prophetic
gifts.
Her School of the Prophets ispreparing prophetic people all
over the nation to walkeffectively in their prophetic
gifts.
She believes that everybeliever should impact the
(01:35):
kingdom of God and the kingdomof hell.
By using their gifts, sheendeavors to create atmospheres
where God can dwell and heartscan be mended.
And her genuine love of Godwill compel you I know it
compels me and her boldness willencourage you and her faith
will motivate you.
(01:56):
Not only is she the founder ofLions Roar, but she has authored
several books on the subject ofthe spiritual gift of prophecy.
Those titles include Finding myRoar this is one of my
favorites a prophetic trainingmanual.
She also has Finding the Lionwithin a prophetic, a prophet's
manual, and 30 Days of PropheticActivation a devotional journey
(02:19):
.
Her manual has reached so manydestinations.
People are reading her books inKenya, in Ghana, in Nigeria, so
you need to get those.
I'll make sure to put those inthe description, and she's a
native of Atlanta y'all.
After 30 years she has retiredfrom her role as a school
administrator.
So, leaders, she is a leader,leader.
(02:41):
Her academic accomplishmentsincludes a BA degree from
Georgia State University, amaster's degree in education
from Mercer University and anEDS degree in educational
leadership from the Universityof West Georgia.
Can you join me in welcomingnone other than the Carla Clark
(03:04):
Welcome to the Graced to Leadpodcast?
Carla Clark (03:08):
Well, thank you, Belinda, for having me.
I'm excited today for what theLord is going to do and just for
the conversation and theinsightfulness that the Lord is
going to give.
Belinda Gaston (03:16):
So I'm just excited to be here Thank you so
much and, for leaders, for thoseof you who are listening, there
are a couple of things thatwe're going to talk about, but
the main thing we're talkingabout is waiting on God, and if
you have listened to the lasttwo episodes, you know that a
couple of weeks ago, we hadMichele Scott, who talked about
hearing from God.
(03:37):
She talked about cultivating arelationship with God and, as
leaders, the importance of that.
And then last this week, I dida solo episode where I was
honest with y'all about listen.
I wanted to quit this herepodcast, like I was done.
I'm tired.
You know, god said that if Idid this thing and I led in this
way, that all these things weregonna happen, and they didn't
(03:59):
happen, and so I was like I quit.
If you haven't listened to thatepisode, please go back and
listen to it.
But I talked about what you dowhen you feel that way and how
you push through, and one ofthose things is you have to wait
on God, and so that's where ourconversation is going to pick
up.
This is very, very timely giventhe conversations that we've
had so far, and so, carla, we'regoing to get started by just
(04:21):
talking about what it means towait on God.
I think people have so manynotions of what that means, but
can you tell us what it meansfor you when we say wait on God?
Carla Clark (04:35):
So, belinda, thank you.
When we talk about waiting onGod, I guess I wanted to refer
to Isaiah 40 and 31.
And it says but they that waitupon the Lord shall renew their
strength, they shall mount upwith wings as eagles, they shall
run and not be weary, and theyshall walk in not faith.
When we talk about waiting,it's a delayed action for a
particular thing to occur oreven a particular destination.
(04:58):
But when we think about waitingon God, I believe it's not
saying that we are standing inone place, right?
So, even if what we are waitingon is delayed, that we don't
just wait in that place.
That's like if you're at atrain stop and the train is not
coming, you're just standingthere.
But I believe when we talk aboutwaiting on God still means that
(05:19):
there is action and there'salso movement until the thing
that we're waiting on occurs.
And let me just say this, andas we wait and a lot of times we
don't want to do this itaggravate and it aggravates our
flesh, it frustrates us in thenatural.
But really, when you talk aboutwaiting it, it really kind of
(05:41):
uh, releases the gift, thefruits of the spirit, that place
of enduring.
It tempers us, it forces us totrust God, trust his timing,
trust that he knows what he isdoing, and I would say that it
is a process of learning totrust him over years, over time,
(06:02):
that when you have had asituation where you've had to
wait on the Lord and he camethrough, then the next time
comes, it gets to be a littlebit easier.
I believe that waiting on theLord also increases our trust in
him.
I think, as leaders, as people,that and this is easily said
and done that it's a learningprocess.
(06:22):
We have to learn to waitnothing done.
Belinda Gaston (06:26):
That it's a learning process.
We have to learn to wait, yeah,and I'm glad that you mentioned
that, because a lot of timeswhen we think about wait, we
think of it as passive, we'rejust going to sit and we're just
going to wait, and that can bereally frustrating.
And so the idea that, as wewait, it's an active thing to
wait is really important.
And I know that you mentionedover time, you learn how to wait
(06:50):
and you learn to trust in God,and I know that when you wait,
you are listening and you'rehearing and you're trusting
while you are actively waiting.
But how is it all reallyrelated?
What if I'm a leader, I'veprayed for some things and I'm
waiting on some solutions orsomething from the Lord and I'm
(07:12):
new to the faith, or maybe Idon't know what it means to hear
from God?
How is waiting on God andhearing God or listening to God?
How is that related?
And hearing God or listening toGod?
How?
Carla Clark (07:25):
is that related?
That's a great question,because many times when we're
waiting sometimes and not allthe time, but sometimes when
we're waiting many people see itas God being silent, or they
have experienced him beingsilent in the waiting, or
sometimes he is givinginstructions.
So when you're talking aboutwaiting and listening, that in
(07:47):
the waiting season, in the placethat you're being active, that
you have to become verysensitive to what the Lord is
saying to you, because in thewaiting, I believe that he is
giving strategy for preparation,especially as a leader, that he
is giving strategy forpreparation before he tells the
train to leave the station.
There are some things that youhave to do to prepare for, for
(08:10):
example, you and your podcast.
Maybe there were some thingsthat he calls a delay on or
calls you to wait on.
But even in the midst of that,what was the preparation?
Who were you then saying?
You know what?
I didn't think about thisperson to come and speak, but
you know what?
Maybe, lord, this person cancome and speak.
Or that he began to change someof the topics that he was
(08:30):
giving you in the waiting.
So I think that when we arewaiting on the Lord, that we
should press into or desire ordiligently seek his voice.
I think that would be a goodterm to begin to diligently seek
him and seek his strategy,begin to ask him why the way or
what should I be doing in thewaiting?
(08:51):
Am I preparing, am I gettingmore knowledge on the thing that
I need to be doing?
Am I even reaching out topeople who may be a little bit
further ahead of me while I amor even maybe I'm supporting a
leader who's doing what I wantto do at that level?
Because that causes a place ofpreparation.
(09:13):
I think many times as leaders wemove out into places that we
have no knowledge of, we havenot sought any help, we haven't
sought any wisdom for them, andI think those kind of things
cause delays.
Those things cause us to be ina waiting season so that we can
strengthen our position and ourconviction for where we are
(09:34):
right now.
Because once it really gets tomoving, things really get moving
, whether it's in ministry,whether in business, whether in
career.
Once things get really moving,many times we find ourselves in
places that we don't have timeto listen as intently because
things are moving.
So I think that the listeningand the waiting kind of run in
(09:55):
the same stream, I guess I wouldsay.
Belinda Gaston (09:58):
You just brought up.
Something that we don't thinkabout often as leaders is what
are the things that you can bedoing while you're waiting?
Right, and so you talked abouteven reaching out to other
people who may be ahead of youin leading.
Or if you're thinking aboutsomeone right now in my network
who's trying to make a decision,a leadership decision, that's
(10:19):
going to impact other people inher business, and while she's
waiting to hear from God, Idon't think it's ever dawned on
her to reach out to someone whomay be more experienced in that
area to seek wisdom and advice,and that's something that we
definitely can do while we'rewaiting.
So thank you so much forsharing that, and I wonder, if
(10:41):
you were to describe for leaderswhy this process of waiting is
so important, what would you say?
Why is waiting on God importantfor leaders?
Carla Clark (10:55):
I think I touched on it just a little bit about
what it does to character, right, what it does to who we are.
I mean, you know, you've heardthe quote that says that your
guilt can get you a place, butyour character keeps you there.
So in the waiting, ourcharacter is being built.
(11:17):
I want to give you an example.
I retired as a assistantprincipal and so I was a teacher
, and as a teacher I knew Iwanted to be in leadership.
I knew that I wanted to be anassistant principal and listen,
it was like it just took so long, like I had delays where it
seemed that everybody else hadan easier journey.
(11:38):
They like they jump right intothe process.
I was having to go to peopleand having to have them to vet
me to another person and it justseemed like the truth is, just
throughout my entire journey,that it has been a journey of
waiting or delay, but in themidst of that, so I was.
I was an instructional coach orsomething like that before I
(11:59):
became an assistant principal.
But I work very closely withthe assistant principals and
anytime they ask me to dosomething, I always say yes,
whereas you find people thatmany times they'll say, well,
I'm not getting paid for that.
I'm not doing that.
They keep asking me to do allthis.
I'm not getting paid for that.
That's not my title.
But in the waiting process thatyou need to be doing more than
(12:23):
what's expected.
Even if people think they'reusing me, they're taking
advantage of me, let them takeadvantage Because in the midst
of them taking advantage, in themidst of them quote unquote
using you, you are stacking yourresume by learning new skills.
And I give the example that bythe time I became an assistant
(12:44):
principal, I walked in the doorready.
I didn't have to get ready.
I didn't have to walk aroundthe building talking about what
should I do, because I used thatwaiting time, which was very
frustrating.
I used that learning time toincrease my skill set.
So I moved from the teacherarena, from a classroom of 120,
(13:06):
where I became responsible for400 kids plus 20, plus adults
and sometimes 100 adults whenyou're talking about school-wide
.
But I was ready to walk in thatand this is a true story I
walked in ready.
So my first year was not like afirst year, because I had done
so much, I had gained so muchexperience that my learning
(13:29):
curve was not as great.
And so sometimes in our waitingperiod, we have to humble
ourselves.
As the scripture says.
Humble ourselves under themighty hand of God that in due
season, that he will exalt us.
But in our humbling, so youcan't think of it, they're
humbling me, they're doing thisto me you need to think about
you know what?
Oh, you want me to do this withthis Excel file?
(13:50):
Oh, I'm learning this.
You want me to do this withparents?
Oh, I'm learning this.
So it's about in the waiting, asa leader, what can I learn and
who can I learn it from?
It humbles us, it tempers us.
It tempers our need to justjump right in there while we're
in the process of waiting.
I think that it can beextremely frustrating because
(14:13):
you know, the scripture talkedabout, we talk about Joseph.
He has a dream.
It takes him 20 years.
The scripture says that theword tried Joseph, that it tried
him, which means it was kind ofaggravating.
He's like well, you said thatmy brothers were going to bow
down to me and I'm in a pit, I'mbeing accused of this.
Belinda Gaston (14:32):
But when he became a leader, when he got to
that destination, he was betterfor it, even though we don't
want to say that, but we arebetter for it sometimes it is
incredibly frustrating, andthank you for being so
transparent about your ownexperiences, I think, as leaders
, especially if you have an ideaof where you think God is
(14:55):
taking you right.
So there's some leaders who arelistening, who have an idea of
where God is taking them, orthey have a vision of what they
should be doing, and the longerit takes to get there, the more
frustrating, especially is what.
Something you said is that yousaw people who would just get in
there and they'd be promotedright away, or they get in the
position and you're like well,I'm still, I'm still here, and
(15:19):
so I think that's wise advice.
And you talked about humblingourselves.
I'd like to know, in yourmoments of frustration, how did
you snap out of it, so to speak?
I mean, how did you bringyourself out of being frustrated
?
What would be your advice forpeople in that position?
Carla Clark (15:42):
that's a good question, but I'm going to be
honest in this, that I don'tknow that the first instruction
left the.
The point of it is, though,that you cannot allow the first
instruction to show.
So, when you're talking aboutcareer moves, when you're
talking about ministry moves forme and this is honest, and for
(16:04):
other people, maybe they can saythat this is what I did for my
frustration, but it speaks tothe same thing about growth and
humility that frustration neverleft.
However, I did continue todeclare the word, I continue to
lean into faith, and my faithwas growing, knowing that.
(16:25):
God, you know what, even thoughI'm right here, that I know
you're going to work this out,who do I need to talk to?
What door are you going to open?
For me?
It's kind of like I still had,you know, the battery ram that I
continued to knock at the door.
I just continued to knock, likeI was frustrated, but I did not
allow the frustration to show,and many times and I know this
(16:48):
because I've done this longenough that you see people who
want to move up and they allowtheir frustration to show.
You can't play that hand.
You can't allow that, and youget an attitude, you get bitter
with the people that are beingpromoted.
You get bitter with the peoplethat are above you, as opposed
to allowing that frustration togo in another place and begin to
(17:12):
put on a different face.
It's not being fake and it'snot even faking it till you make
it.
It's just that in professionalsetting, when you're trying to
move up, are you really showingthat you have what it takes to
be a leader?
Because when you get in thatplace of leadership, you're
going to have so manyfrustrating things that happen.
(17:33):
And if you have not learned howto deal with that once again,
because you're dealing with thefrustrated in the waiting if you
have not learned how to manageyour emotions, when you get into
a place of leadership and thatseat of leadership it is going
to come out, it's going toexplode, it's going to manifest
and the people are going to belike, oh, my goodness, and then
(17:55):
it's going to be well.
That's why we didn't promotethem in the first place, right?
And I also wanted to add to thisthat sometimes in our waiting
of leadership and promotions andthings like that, that the Lord
also uses that place of waitingto move us to another place for
(18:16):
some of us, Because sometimeswe're in companies and careers
and we're like why are they notmoving me?
Why are they not moving me whenthe Lord is saying move to a
different place, whether it's adifferent company, a different
school, a different peoplebecause he's trying to get you
to move.
Because sometimes the Christian, if you're new to this, you're
like I'm going to be remote inthis place, in this office, in
(18:39):
this company, and the Lord islike no, I need you to move to
this place.
Not for everybody, but thatdoes occur.
Like I've had to tell peopleyou need to go to another school
.
If they're not going to vet youhere, go somewhere else.
It is a learning process and weonly learn that in the waiting.
Belinda Gaston (19:01):
You said so much the idea of movement.
It makes me think aboutposition.
You talked about waiting andworking.
You've talked about waiting andpreparing.
It also sounds like waiting isalso a part of positioning and I
don't think that people thinkabout that, because sometimes we
have our hearts set on thething.
It's like I have this.
(19:24):
I remember I remember when I gotmarried, when I was preparing
for the wedding, I had this ideain my head of what the wedding
was supposed to be.
I've been dreaming about thiswedding since I was a kid.
It was.
I was going to have this kindof dress, I was going to have
this kind of you know, it wasgoing to look this way.
And I remember, as we startedplanning, as I started planning
(19:47):
the wedding, it was nothing atall like I imagined it would be,
and I remember being frustratedabout it and I had a friend
that says why are you missingout on the blessing of the right
now?
Because you're holding on to animage that never was, and
that's what came to my mind whenyou were talking.
(20:08):
Some of us in leadership whoare waiting are waiting and
missing out on all theopportunities that you described
of being able to train undersomebody or learn new skills or
whatever that is, or even moveto a different place, because
we're so focused on our idea ofwhere we should be.
Carla Clark (20:30):
Yeah, it's true, because when I was and I'm only
talking about from moving fromthe teacher to the assistant
principal that every time theyasked me to do something new
that I had never done, I waslike, oh, that's that in my
resume.
I was big on that, so that whenI walk into an interview and I
tell people that I will mentorpeople that are moving into
(20:53):
leadership, just it's stackingyour resume.
Do find out how to do that andthen begin to just add it to
your resume Because, once again,you don't have to get ready.
Your learning curve is not asgreat.
And just think about this whenyou walk into an interview and
I've had this happen so manytimes that many times people
come into an interview andcertain things they're not able
(21:15):
to speak on, not because theycan't do the job, they don't
know the job, but if you walkinto an interview having never
done the job but you're able tospeak to the responsibilities of
the job because you've done it,the likelihood of you getting
the job is greater than ifyou've just sat and been mad and
(21:37):
talk about they're trying touse me, they're walking all over
me.
I'm not doing that because I'veheard people say this.
I'm not doing all that.
I'm not getting paid to do that.
I'm not doing any extra.
I'm not staying late.
I'm not doing all that.
I'm not getting paid to do that.
I'm not doing any extra.
I'm not staying late.
I'm not doing any of that.
Because, to be honest, all ofthose things play into the
promotion, play into the next,play into the place of leading.
Belinda Gaston (21:56):
That was great advice.
Thank you for answering.
So I think this really does getus into the next question,
which is what are some practicaltips we can use?
Carla Clark (22:07):
while we're waiting .
I think I've shared a few, butI want to add this one, though,
that I don't really think Ireally talk as much about as
just finding a place of prayerand solace with the Lord, that
Lord, wherever I am.
The scripture says that inwhatever state I am in, that I
(22:28):
am content, that I know how toabound and I know how to abase
that, even in my frustration,that I can be content, or I can
look content in this momentbecause I am building my
relationship with the Lord, I amtaking more time out with the
(22:49):
Lord, I am seeking him, and inseasons of waiting, they
definitely cause us to pressinto the secret place a little
bit more.
And that's OK, right, becauseit's really for some of us.
It almost feels like a valleyexperience when we are in a
place of waiting, whether and Iknow it's about leadership, but
(23:12):
whether or not, whether it issomebody waiting to have a child
, waiting to get married,waiting to get promoted, waiting
to have your idea vetted, ideaof that, it, this, these great
ideas that you have in your life, but they're not listening it
is an opportunity for well, Idon't even necessarily think
it's an opportunity, but it is away that the Lord begins to
(23:33):
take us through the fire torefine us, because it is very
frustrating.
People, uh, lose their vision inthe waiting.
People begin to lose their yesin the waiting.
People begin to lose their yesin the waiting because they
begin to say well, you know what?
This must not be for me, lord.
You gave me this strategy, yougave me this business plan, but
it's not coming to pass, so it'snot even.
(23:55):
It's not even for me, but intruth it is.
It is for us right, because itis about faith.
It's the service of thingshoped for and the evidence of
things not seen.
And I'm talking about thingsthat I know.
I'm not talking about just myopinion.
I'm talking about things that Iknow in the Lord, that we learn
to trust him in the process.
(24:17):
So it's a process of waitingand in that we learn to trust
him, we learn to build ourrelationship with him when we
feel that we're in the valley,and we learn to handle our
emotions.
We learn how to not show ouremotions.
And I'm going to be honest,this is not an area that I've
(24:38):
been successful in, but as agood leader, you know how to
manage your emotions, because ifyou can't manage your emotions
over on this side when you'releading 100, 200, a whole
company or organization, aministry, it's going to come out
, and so one of the preparationsis to build that devotional
life in spite of what you'regoing through.
(25:00):
So that was one.
Number two definitely begin totalk to people that are in a
position that you want to be in.
And also I did not talk aboutthis Find books, find podcasts
In 2024, let me tell yousomething In 2024, there's
probably not there.
(25:21):
There's nothing that you can say.
I cannot find information thatwe are an informational rich
society.
So, whatever it is that youwant to do, think about hope, to
do just a thought or impressionthat there is information, that
I mean.
So now you know, used to bewhere people can make an excuse.
There is information I mean.
So now you know used to bewhere people can make an excuse.
There is no excuse.
There are no excuses for notknowing, and even I would say
(25:45):
you know I'm not.
You know we're talking aboutbeing promoted mock interviews.
If we're talking about how dowe vet an idea, then seek out
that information, because thething is we think we know right,
especially when we are alreadyleading and, depending on
whether we're in the CEO suitehigh up, we think we already
know.
(26:06):
I'll give another example inthat, no matter I had been an
administrator, and this is for15 years that and I went to
several jobs and every job thatI went to I did not go in there
talking about I already know.
You know what I mean.
I went and looked I was likelet me fire some interview
questions.
What kind of questions are theygoing to ask me?
What is new about this school?
(26:26):
Because I didn't know and Ihave seen people because I was,
I was a person that interviewedpeople.
I we hired people that I'veseen people walk into interviews
and completely unprepared, andI'm thinking you didn't get the
job not because you didn't know,but because you did not prepare
.
So there has to be, in theseason of waiting, preparation
(26:47):
for whatever it is you believein God to do for you, whatever,
whether it's promotion, whetherit's, like I say, you're trying
to vet an idea that people arenot listening to.
You want to lead a differentteam.
You even want to begin to buildyour own team of people.
That there are places ofpreparation, that there's a work
of preparation that we have todo that.
(27:08):
Can I be honest?
So many people are unwilling todo it and they don't do it Even
at the highest level.
You still have to prepare.
I don't want to belabor thatpoint, but I do want to press
that point because I've justseen it time and time and time
(27:29):
and time again where people comein and they're just unprepared
in the next thing that they wantto do.
So I want to say that buildingyour relationship, your
devotional life with the Lord,that place of preparation, to me
those are two big things.
When we talk about waiting, andI would just say just trust him,
trust the process, trust theprocess.
(27:53):
Learn to manage your emotions.
That one thing, right there,that's a big deal.
You have to manage youremotions.
You one thing right there,that's a big deal.
You have to manage youremotions.
You see people just come onGoogle.
Whether it's at work or inministry, you're like you can't
lead like that if you can'tmanage your emotions, whether
it's anger, whether it'sfrustration, whether even if
(28:14):
you're just so excited sometimes, even in that, depending on
where you are, you have tomanage your emotions.
So I think those three are very, very important.
Let me say this, and I thinkalso, when we're talking about
waiting on the Lord, thinkingabout how you deal with people.
So relationships, relationalbehaviors that begin to think
(28:35):
about how do I deal with people,behaviors that begin to think
about how do I deal with peopleand and you know also the
feedback of is something keepingme in this place of waiting,
like what, what is keeping me?
Many times, when I went from ateacher to the assistant
principal, I began.
It took me a couple ofinterviews, right, and so every
time I begin to go in and Iwould say to the deep, can I get
(28:55):
feedback on my interview, likewhat happened or what did you
think?
And many times we don't want toget any feedback and many times
we need feedback.
It is a small thing thatsometimes we miss because we
don't listen, we don't want tolisten to others, and so,
finding a trusted voice that'sin your field or is already
(29:18):
doing what you want to do, andallow them to give you feedback
about you, what is it that someof your blind spots that you
don't see, and even some of thegreat, some of your gifts that
you don't know, are apparent toyou, that both of those things
are necessary.
So receiving feedback as well.
Those were really really good.
Belinda Gaston (29:40):
I was trying to make sure I got all of the notes
, but you talked about spendingtime with God and really digging
into that devotional time withGod.
You talked about positioningyourself and making sure you're
in the right position.
You talked about preparationand listen, that's the hard one.
That's the one that I have tocontinuously remind myself of,
(30:01):
because preparation is hard,especially when you feel like
okay.
So I'll just say for thelisteners, I have a know-it-all
spirit sometimes, and sometimesI feel like, well, I already
know that one.
But once you start to prepare,you realize that there is always
more and more and more that youcan know, because things are
constantly changing.
(30:22):
So preparation is huge.
And then the people aspect of itand the relationships.
I think we take for granted,particularly in a world where a
lot of communication is digital,that relationships still matter
and how you handle people inthe place that you are, that's
(30:42):
preparation for how you're goingto handle people in the next
place that you go, and so Ithink that was really good.
And then, finally, you saidhaving a trusted advisor and I
think this topic has come up acouple of times during the
season on these episodes of howimportant it is to have that
person that you trust, that youare willing to receive.
(31:05):
So it's one thing saying goingto someone and saying, hey, I
need a mentor, hey, I need youto be my advisor, but if you
don't listen which is what youtalked about if you don't listen
, then what's the point?
And so someone that really youcan receive from and you're open
to listening.
And so those were excellent,excellent practical tips that we
can use.
Carla Clark (31:25):
And I think about the trusted advisor as well that
let the trusted advisor bedoing something that you want to
do or that they are ahead ofyou.
Many times, especially now withsocial media, that we don't vet
people.
And then all these people theywant to teach you about life
coaching, they want to teach youabout money matters, they want
to teach you about all thesethings, but they're not doing it
(31:49):
.
Not only are they not doing it,they've never even experienced
it.
And so when you're talkingabout a trusted advisor, you
need to know their resume, likewhat have they done in their
life, in their business, inministry?
And we got to be able todiscern that, because even
people that we believe that maybe trusted advisors, they can't
(32:10):
teach us something that theydon't know.
Even though they may think theycan, they can't.
So I wanted to definitely throwthat in for our listeners and to
be discerning when we talkabout who are our trusted
advisors.
Who can I go to?
And sometimes you know you'rethinking to yourself well, how
do you know what the person hasdone?
(32:31):
Google, google, like really,what have you done?
Because people can talk a goodgame, what can I see your resume
?
And I and I'm very and I'm veryserious about that, because
people say they do somethingyou'd be thinking you have not.
So I want to leave that as anumber one point, that when
(32:53):
you're talking about a trustedadvisor.
Belinda Gaston (32:54):
So thank you, belinda that is, and we are and
I'm laughing because we're in asociety where everybody has a
book, a course or something onhow to do something and most of
the time they haven't even doneit.
They took somebody else'scourse and they repurposed the
content and then somebody elsebuys it for 99.95.
So that is excellent advice,boy.
(33:19):
This conversation has been sorich listeners.
I know that you are takingnotes.
Because I'm taking notes, Ithink I'll just I'll stop here
and ask you if you have anyfinal thoughts.
It feels like that last commentabout trusted advisors is
something we can hang our hat on.
But perhaps there's somethingelse.
If you had to leave ourlisteners with any additional
final thoughts, what would youshare if you had to leave our
listeners with any additionalfinal thoughts.
Carla Clark (33:39):
What would you share?
Belinda Gaston (33:40):
If anything.
Carla Clark (33:41):
I guess my final thought would be, just
especially because this is aChristian based podcast is to
trust the process, trust theLord through the process and
don't give up.
Like don't give up in themiddle, don't stop in the middle
just because it seems hard,because it's a delay, because
people are not favoring you inthis season.
(34:03):
I would just encourage you notto give up.
And you know I've heard peoplesay and I like unseating things
that that people think thatpeople begin to say it's not his
will for me.
And I had a testimony that Iwas going from a
paraprofessional to a teacher tosomebody and we were praying
about it and the person told mewell, it's not the Lord's will
for you to teach right now.
I was like no, that's not true,like I had to like back up from
(34:27):
that.
So when people tell youdifferent things, don't don't be
discouraged in the middle.
Know that the thing, the visionthat he has given you, the call
that he has given you to thepromotion, the people that he is
calling you to gather that heis faithful, the Lord is
faithful to his word, that he'snot going to leave you know as
(34:49):
he forsaken you, and so stay thecourse.
I guess I would that.
That would be what I want tosay Stay the course and trust
the process and count the cost.
Jesus talked about counting thecost.
Count the cost of where you'retrying to get to.
So those are my last words,melinda, and be prepared when
(35:10):
you get there.
Belinda Gaston (35:12):
Those are excellent last words.
I have been blessed with thisconversation.
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for sharing.
I know that our listeners wantto know.
First, share anything that youhave coming up, that you'd like
to share, any new resources,anything like that.
But also, how can people reachout to you?
How can they connect with you?
(35:34):
How can people find?
Carla Clark (35:36):
you.
I am on Instagram and Facebook.
You can find me there underCarla D Clark and under Lions
Roar.
You could also find me under mywebsite at lionswarorg.
You could DM me, you can sendme an email and those are the
ways that you can find me.
If you are, you know you canemail me.
(35:58):
I'm definitely open to peopleemailing me.
You can find my email throughthe lionsroar.
org website and I think that'sthe easiest place, if you're not
on social media, to connectwith me and contact me is
through my website.
Belinda Gaston (36:12):
Thank you so much, and so for our listeners,
as always, I'll put all the waysthat you can connect with Carla
Clark in the description box,so you'll have that in the notes
, as well as all of the linksthat she had mentioned during
this interview.
Providence, carla, thank you somuch for your time today.
(36:32):
You have really given us somethings to think about while
we're waiting.
I know this is going toresonate with people based on
the messages I've been receivingduring this season, that there
are people this podcast season,there are people who are waiting
and are frustrated, and I thinkyou helped us to change our
mindsets a bit on the wait, andso thank you for that, thank you
(36:55):
for your time and thank you foryour wisdom.
Carla Clark (36:58):
Well, Belinda, thank you for having me on the
Graced to Lead podcast and thankyou, audience, for being
attentive and engaged with ustoday.
And those of you that areleading, keep on leading, even
in the difficult times and thedark times, because we need
those in leadership that peopleare waiting on you.
Some of you are not leading now, but people are waiting on your
(37:20):
leadership.
So don't draw back from theplace that the Lord has called
you to, whether it's in themarketplace, whether it is in
corporate America, whether it'sin the educational system or
whatever mountain of culturethat you are on.
Don't draw back from that place, because the world needs you
that.
They need the light in darkplaces.
(37:40):
So, once again, thank you,Belinda, for allowing me to be a
guest on the Graced to Leadpodcast.
Belinda Gaston (37:46):
Thank you and for our listeners.
Thank you for tuning in.
Remember to subscribe.
If you're listening to Apple,amazon or Spotify, you can
subscribe to the podcast.
You also can click on the linkin the description box and
listen directly from the website.
There is a feature where youcan chat with me.
Some of you have chatted.
(38:07):
You can always send me a textmessage.
They come directly to me and Ido respond.
So thank you for that.
And share, share, share thepodcast.
We are just a few downloadsaway from 500 downloads from our
podcast, and so I am justgrateful, grateful, grateful for
you even listening in andsupporting the Graced to Lead
(38:28):
podcast and remember always,until we meet again, that you
are indeed Grace to Lead andwe'll talk again next week.
Take care, bye-bye.
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