September 6, 2025 • 34 mins
Desiree Taylor shares her powerful journey from progressive hearing loss to ministry leader, demonstrating how our perceived limitations can become our greatest strengths when we move beyond religion to relationship with God.
• Desiree experienced progressive hearing loss starting around age 3-4, receiving her first hearing aid at age 9
• Growing up with hearing loss led to feelings of isolation, insecurity, depression and anger
• After walking away from faith as a teenager, Desiree had a transformative personal encounter with God during her pregnancy
• When digital hearing aids stopped working in her late 20s, Desiree made the decision to receive bilateral cochlear implants
• Religion focuses on behavior and perfectionism, while relationship with God offers freedom and embracing our weaknesses
• Having consistent mentors and community is crucial for spiritual growth
• Desiree now serves as a writer, speaker, and mentor to women, particularly young adults
• Her book "Created to Relate: Living Beyond Religion" explores moving from religious obligation to authentic relationship
• Sometimes our greatest challenges become our unique strengths—"Sometimes my best writing is when my ears are off"
Visit Desiree's website at www.arenewedcreation.com to connect, read her blog, and learn more about her ministry.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Cassandra (00:00):
Good day out there to all of my listeners and I'd
like to welcome you to Is yourWay In your Way podcast, and my
name is Cassandra.
I'm your host, cassandraCrawley-Mayo, and those are for
those new listeners out therethat, where this is the first
time you're hearing this podcast, I actually want to share with
(00:21):
you what this podcast is allabout and also the name of my
book is titled Is your Way Inyour Way.
And for many of us I think,maybe all of us we are the
biggest barrier to our ownbreakthrough, and that's what Is
your Way In your Way has comeabout.
So what I'm requesting to mylisteners it's time for us to
(00:45):
stop playing small.
Let's get clear.
Let's rise boldly into yourcalling, both personally and
professionally.
That, to me, is very importantbecause there's so many things
that we are to do, must do notdoing frustrated because we
(01:05):
figure that you know I'm stuckand I want to do this and I want
to do that, but yet you justcan't seem to get through there,
and that's why I said we arethe biggest barriers to our own
breakthroughs.
So think about this have youever thought that the thing that
was supposed to hold you backwas actually, what catapulted
(01:29):
you forward?
What if losing something likeyour hearing or your sight, or
your leg or a loved one led youto gain more clarity, strength
and an unshakable faith?
So today's guest, desireeTaylor.
(01:50):
She is a walking example ofwhat happens when you stop
trying to control everything andstart trusting God with
everything.
That sounds like me.
From her journey as a bilateralcochlear implant recipient to
her passion for mentorship,ministry and walking with women
(02:14):
through every season, desiree'sstory will move you.
It's going to inspire you andchallenge you to ask is your way
in your way?
So stay with us, because thisconversation is something you
will not want to miss, and letme introduce you to Desiree
Taylor.
(02:34):
Hi, desiree, how are you?
Desiree (02:36):
Hi, good morning.
Thank you for having me.
I'm so good this morning.
I'm excited to be here.
Cassandra (02:42):
Oh, my goodness, I'm so excited for you to be here
because I can't wait to mylisteners hear your story,
because I know it's going to beso inspiring.
But before we get started, letme read your bio so they will
all have a point of reference ofwhy you do what you do, why you
(03:02):
have just stepped boldly intoyour calling.
Now Desiree Taylor.
She's a writer, a speaker andmentor whose life is a powerful
testament to grace, resilienceand unwavering faith.
27 years mother and bilateralcochlear implant recipient,
(03:31):
desiree shares her personaljourney of navigating life's
challenges, from a hearing lossto ministry leadership.
With a deep love for connectingwomen to Jesus, she's passionate
about mentorship, discipleshipand lifting up those, and
leadership and transitiondiscipleship and lifting up
those in leadership andtransition.
She offers heartfeltencouragement for women in every
(03:58):
season to walk confidently inGod's plan for their lives.
She even wrote a book createdto relate living beyond religion
.
Now, the type of the title forthis particular podcast is
learning to live beyond religion.
So there's a ray I'd like foryou to share with our listeners
(04:19):
about your backstory.
Um, and and as you were growing, you dealt with a lot of
insecurity, severe lowself-esteem, depression, anxiety
and anger, until you hit rockbottom, so share with them what
was going on in your backstory,what happened.
Desiree (04:40):
Well, I grew up in a home.
My mom stayed home with us andI had my sister and I had a
stepsister too, and so we were ablended family, so to speak.
My mom had brought my oldersister into the marriage when
she married my dad, so there was13 years difference between her
(05:01):
and her, and so my mom was alsodeaf, so she had the same
hearing loss and deafness that Ido.
So there was a lot of differentthings going on there.
Communication wasn't alwaysgreat, lots of misunderstandings
, you know, and I got my firsthearing aid when I was nine
(05:25):
years old.
So I was very young and havinga hearing loss like that, and
especially at that young age,kids are already like not nice
in some ways.
You know so many things thatset you apart as it is, and that
was just something else thatmade me different and I was made
(05:46):
fun of a lot and I was verymuch.
I had a lot of voices telling mewho I was and at the same time,
my mom had brought us to churchand I was learning about Jesus
and we went to a Baptist churchand I had a lot of friends at
(06:09):
school that went to the Catholicchurch and I was hearing
different things about who Godwas and I was really wanting to
understand who God was.
Nothing seemed to line up and Iwas like asking God, who are
you to line up?
And I was like asking God, whoare you?
(06:29):
So I'm?
There was a lot of things goingon in my little brain, in my
little world, um, at a veryyoung age, and I had these
voices telling me one thing.
And then I'm hearing about thisJesus who says something else.
So, um, it was good and bad,you know, and I did accept
Christ at nine or 10.
I was baptized at 10.
(06:50):
And but I don't think I everreally understood that God
really wanted a relationshipwith me.
And if I understood it, I didn'tknow how that happened you know
yes yes, so I had somefoundation there, but I felt
(07:10):
kind of like the black sheep inmy family to a degree, you know.
And then I was different atschool and and church was the
same thing.
You know, people don't reallyknow how to deal with you when
you have a hearing loss, youknow.
I think that people have a hardtime in general if they don't
understand what the disabilityis and what people need, that
(07:32):
they tend to stay away from them.
So you feel very isolated.
And I came to a place where Iwas.
I was just so lonely and sodepressed and I just really
wasn't believing that God waswith me.
I wasn't seeing things line upbecause I didn't feel like he
was there.
(07:53):
I didn't feel like he was.
Anything was better.
You know you can hear thesecalls to the altar.
You know you receive Jesus andlife is just grand and I wasn't
seeing a whole lot of yes, Iunderstand, yes, yeah so I saw a
lot of it just looked like itwas greener.
(08:14):
On the other side, I saw otherpeople flourishing house and
they weren't Christians, youknow.
So I'm like I'm done with thisfor now.
And yeah, that's when I wasaround 17 when I walked away
from the Lord for a time.
It didn't last very long.
I fell very hard very quicklyand ended up pregnant with my
(08:34):
older son, and it was in thattime that God really brought me
back to him in a real and apersonal way to him in a real
and a personal way.
Cassandra (08:45):
Now, desiree, let me, and I want to.
This is just so fascinating.
Technology is something.
So my listeners, just so you'llknow.
Desiree (09:08):
Desiree was born deaf.
Okay, is that correct?
No, I was around three or fourwhen they found my hearing
starting to drop a little bit.
It was a progressive deafness,okay, but I was very young when
it started and I don't reallyremember my hearing ever being
completely normal.
Cassandra (09:20):
Okay, okay.
Desiree (09:31):
So tell the listeners if you were progressively going
deaf, how in the world are youhearing now?
Well, I had hearing aids allthe way through my since nine,
and in my 20s they came out withdigital hearing aids for the
first time, yes, and so I got myfirst set of digital hearing
aids in my late 20s, but theyonly lasted six months, and then
(10:01):
I was told that I had adecision to make, that the
hearing aids weren't working forme any longer, and then I could
either just decide not to wearanything or I could choose to go
down the path of gettingcochlear implants.
And after much prayer and sweatand decision, I decided to go
with the cochlear implants, butit's been the best decision for
me.
Cassandra (10:22):
And that's why, in the beginning of our podcast, we
talked about how we would thinkthat what's supposed to hold
you back was actually catapultedyou to move forward.
And by doing that, you know and, like I said, a lot of my
listeners there's certain thingsthey want to do, but they just
(10:45):
can't seem to get there.
They are stuck, they, you know,and I was like you in many
instances in regards to God.
You can't possibly love me, youcan't be the God that
everybody's talking about.
Because I'm sad, I don'tunderstand why all these things
are happening to me, and I hadan opportunity to be what I
(11:08):
would call bitter or better, andthat's kind of when I decided
and it was through trials andtribulations where I became
better I stopped being bitterand so and for you, you were
like, okay, you walked away fromGod, but God didn't walk away
(11:28):
from you, but then you came back, and then you came back.
Then is it the relationshipthat you had with God that
supported you and help you getthat surgery?
Desiree (11:43):
get that surgery.
You think, yeah, I mean, and Icame back probably 12 years
before I got the surgery, even,okay, it was his personal, it
was his personal reason out tome.
Okay, one night, while I waspregnant, while I was pregnant,
(12:08):
I had been praying and I wasjust crying and I was just
sitting before him.
I was just, I didn't know whatto do.
I was desperate, I was, I wasrock bottom, like you said.
Okay, I heard him speak to mefor the first time.
Just, I think that he did itthat way in that moment, because
(12:29):
that's what I needed.
He doesn't speak that way, butin this moment he did.
And he told me that he would bemy husband and he would be my
child's father and that he wouldbe with me.
And that was the one thing I hadthe hardest time believing was
that he was with me.
It was fascinating.
(12:50):
But he met me so personallythat I couldn't even deny that
he was there and that he waswith me and where I needed to go
, and I was stuck in a lot ofways and I've been stuck along
the way in a lot of ways um,he's always been there to pull
(13:11):
me out.
And as I heard him, I saw thisvision of him reaching his hand
down to me and he told me totake it and if I would, if I
willingly took his hand, that hewould walk with me and we would
get through this.
And I think that really showedme how much he wanted a
(13:32):
relationship with me, howpersonal he really is, and and I
never looked back.
I mean, I've had trouble alongthe way but I've never looked
back because I remember thosemoments.
Yeah, looking at me personally,you know.
Cassandra (13:48):
Uh-huh, uh-huh.
Well, tell us what is thedifference between?
Well, no, I'm not going to saywhat's the difference.
What is the advantage oflearning to live beyond a
religion?
Desiree (14:09):
Well, religion keeps us stuck.
I think it goes along with whatyou're saying.
Religion is so based onbehavior, it's based on what we
do, and it just keeps us stuck.
There's the reality is we.
(14:31):
Perfection is a a farce, I know.
As women, we want to be perfectand we want to live up to this
perfection.
But that's why we need Jesusbecause we can't be perfect.
And learning to live in arelationship with Jesus and
(14:51):
coming out of living in thatlegalistic place, in that
religious place, it's just, it'sfreedom, because I don't have
to rely on myself, I don't relyon my own strength, I rely on
him and his.
It's not.
I don't have to worry about howto do the things he's calling
me to, because he's doing it.
(15:12):
And when I know that I'm loved,when I live out of a place of
confidence in who God is and hislove for me, confidence in who
God is and his love for me.
You know I had been goingthrough that scripture about how
(15:32):
perfect love cast out all fearand his perfect love.
When I live in that love, thatplace of knowing how much he
loves me, it takes away the fear, it takes away the places that
I get stuck so easy, because Idon't have to worry and have
that anxiety anymore, because hetakes it from me and it's just
(15:52):
I.
I go back to that scripture tooabout how he's my strength, my
weakness, like he's reallytaught me that I don't have to
be ashamed of my weaknesses, Idon't have to be ashamed of my
limitations, because he's mystrength and that's what shows
people that he is who he is andhe uses it for such good and
(16:16):
that really helps me to just tolive in freedom.
Cassandra (16:21):
Yeah, yeah.
So how can, how can you get arelationship?
How does, how do you do that?
Desiree (16:29):
Well, I mean we and I know it sounds so simple.
I mean, the beginning is, youknow, the beginning is really to
acknowledge that we are sinnersand that we need a savior and
that there is one savior and hisname is jesus christ.
And and it was just, you know,it was a simple it's a
(16:51):
simplistic action of just askingthe questions, when I asked him
to show me who he is, he showsme like when I am in his word
and, um, I ask him to help meunderstand what he's saying to
me.
You know, having a good churchcommunity, I feel like it's very
(17:15):
important to have the rightpeople in your life.
When I was younger, a lot of thevoices and the people around me
weren't necessarily the bestvoices for me when I was
pregnant.
Everyone left, no one stayedaround.
You want friends who arewalking with the Lord, who love
like him, because Jesus staysand your sisters in Christ stay
(17:39):
through the good, through thebad.
And I think having mentors isimportant.
I always have someone who'solder than me in my life.
Somehow.
I have my peers that I'mwalking with and I have my young
girls that I can pour into.
I think those things areimportant to keep that
(18:04):
relationship with the Lordgrowing and thriving, and so I
think those are simple ways, youknow, just when we don't know
what to do, we just ask him he'sso faithful to meet us, you
know.
Cassandra (18:18):
Right, so let's talk about what you were called to do
.
What are you?
What's your calling?
Desiree (18:29):
well, I feel like it's multi-purposed right now, um,
you know, and I find myselfquestioning it in some moments,
like if I'm really doing what Ishould be doing.
But, um, but, in my churchcommunity I'm very involved.
My husband's an elder there andI lead women's small groups, so
(18:52):
I'm always connected with womenin the body and I do a lot of
mentoring with the young adultsand and I am a writer, I love
writing.
Writing has been such abeautiful gift from the Lord
because it's a place where, evenif I'm having a hard hearing
day, I can write.
And sometimes my best writingis when my ears are off.
(19:13):
That's what I tell people.
Cassandra (19:18):
Your ears are off.
Yeah, I love that.
I love that.
I think I'm going to startusing that.
I love that.
I think I'm going to startusing that.
I'm writing more.
Oh, you are Okay, All right,Because you've already written
your book, created to relateliving beyond religion, and
(19:38):
that's what this podcast topicis all about.
This podcast topic is all aboutyou know, as, where you are now
and where you were, you knowyou talked about.
You know the anxiety, the anger, and then you know, then it
took you to hit rock bottom, andit usually does take people to
(20:03):
hit rock bottom.
You know for them to say youknow what it has to be more to
life than this.
And I used to always ask myselfthe question you know, like you
indicate, it's not aboutreligion, it's about
relationships and I used toalways ask the question how can
I have a relationship with you,Lord?
And he said, well, how do youhave a relationship with your
(20:33):
best friend?
I'm like, oh, you spend timewith them.
I'm like, oh, okay, so I musthave to read the word, as you
indicated be around individualslike-minded that have that
relationship, have a mentor, andI know you had one, as when you
were young, you had an olderperson that mentored you.
You had indicated who haspassed away now, but she spoke
in your life and it sounds likeshe made a major, major impact
(20:55):
on your life.
Desiree (20:57):
Yeah, she prayed for me .
I think that's the thing thatreally left the impression for
me.
She always prayed for me andshe was always there in every
season, even when I wasn't goingto church, even when I wasn't
doing what I was supposed to bedoing, even after I had my baby.
(21:18):
She just was consistent, yeah,very inspirational into how I
want to love other people.
Cassandra (21:27):
Right.
So that's why you talk aboutwhy mentorship is so great,
because of what she had done foryou.
So, in other words, you're justpaying it forward.
So right now in your life, ifyou look back at your late 20s,
what would you tell yourselftoday?
Desiree (21:49):
Wow, I would tell myself a lot of things, but I
think I would really help myself.
I would tell myself that God istelling the truth, that I am
who he says I am and that, eventhough it didn't look like there
(22:12):
was a good plan for my life,that he had great plans for my
life.
So I think the most importantthing is just to because really
everything comes out of beingknown that we're loved by him
and knowing that he really hasour best in mind, because I
(22:32):
really never believed that.
Cassandra (22:34):
Yes, yeah, yeah, and especially, uh, based on the
disability that you and I'm notsaying you have it now, it's
just that you had and, like Isaid, I'm like God how can you
do this to me?
You know if you love me, butwhat you've done was you
(22:56):
acquired a relationship andknowing that it's all in his
plan, Like he knows you're inbefore you're beginning, in his
plan, like he knows your endbefore your beginning.
And you have a scripture that Ireally like 2 Corinthians 4.16.
You said therefore, he saidtherefore, we do not lose heart,
though we are cast wasting away, yet inwardly, we are being
(23:22):
renewed day by day.
And why is it that particularscripture you really that spoke
to?
Desiree (23:29):
you.
You know, it's kind ofinteresting because the older I
get, you know, our bodies startgetting worn out and we, you
know they start decaying and butyet my spirit is renewed.
I feel so alive and younginside and it just presents such
(23:53):
a picture.
It presents that picture ofwhat God, what a relationship
with him, does for us.
Cassandra (24:01):
That's, that's good, that's good.
Hmm, that's that's good, that'sgood.
Desiree (24:14):
Uh, your, your, um, your mom.
Did your mom ever think aboutgetting the implants?
Or they weren't around then.
They weren't, really weren'taround for her.
And by the time they were shewas old enough where I don't
think it felt possible for her.
You know, yeah, because it's alot and it's not a perfect fix.
There's a lot of work that goesalong with it and even now I
it's not a perfect fix for me.
I get very tired.
Listening is a lot of work forme because it's not a natural
(24:37):
thing.
Cassandra (24:38):
And.
Desiree (24:40):
I still don't understand the way a hearing
person would, so there are a lotof things that come with it as
well.
So, and it's not a quick fix,so I don't think she felt it was
something for her.
Cassandra (24:55):
Okay.
Desiree (24:55):
All righty.
Cassandra (24:58):
So you have just been very resilient in the face of
adversity, and I thinkresilience is key because I
don't know anyone that's not hadadversity.
We all go through trials andtribulations and even your
relationship building, and youbroke free from those
(25:18):
self-imposed limits through yourfaith that you had limits,
through your faith that you hadand anything.
I love the fact and I am abeliever I have a relationship
with God.
But you talked about fear andmany times, excuse me, I still
(25:39):
fear and I'm like a good exampleis the book that I wrote Is
your Way, in your Way, and ittook me so long to write that
book because of fear.
I didn't know what to say, Ididn't know what people would
think I'm more concerned aboutwhat they would think and if it
were not for the grace of Godand the relationship that I've
(26:02):
had with God, the book would nothave been written, because I
felt in my heart of hearts thathe would not leave me alone.
He kept gnawing on me.
I couldn't get it out of myspirit, year after year after
year after year, and then, whenCOVID came, I'm like okay, all
(26:22):
right, you spoke to me, I'mgoing to do it.
So it's, and plus the dreamsthat we have.
I think many of them come fromGod.
You know he wouldn't give it tous if he didn't Excuse me, hmm.
So I just want to thank you foryour vulnerability.
(26:46):
I want to thank you for thegifts that God has given you,
how you're using it for hisglory, and I know you will
continue to be a blessing tomany.
So, as life moves on, you haveanything like like, if I say
Desiree, what's next for you?
(27:06):
What's next for you in yourlife?
Desiree (27:09):
You're thinking Well, I am.
I am working on the study guideand I am working on another
book, but I really want to getinto the speaking aspect of
things because I think it's agift that I can speak the way I
do and, yes, for several reasons, you know, between the hearing
(27:32):
loss and and just even the fearsthat it's not, it's out of my
comfort zone completely, but soI really would love to do more
speaking.
I'm really enjoying the podcastguesting and and being on the
different podcast and justexpanding that territory and I
(27:54):
I'm trying to take time to dreambut also let the Holy Spirit
lead one step at a time and tohave that balance.
So I know that he has more.
So I'm taking one step at atime.
I have my website and I blogand I do book reviews and all
those kinds of things.
So I have my hands in a lot ofdifferent places and just seeing
(28:15):
where God takes it.
Cassandra (28:17):
Okay, okay.
So how can my listeners get intouch with you so?
Desiree (28:21):
how can my listeners get in touch with you?
The best way is through mywebsite, which is
wwwarenewedcreationcom.
You can sign up for the blogpost and the newsletters and
keeps you up to date oneverything going on.
Cassandra (28:37):
Okay, now do you do your own blog, do other people
do blogs and you post them onyour website, or you just do
them all yourself.
Desiree (28:47):
I mainly do them all myself, but when I have other
writers that are coming intotheir own, I have guest bloggers
on there sometimes to helpencourage them in their gifting
too.
Yeah, that's good, that's good.
Cassandra (28:57):
You're giving back, that's good.
That's good, that's good.
You're giving back, that's good.
Well, any last parting wordsthat you would like to share
with my listeners, those who arestuck for, those who are in
their way, and you know, and mymission is to empower a
generation of women, to mitigatethose barriers that's
(29:21):
preventing them from livingtheir best life.
You know, I always say, whenit's time for me to go, I want
God to say well done, my goodand faithful servant, and I
(29:49):
don't want my cup half empty.
Desiree (29:50):
I want it full and overflowing that.
I have done all that I wasordained to do, because that's
when I realized I'm more atpeace in this crazy world.
Amen, I agree with thatcompletely and that's my heart
desire too.
I think the biggest thing is, Iwould say, if you're stuck,
don't be ashamed to acknowledgethat, to be able to acknowledge
that, to bring it to God and toask him what's keeping you stuck
(30:12):
and to allow him to show youthat and to bring along other
people.
You know, reach out to people.
I'm happy to talk to people tooIf they want to reach out.
I love getting the personalmessages and things and talking
through anything that peopleneed to talk through.
Or, you know, pray with peopleand don't give up.
(30:33):
That's my biggest motto isnever give up.
You know, pushing through, keepworking through it and don't
let the enemy have his way.
Cassandra (30:42):
Keep working through it and don't let the enemy have
his way.
Okay, I love that.
One more thing that justdropped in my spirit.
Would you mind saying a prayerfor my listeners as you, because
you know what they're goingthrough and why they've tuned
into this, this podcast, today?
Desiree (30:59):
Sure, I would love that .
Yeah, father, thank you so muchfor today.
Thank you for each and everylistener that's listening here.
Lord, I pray over their mindsand their hearts.
That you would renew theirminds, that you would transform
their hearts, father, that youwould open their eyes to
whatever is keeping them stuckright now and hindering them
(31:20):
from doing all that you'vecalled them to do.
Lord, I pray that you wouldfree them today, in the name of
Jesus.
Lord, bring freedom, bring theright people around them to walk
with them, to encourage them,to spur them on towards you,
lord, and that you would givethem that spirit of perseverance
, father, that you would givethem the strength to never give
(31:41):
up and to keep walking with youin all that you've called them
to do.
In Jesus name, amen.
Cassandra (31:48):
Amen.
What a great note to end thispodcast today.
Again, desiree, thank you.
My listeners, that prayer andwhat you've heard today, I know
that you are going to starttransitioning to what it is that
you were called to do.
(32:08):
If you're open to it I alwayssay that if you're open to it,
what do you have to lose?
So, with that said, pleaseshare this podcast.
And if you've liked thispodcast, I ask that you
subscribe, hit, like and shareit with your friends and family,
and also just know that thispodcast is on every podcast
(32:31):
platform.
Again, desiree, thank you.
God bless and listeners, byefor now.
Thanks, desiree.
Good day out there to all of my listeners and I'd
like to welcome you to Is yourWay In your Way podcast, and my
name is Cassandra.
I'm your host, cassandraCrawley-Mayo, and those are for
those new listeners out therethat, where this is the first
time you're hearing this podcast, I actually want to share with
(00:21):
you what this podcast is allabout and also the name of my
book is titled Is your Way Inyour Way.
And for many of us I think,maybe all of us we are the
biggest barrier to our ownbreakthrough, and that's what Is
your Way In your Way has comeabout.
So what I'm requesting to mylisteners it's time for us to
(00:45):
stop playing small.
Let's get clear.
Let's rise boldly into yourcalling, both personally and
professionally.
That, to me, is very importantbecause there's so many things
that we are to do, must do notdoing frustrated because we
(01:05):
figure that you know I'm stuckand I want to do this and I want
to do that, but yet you justcan't seem to get through there,
and that's why I said we arethe biggest barriers to our own
breakthroughs.
So think about this have youever thought that the thing that
was supposed to hold you backwas actually, what catapulted
(01:29):
you forward?
What if losing something likeyour hearing or your sight, or
your leg or a loved one led youto gain more clarity, strength
and an unshakable faith?
So today's guest, desireeTaylor.
(01:50):
She is a walking example ofwhat happens when you stop
trying to control everything andstart trusting God with
everything.
That sounds like me.
From her journey as a bilateralcochlear implant recipient to
her passion for mentorship,ministry and walking with women
(02:14):
through every season, desiree'sstory will move you.
It's going to inspire you andchallenge you to ask is your way
in your way?
So stay with us, because thisconversation is something you
will not want to miss, and letme introduce you to Desiree
Taylor.
(02:34):
Hi, desiree, how are you?
Desiree (02:36):
Hi, good morning.
Thank you for having me.
I'm so good this morning.
I'm excited to be here.
Cassandra (02:42):
Oh, my goodness, I'm so excited for you to be here
because I can't wait to mylisteners hear your story,
because I know it's going to beso inspiring.
But before we get started, letme read your bio so they will
all have a point of reference ofwhy you do what you do, why you
(03:02):
have just stepped boldly intoyour calling.
Now Desiree Taylor.
She's a writer, a speaker andmentor whose life is a powerful
testament to grace, resilienceand unwavering faith.
27 years mother and bilateralcochlear implant recipient,
(03:31):
desiree shares her personaljourney of navigating life's
challenges, from a hearing lossto ministry leadership.
With a deep love for connectingwomen to Jesus, she's passionate
about mentorship, discipleshipand lifting up those, and
leadership and transitiondiscipleship and lifting up
those in leadership andtransition.
She offers heartfeltencouragement for women in every
(03:58):
season to walk confidently inGod's plan for their lives.
She even wrote a book createdto relate living beyond religion
.
Now, the type of the title forthis particular podcast is
learning to live beyond religion.
So there's a ray I'd like foryou to share with our listeners
(04:19):
about your backstory.
Um, and and as you were growing, you dealt with a lot of
insecurity, severe lowself-esteem, depression, anxiety
and anger, until you hit rockbottom, so share with them what
was going on in your backstory,what happened.
Desiree (04:40):
Well, I grew up in a home.
My mom stayed home with us andI had my sister and I had a
stepsister too, and so we were ablended family, so to speak.
My mom had brought my oldersister into the marriage when
she married my dad, so there was13 years difference between her
(05:01):
and her, and so my mom was alsodeaf, so she had the same
hearing loss and deafness that Ido.
So there was a lot of differentthings going on there.
Communication wasn't alwaysgreat, lots of misunderstandings
, you know, and I got my firsthearing aid when I was nine
(05:25):
years old.
So I was very young and havinga hearing loss like that, and
especially at that young age,kids are already like not nice
in some ways.
You know so many things thatset you apart as it is, and that
was just something else thatmade me different and I was made
(05:46):
fun of a lot and I was verymuch.
I had a lot of voices telling mewho I was and at the same time,
my mom had brought us to churchand I was learning about Jesus
and we went to a Baptist churchand I had a lot of friends at
(06:09):
school that went to the Catholicchurch and I was hearing
different things about who Godwas and I was really wanting to
understand who God was.
Nothing seemed to line up and Iwas like asking God, who are
you to line up?
And I was like asking God, whoare you?
(06:29):
So I'm?
There was a lot of things goingon in my little brain, in my
little world, um, at a veryyoung age, and I had these
voices telling me one thing.
And then I'm hearing about thisJesus who says something else.
So, um, it was good and bad,you know, and I did accept
Christ at nine or 10.
I was baptized at 10.
(06:50):
And but I don't think I everreally understood that God
really wanted a relationshipwith me.
And if I understood it, I didn'tknow how that happened you know
yes yes, so I had somefoundation there, but I felt
(07:10):
kind of like the black sheep inmy family to a degree, you know.
And then I was different atschool and and church was the
same thing.
You know, people don't reallyknow how to deal with you when
you have a hearing loss, youknow.
I think that people have a hardtime in general if they don't
understand what the disabilityis and what people need, that
(07:32):
they tend to stay away from them.
So you feel very isolated.
And I came to a place where Iwas.
I was just so lonely and sodepressed and I just really
wasn't believing that God waswith me.
I wasn't seeing things line upbecause I didn't feel like he
was there.
(07:53):
I didn't feel like he was.
Anything was better.
You know you can hear thesecalls to the altar.
You know you receive Jesus andlife is just grand and I wasn't
seeing a whole lot of yes, Iunderstand, yes, yeah so I saw a
lot of it just looked like itwas greener.
(08:14):
On the other side, I saw otherpeople flourishing house and
they weren't Christians, youknow.
So I'm like I'm done with thisfor now.
And yeah, that's when I wasaround 17 when I walked away
from the Lord for a time.
It didn't last very long.
I fell very hard very quicklyand ended up pregnant with my
(08:34):
older son, and it was in thattime that God really brought me
back to him in a real and apersonal way to him in a real
and a personal way.
Cassandra (08:45):
Now, desiree, let me, and I want to.
This is just so fascinating.
Technology is something.
So my listeners, just so you'llknow.
Desiree (09:08):
Desiree was born deaf.
Okay, is that correct?
No, I was around three or fourwhen they found my hearing
starting to drop a little bit.
It was a progressive deafness,okay, but I was very young when
it started and I don't reallyremember my hearing ever being
completely normal.
Cassandra (09:20):
Okay, okay.
Desiree (09:31):
So tell the listeners if you were progressively going
deaf, how in the world are youhearing now?
Well, I had hearing aids allthe way through my since nine,
and in my 20s they came out withdigital hearing aids for the
first time, yes, and so I got myfirst set of digital hearing
aids in my late 20s, but theyonly lasted six months, and then
(10:01):
I was told that I had adecision to make, that the
hearing aids weren't working forme any longer, and then I could
either just decide not to wearanything or I could choose to go
down the path of gettingcochlear implants.
And after much prayer and sweatand decision, I decided to go
with the cochlear implants, butit's been the best decision for
me.
Cassandra (10:22):
And that's why, in the beginning of our podcast, we
talked about how we would thinkthat what's supposed to hold
you back was actually catapultedyou to move forward.
And by doing that, you know and, like I said, a lot of my
listeners there's certain thingsthey want to do, but they just
(10:45):
can't seem to get there.
They are stuck, they, you know,and I was like you in many
instances in regards to God.
You can't possibly love me, youcan't be the God that
everybody's talking about.
Because I'm sad, I don'tunderstand why all these things
are happening to me, and I hadan opportunity to be what I
(11:08):
would call bitter or better, andthat's kind of when I decided
and it was through trials andtribulations where I became
better I stopped being bitterand so and for you, you were
like, okay, you walked away fromGod, but God didn't walk away
(11:28):
from you, but then you came back, and then you came back.
Then is it the relationshipthat you had with God that
supported you and help you getthat surgery?
Desiree (11:43):
get that surgery.
You think, yeah, I mean, and Icame back probably 12 years
before I got the surgery, even,okay, it was his personal, it
was his personal reason out tome.
Okay, one night, while I waspregnant, while I was pregnant,
(12:08):
I had been praying and I wasjust crying and I was just
sitting before him.
I was just, I didn't know whatto do.
I was desperate, I was, I wasrock bottom, like you said.
Okay, I heard him speak to mefor the first time.
Just, I think that he did itthat way in that moment, because
(12:29):
that's what I needed.
He doesn't speak that way, butin this moment he did.
And he told me that he would bemy husband and he would be my
child's father and that he wouldbe with me.
And that was the one thing I hadthe hardest time believing was
that he was with me.
It was fascinating.
(12:50):
But he met me so personallythat I couldn't even deny that
he was there and that he waswith me and where I needed to go
, and I was stuck in a lot ofways and I've been stuck along
the way in a lot of ways um,he's always been there to pull
(13:11):
me out.
And as I heard him, I saw thisvision of him reaching his hand
down to me and he told me totake it and if I would, if I
willingly took his hand, that hewould walk with me and we would
get through this.
And I think that really showedme how much he wanted a
(13:32):
relationship with me, howpersonal he really is, and and I
never looked back.
I mean, I've had trouble alongthe way but I've never looked
back because I remember thosemoments.
Yeah, looking at me personally,you know.
Cassandra (13:48):
Uh-huh, uh-huh.
Well, tell us what is thedifference between?
Well, no, I'm not going to saywhat's the difference.
What is the advantage oflearning to live beyond a
religion?
Desiree (14:09):
Well, religion keeps us stuck.
I think it goes along with whatyou're saying.
Religion is so based onbehavior, it's based on what we
do, and it just keeps us stuck.
There's the reality is we.
(14:31):
Perfection is a a farce, I know.
As women, we want to be perfectand we want to live up to this
perfection.
But that's why we need Jesusbecause we can't be perfect.
And learning to live in arelationship with Jesus and
(14:51):
coming out of living in thatlegalistic place, in that
religious place, it's just, it'sfreedom, because I don't have
to rely on myself, I don't relyon my own strength, I rely on
him and his.
It's not.
I don't have to worry about howto do the things he's calling
me to, because he's doing it.
(15:12):
And when I know that I'm loved,when I live out of a place of
confidence in who God is and hislove for me, confidence in who
God is and his love for me.
You know I had been goingthrough that scripture about how
(15:32):
perfect love cast out all fearand his perfect love.
When I live in that love, thatplace of knowing how much he
loves me, it takes away the fear, it takes away the places that
I get stuck so easy, because Idon't have to worry and have
that anxiety anymore, because hetakes it from me and it's just
(15:52):
I.
I go back to that scripture tooabout how he's my strength, my
weakness, like he's reallytaught me that I don't have to
be ashamed of my weaknesses, Idon't have to be ashamed of my
limitations, because he's mystrength and that's what shows
people that he is who he is andhe uses it for such good and
(16:16):
that really helps me to just tolive in freedom.
Cassandra (16:21):
Yeah, yeah.
So how can, how can you get arelationship?
How does, how do you do that?
Desiree (16:29):
Well, I mean we and I know it sounds so simple.
I mean, the beginning is, youknow, the beginning is really to
acknowledge that we are sinnersand that we need a savior and
that there is one savior and hisname is jesus christ.
And and it was just, you know,it was a simple it's a
(16:51):
simplistic action of just askingthe questions, when I asked him
to show me who he is, he showsme like when I am in his word
and, um, I ask him to help meunderstand what he's saying to
me.
You know, having a good churchcommunity, I feel like it's very
(17:15):
important to have the rightpeople in your life.
When I was younger, a lot of thevoices and the people around me
weren't necessarily the bestvoices for me when I was
pregnant.
Everyone left, no one stayedaround.
You want friends who arewalking with the Lord, who love
like him, because Jesus staysand your sisters in Christ stay
(17:39):
through the good, through thebad.
And I think having mentors isimportant.
I always have someone who'solder than me in my life.
Somehow.
I have my peers that I'mwalking with and I have my young
girls that I can pour into.
I think those things areimportant to keep that
(18:04):
relationship with the Lordgrowing and thriving, and so I
think those are simple ways, youknow, just when we don't know
what to do, we just ask him he'sso faithful to meet us, you
know.
Cassandra (18:18):
Right, so let's talk about what you were called to do
.
What are you?
What's your calling?
Desiree (18:29):
well, I feel like it's multi-purposed right now, um,
you know, and I find myselfquestioning it in some moments,
like if I'm really doing what Ishould be doing.
But, um, but, in my churchcommunity I'm very involved.
My husband's an elder there andI lead women's small groups, so
(18:52):
I'm always connected with womenin the body and I do a lot of
mentoring with the young adultsand and I am a writer, I love
writing.
Writing has been such abeautiful gift from the Lord
because it's a place where, evenif I'm having a hard hearing
day, I can write.
And sometimes my best writingis when my ears are off.
(19:13):
That's what I tell people.
Cassandra (19:18):
Your ears are off.
Yeah, I love that.
I love that.
I think I'm going to startusing that.
I love that.
I think I'm going to startusing that.
I'm writing more.
Oh, you are Okay, All right,Because you've already written
your book, created to relateliving beyond religion, and
(19:38):
that's what this podcast topicis all about.
This podcast topic is all aboutyou know, as, where you are now
and where you were, you knowyou talked about.
You know the anxiety, the anger, and then you know, then it
took you to hit rock bottom, andit usually does take people to
(20:03):
hit rock bottom.
You know for them to say youknow what it has to be more to
life than this.
And I used to always ask myselfthe question you know, like you
indicate, it's not aboutreligion, it's about
relationships and I used toalways ask the question how can
I have a relationship with you,Lord?
And he said, well, how do youhave a relationship with your
(20:33):
best friend?
I'm like, oh, you spend timewith them.
I'm like, oh, okay, so I musthave to read the word, as you
indicated be around individualslike-minded that have that
relationship, have a mentor, andI know you had one, as when you
were young, you had an olderperson that mentored you.
You had indicated who haspassed away now, but she spoke
in your life and it sounds likeshe made a major, major impact
(20:55):
on your life.
Desiree (20:57):
Yeah, she prayed for me .
I think that's the thing thatreally left the impression for
me.
She always prayed for me andshe was always there in every
season, even when I wasn't goingto church, even when I wasn't
doing what I was supposed to bedoing, even after I had my baby.
(21:18):
She just was consistent, yeah,very inspirational into how I
want to love other people.
Cassandra (21:27):
Right.
So that's why you talk aboutwhy mentorship is so great,
because of what she had done foryou.
So, in other words, you're justpaying it forward.
So right now in your life, ifyou look back at your late 20s,
what would you tell yourselftoday?
Desiree (21:49):
Wow, I would tell myself a lot of things, but I
think I would really help myself.
I would tell myself that God istelling the truth, that I am
who he says I am and that, eventhough it didn't look like there
(22:12):
was a good plan for my life,that he had great plans for my
life.
So I think the most importantthing is just to because really
everything comes out of beingknown that we're loved by him
and knowing that he really hasour best in mind, because I
(22:32):
really never believed that.
Cassandra (22:34):
Yes, yeah, yeah, and especially, uh, based on the
disability that you and I'm notsaying you have it now, it's
just that you had and, like Isaid, I'm like God how can you
do this to me?
You know if you love me, butwhat you've done was you
(22:56):
acquired a relationship andknowing that it's all in his
plan, Like he knows you're inbefore you're beginning, in his
plan, like he knows your endbefore your beginning.
And you have a scripture that Ireally like 2 Corinthians 4.16.
You said therefore, he saidtherefore, we do not lose heart,
though we are cast wasting away, yet inwardly, we are being
(23:22):
renewed day by day.
And why is it that particularscripture you really that spoke
to?
Desiree (23:29):
you.
You know, it's kind ofinteresting because the older I
get, you know, our bodies startgetting worn out and we, you
know they start decaying and butyet my spirit is renewed.
I feel so alive and younginside and it just presents such
(23:53):
a picture.
It presents that picture ofwhat God, what a relationship
with him, does for us.
Cassandra (24:01):
That's, that's good, that's good.
Hmm, that's that's good, that'sgood.
Desiree (24:14):
Uh, your, your, um, your mom.
Did your mom ever think aboutgetting the implants?
Or they weren't around then.
They weren't, really weren'taround for her.
And by the time they were shewas old enough where I don't
think it felt possible for her.
You know, yeah, because it's alot and it's not a perfect fix.
There's a lot of work that goesalong with it and even now I
it's not a perfect fix for me.
I get very tired.
Listening is a lot of work forme because it's not a natural
(24:37):
thing.
Cassandra (24:38):
And.
Desiree (24:40):
I still don't understand the way a hearing
person would, so there are a lotof things that come with it as
well.
So, and it's not a quick fix,so I don't think she felt it was
something for her.
Cassandra (24:55):
Okay.
Desiree (24:55):
All righty.
Cassandra (24:58):
So you have just been very resilient in the face of
adversity, and I thinkresilience is key because I
don't know anyone that's not hadadversity.
We all go through trials andtribulations and even your
relationship building, and youbroke free from those
(25:18):
self-imposed limits through yourfaith that you had limits,
through your faith that you hadand anything.
I love the fact and I am abeliever I have a relationship
with God.
But you talked about fear andmany times, excuse me, I still
(25:39):
fear and I'm like a good exampleis the book that I wrote Is
your Way, in your Way, and ittook me so long to write that
book because of fear.
I didn't know what to say, Ididn't know what people would
think I'm more concerned aboutwhat they would think and if it
were not for the grace of Godand the relationship that I've
(26:02):
had with God, the book would nothave been written, because I
felt in my heart of hearts thathe would not leave me alone.
He kept gnawing on me.
I couldn't get it out of myspirit, year after year after
year after year, and then, whenCOVID came, I'm like okay, all
(26:22):
right, you spoke to me, I'mgoing to do it.
So it's, and plus the dreamsthat we have.
I think many of them come fromGod.
You know he wouldn't give it tous if he didn't Excuse me, hmm.
So I just want to thank you foryour vulnerability.
(26:46):
I want to thank you for thegifts that God has given you,
how you're using it for hisglory, and I know you will
continue to be a blessing tomany.
So, as life moves on, you haveanything like like, if I say
Desiree, what's next for you?
(27:06):
What's next for you in yourlife?
Desiree (27:09):
You're thinking Well, I am.
I am working on the study guideand I am working on another
book, but I really want to getinto the speaking aspect of
things because I think it's agift that I can speak the way I
do and, yes, for several reasons, you know, between the hearing
(27:32):
loss and and just even the fearsthat it's not, it's out of my
comfort zone completely, but soI really would love to do more
speaking.
I'm really enjoying the podcastguesting and and being on the
different podcast and justexpanding that territory and I
(27:54):
I'm trying to take time to dreambut also let the Holy Spirit
lead one step at a time and tohave that balance.
So I know that he has more.
So I'm taking one step at atime.
I have my website and I blogand I do book reviews and all
those kinds of things.
So I have my hands in a lot ofdifferent places and just seeing
(28:15):
where God takes it.
Cassandra (28:17):
Okay, okay.
So how can my listeners get intouch with you so?
Desiree (28:21):
how can my listeners get in touch with you?
The best way is through mywebsite, which is
wwwarenewedcreationcom.
You can sign up for the blogpost and the newsletters and
keeps you up to date oneverything going on.
Cassandra (28:37):
Okay, now do you do your own blog, do other people
do blogs and you post them onyour website, or you just do
them all yourself.
Desiree (28:47):
I mainly do them all myself, but when I have other
writers that are coming intotheir own, I have guest bloggers
on there sometimes to helpencourage them in their gifting
too.
Yeah, that's good, that's good.
Cassandra (28:57):
You're giving back, that's good.
That's good, that's good.
You're giving back, that's good.
Well, any last parting wordsthat you would like to share
with my listeners, those who arestuck for, those who are in
their way, and you know, and mymission is to empower a
generation of women, to mitigatethose barriers that's
(29:21):
preventing them from livingtheir best life.
You know, I always say, whenit's time for me to go, I want
God to say well done, my goodand faithful servant, and I
(29:49):
don't want my cup half empty.
Desiree (29:50):
I want it full and overflowing that.
I have done all that I wasordained to do, because that's
when I realized I'm more atpeace in this crazy world.
Amen, I agree with thatcompletely and that's my heart
desire too.
I think the biggest thing is, Iwould say, if you're stuck,
don't be ashamed to acknowledgethat, to be able to acknowledge
that, to bring it to God and toask him what's keeping you stuck
(30:12):
and to allow him to show youthat and to bring along other
people.
You know, reach out to people.
I'm happy to talk to people tooIf they want to reach out.
I love getting the personalmessages and things and talking
through anything that peopleneed to talk through.
Or, you know, pray with peopleand don't give up.
(30:33):
That's my biggest motto isnever give up.
You know, pushing through, keepworking through it and don't
let the enemy have his way.
Cassandra (30:42):
Keep working through it and don't let the enemy have
his way.
Okay, I love that.
One more thing that justdropped in my spirit.
Would you mind saying a prayerfor my listeners as you, because
you know what they're goingthrough and why they've tuned
into this, this podcast, today?
Desiree (30:59):
Sure, I would love that .
Yeah, father, thank you so muchfor today.
Thank you for each and everylistener that's listening here.
Lord, I pray over their mindsand their hearts.
That you would renew theirminds, that you would transform
their hearts, father, that youwould open their eyes to
whatever is keeping them stuckright now and hindering them
(31:20):
from doing all that you'vecalled them to do.
Lord, I pray that you wouldfree them today, in the name of
Jesus.
Lord, bring freedom, bring theright people around them to walk
with them, to encourage them,to spur them on towards you,
lord, and that you would givethem that spirit of perseverance
, father, that you would givethem the strength to never give
(31:41):
up and to keep walking with youin all that you've called them
to do.
In Jesus name, amen.
Cassandra (31:48):
Amen.
What a great note to end thispodcast today.
Again, desiree, thank you.
My listeners, that prayer andwhat you've heard today, I know
that you are going to starttransitioning to what it is that
you were called to do.
(32:08):
If you're open to it I alwayssay that if you're open to it,
what do you have to lose?
So, with that said, pleaseshare this podcast.
And if you've liked thispodcast, I ask that you
subscribe, hit, like and shareit with your friends and family,
and also just know that thispodcast is on every podcast
(32:31):
platform.
Again, desiree, thank you.
God bless and listeners, byefor now.
Thanks, desiree.
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I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.