Taneshia Yerby is the founder of Christian Entrepreneur Organization (CEO For Women) and the author of From Dreams to Drive.
Team Jesus Magazine: One of your key messages is, “Your assignment may change, but your overall purpose remains the same.” How can you identify what your God-given purpose and gifts are?
Taneshia Yerby: It’s a domino effect. When you show up, not only do you show others what obedience looks like, but you
Taneshia Yerby: Depending on the season, your assignment may look different. This is why I always encourage people to stay open to change. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking there’s only one way of doing things. God knows how to pull your full potential out of you, and sometimes having to pivot is how He pushes us out of our comfort zone and to our next level. If you’re still unsure of your purpose and what your God-given gifts are, here’s my advice: You discover your purpose by simply showing up and doing life with God. As for identifying your gifts: Pay attention to the things that your peers and others come to you for. It may not always be the thing that you’re expecting. Take mental note of what comes to you with ease—things you do that are not for personal gain but that push others closer to God and encourage them to grow. The Bible tells us that we are to use our gifts to serve one another (1 Peter 4:10). That is often the clearest sign of how God wants to use you.
Team Jesus Magazine: Share more on how clarity comes after taking action.
Taneshia Yerby: Experience and obedience are your best teachers. God rarely reveals the entire blueprint all at once (and we should be so thankful for that!). I truly believe that He gives us instructions as we move our feet. The more you continue to show up, the more you’ll start to notice your path taking shape. Seeking clarity is just another opportunity for you to exercise your faith and trust God through your obedience.
Team Jesus Magazine: What would you say to someone who feels stuck and in a season of stagnancy?
Taneshia Yerby: Go back to the last thing God told you to do. Did you complete it? Or is this something that you left unfinished? Maybe the momentum you’re looking to gain is on the other side of that. I would also encourage you to spend time journaling with God. Sometimes you just need to write it out (Habakkuk 2:2). Sometimes mental overload is the thing that causes us to feel stuck—we don’t know what step to take first, so we don’t move at all. Writing things out is the best way to release that mental load and create a well thought-out action plan.
Team Jesus Magazine: How would you encourage someone who has faced failure in the past and is afraid to try again?
Taneshia Yerby: Most of us aren’t really afraid of failing; we’re afraid of other people seeing us fail. But here’s the thing: your past failures are meant to guide you, not silence you. So, the less you entertain the thoughts of failure being a bad thing, the quicker you can move on to your next adventure. Keep a mental note of what worked and what didn’t, and use that as a guide as you move forward.
Team Jesus Magazine: Can you share more on how your obedience can be the key to someone else’s breakthrough?
Taneshia Yerby: It’s a domino effect. When you show up, not only do you show others what obedience looks like, but youmay have a direct impact on how they show up for their own calling. Using your gifts may very well be the thing that opens the doors for them to use theirs, which will in turn open the doors for anyone else attached to them. It’s all connected. One act of obedience has the power to trickle down to the generations to come.
GET YOUR COPY of From Dreams to Drive today and live out loud in all that God has purposed for your life.
