Meet Darlene Gaston

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Darlene Gaston. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Darlene, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

My resilience stems from times that test me—painful moments when I feel I can’t move forward. Yet, the strength I find by turning to God during these times builds my resilience. The pain that forged my resilience also enabled me to write two books in three years.

On Thanksgiving morning in November 2014, over three days, the Lord revealed something that transformed my perspective of Him, radically changing my life and my family’s. It wasn’t entirely new but rooted in something ancient. I posted on Facebook: “The Lord has revealed something to me that has changed me and my family forever. I feel like my face is shining like Moses’ did.” The next day, my lead pastor asked me to share what the Lord had revealed. My husband, standing beside me, encouraged me to do so. I wrote three pages of notes for the pastor, which my husband read before I sent them. After reviewing them, the pastor remarked that the essence of my writing was that the enemy tries to make us forget who we are. This, however, was neither the fullness nor the true summation of what had been revealed to me.

A couple of days later, I asked the Lord, “What is the essence of what You showed me?” He answered, “The essence of what you wrote is that church leadership often imposes rules, regulations, and standards on My sheep to ‘protect’ them, but this actually puts them in bondage. You yourself have done this before.” God gave me a vivid, open-eyed vision of my past actions, helping me to “see.” He continued, “This is a core value I want removed from the church because it is based on fear, not faith.” I shared this statement on Facebook. The next day, I received an email from the co-lead pastor of the church we had attended for nearly nine years, asking me to “consider” the post. I knew from prior experience this meant removing it. I replied that I would not take it down because I believed it was true. Resilience was being built here.

Later, I received a text to call the co-lead pastor. During the call, I was accused of trying to hurt the church and its pastors. I clarified that my intent was never to harm but to address the worldwide church, using myself as an example in the post. I was told that some people were questioning my feelings about the church, its pastors, and leadership. I asked that these individuals be referred to me, citing Matthew 18, which instructs that concerns be addressed directly with the person involved. The pastor refused, stating that people prefer approaching pastors instead. I kept the post up for several reasons: first, I refused to surrender my freedom to follow God out of fear of man; second, it was my Facebook page; third, the statement was true and accurate; and fourth, my intent was to bring freedom, not malice. This further strengthened my resilience.

A few days later, an associate pastor requested a meeting about the post. During our discussion, she asked four times, “When will you submit to the lead pastors?” I explained that I was following the Lord’s guidance, emphasizing that my intent was to bring freedom, not harm, and that I had used myself as an example. She asked me to pray about it again, and I agreed. That night, the Lord said, “It is finished.” I deleted the post that Thursday night and informed all involved pastors and one close friend, who had been praying for a peaceful resolution. The next day, my friend’s husband asked the lead pastor privately if they were making a habit of “policing Facebook.” That same morning, the co-lead pastor called, insisting we meet immediately. During our afternoon meeting, she was upset, claiming she never asked me to remove the post, though I believed she had.

By then, I had resumed blogging about what the Lord revealed over Thanksgiving. The following week, my husband, Bryan, and I were called into a meeting with the lead pastor. He claimed he wanted me to elaborate on what I had sent him, but I sensed his true intent. I anticipated two outcomes: I would be asked to stop blogging against their doctrine or theology, and further action would be required. At the meeting, the pastor asked me to post on Facebook clarifying that my deleted post was not about his church, pastors, or leaders. I declined, believing it would only reignite the issue. He also demanded that I stop blogging against their doctrine, and if I blogged again, he would need to authorize it. Lastly, he asked if I had anything to say to his wife, the co-lead pastor, possibly fishing for an apology. I resumed blogging, fully aware of the consequences: I would likely be asked to step down from leadership, my family and I would be shunned, we would be pushed out of the church, my boys would lose friendships, and I might be labeled a “Jezebel” or worse. Yet, this built more resilience.

As expected, all these consequences materialized and more. After blogging again, my husband and I were called into another meeting with the lead pastor, this time with an associate pastor present. The Lord instructed me to remain silent, like a sheep before shearers, knowing I would be asked to step down from leadership. The meeting lasted no more than ten minutes. No reason was given for the decision; we were simply told it was their choice. My husband responded, “That is your choice.” We asked two clarifying questions about his and our boys’ leadership roles. Bryan was also asked to step down, but our boys could continue. We left the meeting civilly. A few months later, we were asked to leave the church. Ultimately, these hardships have shaped my resilience. I’ve learned that God brings good from painful experiences, fostering resilience and deeper trust in Him.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am a non-fiction Christian author who, at the age of forty-seven, while serving as a prophet in my church, experienced a profound revelation of God’s grace through the New Covenant. This awakening radically transformed my life and inspired my books, Time to Really Live Free and The Door Is Open. My work, known for its authenticity and depth, draws from the original Greek and Hebrew scriptures to challenge religious legalism and illuminate the Apostle Paul’s spiritual evolution. Because like Paul I am no longer a lawman/woman I am God’s man/woman. My credibility is underscored by prestigious Christian nonfiction awards from Pinnacle, Readers’ Favorite, International Impact, and Book Excellence. Through my journey from condemnation to freedom, I aim to offer readers a path to spiritual growth, establishing myself as a trusted voice in the genre.

Currently, I am collaborating with my author friend, Dr. Jane Smith, and health coach Melanie Prinz on an event called Living Whole and Free. This event will showcase the messages in our books and hearts, helping others embrace the wholeness and freedom we have discovered through scripture. Our first event is scheduled for October 18, 2025, in Sparks, Nevada, with plans for another event in Montana in the March/April 2026 timeframe.

During this season, I am also working on my third book and beginning production of audiobooks for my first two books.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The first skill that profoundly impacted my journey was journaling. Writing down my thoughts, conversations with God, and insights He provided through scripture became a cornerstone of my writing process. The best advice I received when starting my first book was simple: “Just write.” I learned early on, while playing softball in my youth, that practice leads to improvement. The same applies to writing. Pick up a pen or open your computer and start putting your thoughts into words.

The second skill was research. I love to research, whether it’s uncovering information or gaining deeper understanding. It’s like solving a puzzle—when the pieces don’t fit, it’s an itch I can’t ignore. Biblehub.com became my go-to resource. I learned to navigate it to explore the Greek and Hebrew texts of the Bible, which felt like a treasure hunt. I highly recommend that anyone studying the Bible dig deeper into the scriptures to understand the who, what, where, when, how, and why.

The third quality is my trust in God. This has never wavered, even when people do. He is my rock, always present and loving me unconditionally. I wholeheartedly recommend relying on Him for anyone’s journey on this earthly plane.

Lastly, never give up. As Abraham Lincoln said, “You can not fail, if you resolutely determine that you will not.”

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

The book that has played the most significant role in my development is the Bible. Next to it is Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis, particularly Chapter 9, where Lucy sees Aslan in the forest, but her siblings do not and doubt her. She declares to them, “I don’t care if you believe me or not. I’m going to follow him.” This statement echoes my souls cry over the years when those I looked up to, like Lucy’s siblings, doubted me. Like Lucy, I have chosen to follow God with all my heart, whether others believe me or not. This path is not easy; it is sometimes filled with pain and loss. However, through that pain and loss, I have found a deep resilience within myself and have gained true friendships that walk with you..

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Main Photo (Rachel Dickson). I have all rights to the photo

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