Resting on God’s Firm Foundation in Trials, Transitions, and Transformation with Denise Leonard

Thanks for joining us for this special episode of Returning to Joy. In this episode, we’ll sit down with Gabrielle’s mother, Denise Leonard. In a season that has felt tumultuous and challenging for Gabrielle and her family, Denise has shared a word from the Lord that we want to share with the listeners today. 

When God is preparing us for a new thing He is bringing into our lives, and when we transition into a new season with the birth of something new in front of us, it often doesn’t feel good. It can sometimes be painful, confusing, intense, difficult… But God is graceful, and there is wisdom to be gleaned from looking at the actual process of childbirth. Denise will walk us through this and more, and will send us with a mother’s prayer.

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Transcript

Gabrielle Leonard: 0:00

Welcome to the return to joy podcast. I'm your host, Gabrielle Michel Leonard. Here we're leading people to cultivate joy through storytelling. We hope listening will reveal pathways to unlocking the healing power of connection so that you can see your relationships and the world around you transformed from fractured into flourishing was up Beloved's. I'm really excited about this episode, because my mom's here. She is recording with me. And it's actually kind of funny. I'm, I'm in Dallas, visiting family, specifically, my oldest sister Danielle has a wedding shower this weekend. And so I'm away from the podcast studio. So we're literally recording and my little sister Grace's bathroom using microphone setup that she's got. Because she does spoken words, and she does some music. So she's got recording equipment. And you know, if you don't remember, grace is the one who actually did the beat for this podcast. So it means a lot to me. So it's the whole family affair that's happening on this episode. But mom, I asked you to come on this episode, because last year in a really rough and hard time for me, or I felt like hit with a crazy blow just like an an unexpected wave is the best way to say where you think, man, life is going good or at least better, right? Because there was already wave after wave that felt like was crashing over me in some different ways. Last year, you know, year before that, and I feel like that resonates with a lot of people. Where these last several years, it may seem like there's been wave after wave. And last year, I thought we were finally cruising, and another wave came in hit me. And I, I was I was so hurt. And I felt so broken, but also so I'm wrestling through this pain and transition that's happening. And also still sensing and feeling like I'm carrying something that God's wanting to give birth to. So there is some there's a level of future hope, and anticipation. But there's also just challenge and hardship. And Mom, you spoke a word to me about travailing, you spoke a word to me about the birthing process and what you learned from that. And so I wanted you to come on, and talk about that word that you shared with me. Because I believe that other people would benefit from hearing so mom, would you share what you shared with me, however it comes out in this moment at least?

Denise Leonard: 3:01

Well, I remember that time of sharing came for thumb, the word that I shared definitely by the Spirit because I wasn't even thinking about the aspect of the birthing process and having the opportunity to share with you. But one of the things that the LOI teaches us a lot of things in through parables, the life situations and at that particular time the Lord's share with me I had to share with you about what was transpiring in your life and through the birthing process. And as I share it with you I remember my first pregnancy and when it was time to give birth had come to that full term you know that time to give birth. I do remember that the labor was long. I mean I remember having been in labor, those early contractions and walking so that things will you know kind of speed up you know income about I remember going to the hospital and being told no it's not time yet. It's not time and being sent home. And then I remember after getting full of a meal I remember the breaking of my water when that that in the birthing process they will they have a place when they call hitting the wall when the baby drill plops down into the birth canal. And that waterbed breaks and you feel it when the baby drops. And then it was time to go in and I went in contractions going in the labor process. And when you're in labor, one of the things that you want to do is you want to, and those contractions are taking place, you want to find that place with your footing on a firm foundation, or firm place, but you you're pressing with your feet up against that foundation, but you're relaxing your body, you know, you're relaxing your body so that that baby can just those more tighten up so the baby can come forward. And then as the contractions continue increasing, and you're breathing through them, you breathe into that. And it's like breathing through them and giving air to your body air to the the muscles in your air to in the process, taking in the air, and breathing it through. And relaxing as you go through the process. And then there's that place when it's that transition, when the contractions are coming so fast, you know, you they literally mean it's like, three, two minutes apart. But if they're three or two minutes apart, and each contraction is a minute and a half, it almost seems like they're back to back to back to back. But you still have to breathe through. And you have to focus you find that spot, you know where you Your eyes are focused. For me at that time, I found a spot on the wall and that they had like a cross or something that was up there and at the time and, and I just felt and pressing my feet, you know, against the shoulders of your dad and then just continues while I wrote that there was no footing on the bed, and then just relaxing, as I would in breathing through. And that's I remember sharing with you because the Lord showed me that and reminded me and brought that back to me because that's how it is in our process. As we go through whatever changes we're going through in life, whatever thing that's taking place and transpiring it there can be the continued process of growing and it stops, you know, or it slows down. And you have to still walk out, walk out what's taking place, in order to get to the end of the price is going to come about, but it's going to require you walking out and then just breathing in through taking in the nourishment that you need, while you wait for it to take place. The the Word of God to you know that prayer time that praise time, so you can just kind of, you know, take in while you walking out what's going on. And that don't necessarily mean that it's gonna feel great. My mindset was, you know, if you don't fight against it, that's why the relaxing of your body as the baby going through that birthing process, and just your legs are firmly planted. You know, while you're, you're our spirit, our mindset firmly planted, you know, on the Word of God firmly planted, you know, in trusting in the LORD firmly planted, and then we just kind of relaxing in it, resting in, breathing through in allowing the process to take place. I remember sharing with you those transition, that transition period is just like it is on our spiritual walk. And when things speed up in God, the way, the way diamonds come about is through pressure that coal is pressure, pressure, pressure upon that coal until it literally is transformed into the diamond. But it has to go through that pressure and that transition process. And in order for us to, to have what we desire to take place in our lives in the Lord and those desires and he's given us we have to take that transaction here. We have to go through that process. And that process brings about new life. It brings about new life, but it's gotta be it's gonna be that transition. It's gonna be you're gonna feel that pulling, you're gonna feel that, you know, but it's, it's in the end. And when that new life comes about that was the good part. When that new life comes about when he comes forth, you know, you remember that it was a process you had to go through And you remember, the struggle was there, but you don't remember the intensity? You know, you can Oh, yeah, remember, it was so rough, but you really don't remember. If you, if you put a number two, they say, Well, how much you're paying taxes is? Where is it one to two, you don't remember that cost cuz the new light that comes forth, wipes, all of that washes it away. And that's how that transition period takes place. And that's the Lord does.

Gabrielle Leonard: 10:32

Man, that's so good mom is so good. And, you know, one thing that really struck me, when you were talking with me, I think we were on the phone. And you were having a conversation with me about, you know, this, the labor pains and the birthing process and, and the, the connection points like you literally putting your feet upon my dad's shoulders, and that, that being that firm, foundation place for you literally in that moment, and then fixing your eyes upon a focal point. And then you talked about, which really resonated how when we fight against the transition, or the contractions, you know, specifically when we're fighting against, though that that feeling what's happening, that's actually part of the process, part of moving things forward part of the birthing process, it actually creates more pain. And I remember when that just how much it resonated and how much hearing that made me go okay. How, how do I let go? And what what do I need to do? It just it challenged me to at least begin to lean in and go, Alright, how do I fight? Let me stop, let me stop fighting against this process. So I really resonated with that word around, not fighting it, because fighting against the transition, the changes the convenience, like contractions, and labor only increases the pain and that that just hit me hard when you were sharing that with me.

Denise Leonard: 12:13

That is, I'm glad you you brought that back up. And because that's exactly, I remember sharing that with you, because that's exactly what takes place. When you're going through. That's why there is that relaxing your body. For the contractions to come for you as a contraction is taking place. When you breathe in through it, the intensity is when you fight against if you tighten up your body, you're fighting against that baby coming forth, you're fighting against that birthing process of that baby, you it's the muscles are holding against a pathway that the pathway that that baby has to take to get through that birthing process. You're fighting against it, you're holding back the baby against against those things against that process. And so I just remember saying, you know, no, you're right, you have to rest, you have to rush your body, relax your body and, and breathe through it. And you'll feel that baby going but it won't. It's the intensity is not there. It the intensity is there when you fight against the process. And that's how it is in our spiritual war. The intensity of what we encounter, when we fight against what the Lord is trying to do in our lives. The struggle is there when we fight against what he's trying to do in our lives. But if we go with him, rest in Him. That's when we go through the process. We see it we feel it but we we can we can walk through that process and come out on the other side in life.

Gabrielle Leonard: 14:03

Mom, I feel like it wouldn't be appropriate for you to leave us without giving a mother's prayer. Like I some people listening may have a prayer warring mama currently right now in their lives. Some people may have had a mother who wars in prayer and now she's not with them anymore. Or some may not have you ever had that had that privilege specifically in their lives. And so for anyone listening, I would love mom of you would speak a mother's prayer over them. Because I know for me in some of the deepest and most challenging times of my life. Your prayers have been timely. You've spoken some words in my life that have been timely. We No, we don't always see eye to eye. we've bumped heads, right? But there has been some key moments when you've spoken a word. And it's just, it's helped calm the storm that's that's inside, maybe hasn't changed what's going on outside, externally what's happening to me, but it definitely has felt like it's spoken Peace be still to what was happening inside of me. So mom, would you just in this moment, speak a mother's prayer, however it comes out. And if you're listening, I just encourage you to receive it. See if there's something that she says that resonates with you and take it as a word, from God to you, let it be an encouragement. Let it be nourishment to you. Let it be what helps get you through and continue in this process. Because God is birthing something in your life.

Denise Leonard: 16:01

I will father come before You Thank You, Lord, for the privilege this, this opportunity to speak over those who are listening as if they were my own children. My own biological children, this is a privilege to speak a blessing over them. Father, you said in your work that life and death is in the tongue. Though we can speak blessings and we can speak curses and Bravo right now you've given me the opportunity to speak a blessing over those who are listening. Lord Jesus, I just thank you that right now the blood of Jesus is covering everyone that speak in those that don't know you in the pardon of their sins, I call them forth. I speak against those things that will seek to hinder and harm and hurt and misdirect right now in the name of Jesus. For those who know you in the pardon of their sins, I speak life. I speak Lord, that they are new creatures. Old things are passed away and all things have become new. They are no longer bound by the things of their past law, but they're been set free. Father, you've also said you are deigned the blessing. So right now I speak the blessing upon I declare right now that they are the head and not the tail, they are above and not beneath. I speak right now the blessing. I speak right now that they are your sheep called to your pasture. And that they hear your voice and other are buying every voice that would seek to come against them, or buying their own voice every preconceived notion of how their lives should, could walk in Go. That was Seaton that allowed them to come forth in in prosper and grow in the your purpose as implants for their lives. Lord, you knew every last single one and you called them by name before they were formed in their mother's womb. There's something about them that you don't know. There's nothing that they've done that you cannot overcome. There's nothing that can take place in their lives. There's nothing they can do that can remove your love from them. The opportunity to become the sons and daughters of the Most High God through your shed blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is theirs. I think you will have that every one who hears my voice right now. That the seed of this the truth of this, but the fallow ground of their hearts have broken up and that they it's falling on good soil and the fruit of that soil shall come for 3060 and 100 fold in every aspects of their life. If they're mentally struggling as I speak right now the mind of Christ. If they're physically struggling to speak healing, if they're emotionally struggling right now I speak rest. Lord right now peace that passes all understanding. Lon Thank you, Father that you said in your word that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose and you have ordained their steps. They don't have to ask you. Can you order my steps because you've already done it and declare that eyes are open, and ears hear that they're able to see where you've lived the path for them to step in wavelet the path for them to walk in the directions that you've called him to go. And at the peace will be there to understand that if by some chance they should stray, but they will remember that the God who created them, knows them, and awaits them. And those who are struggling, Lord, that He that our Lord stands at the door waiting, knocking, waiting for them to answer and our call for that answer a call for that answer. So that they might see true love not this love the world tries to offer. But agape loves the Lord's love. Not that eros love that sexual love that lustful love that that love map the love that says that I have to have someone else complete me because they're complete in the Lord. If they choose that path, and I call that path and right now are great you are crap you told me that you might lay your head on my shoulder and I can rub your head and let you know the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that He loves you more than even I lay your head on his breasts feel his heartbeat drink from the cup and in his hand. And the Love y'all know will give you so much peace and Jesus.

Gabrielle Leonard: 22:24

All right, I want to thank you guys for listening in. Mom, I want to thank you so much for being on this episode. I personally feel a lot of gratitude and joy because I wanted you guys to hear this word because it really did encourage me. And it may encourage you in a different way. But I also wanted to capture my mother's wisdom and a recorded way. Because I'm thinking about the future. And thinking about one day being able to have this and and be reminded of those words. And I am grateful for it. So this is also a little plug if there's people in your life that have spoken wisdom to you. Maybe you hear them sometimes and maybe you don't hear them some other times. Maybe you're like gone, you know gone I don't care. But cherish those people that speak wisdom to you. Maybe that's family maybe that's friends maybe that's you know, chosen family but but cherish those words of wisdom and cherish them, honor them figure out ways like what does that look look like to honor their words, and to honor their contributions into your life and to really hold those dearly, to savor those moments. Because we don't know how long we have people in our lives. And I feel like every day is a gift that my my parents are here with me. And I pray that my mother was able to be a blessing to you all listening in this moment. All right. Adios, I Beloved's if you're hearing this message, you've listened to the entire episode. And for that I am deeply grateful. I hope this episode resonated with you and if it did help us out by sharing this episode and leaving a review on Apple podcasts, and Spotify. Most importantly, reach out to let me know how you're engaging with this episode, and what topics you'd like to see covered in the future. You can connect with us on social media, or get in touch with me directly at Gabrielle at returning to joy.com to share your heart. I'll see you in two weeks for a new episode.