Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michele DeRolf. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Michele, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
As the oldest of seven, I’ve always been a “take charge” person; according to Kevin Leman, it’s a birth order thing. As life began to unfold around me, I found myself actually becoming someone else that I didn’t recognize. There isn’t time in this setting to unpack all of the events that impacted finding my purpose, but here are a few: my parents divorced when I was 13, I was pregnant and married the summer before my senior year of high school, divorced at age 21, remarried at age 24 (to an alcoholic), second child in Riley Hospital with neurological concerns, brother died unexpectedly, second divorce at age 32, best friend lost her daughter in a car accident, another best friend lost her son in a snowmobile accident, diagnosed with melanoma age 41, found my dad when he died at home, married a third time at age 46, diagnosed with breast cancer age 49, another best friend lost her son in a motorcycle accident, and most recently a new friend lost her three year old daughter to an undiagnosed heart condition.
Each one of those trials were used by God to mold me and refine me. Whether the loss was my own or someone I loved, God drew me in and demonstrated His inconceivable love, mercy, grace, and longsuffering. As He helped me to see that HE was all I needed, I developed a passion to share my discovery with younger versions of myself.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
While working on a Med/Surg and CCU I have countless opportunities to share Jesus with staff, patients, and families. I take that responsibility very seriously. However, I’ve always had a desire to write.
After attending Speak Up in Grand Rapids, MI in July 2023, I found a new passion for sharing the message God has given me. Whether I’m leading studies at Brookville Road Community Church, speaking at area churches, hosting women in my home, guiding a respite weekend, or leading worship, my desire is to help others find hope through discovering Jesus.
Being motivated and inspired by Speak Up, I now have a Facebook page that features my writing in addition to a website (that is constantly being updated). My ultimate goal is to be obedient to the next thing God places before me.
https://michelekeithderolf.com/
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Perseverance, conversations with God, and a willingness to hear things I didn’t want to hear were all crucial to my story. Without these three things, I would always be missing something. I made a choice to not give up almost every day. I didn’t necessarily always stop to pray in the sense that most people think of prayer. But I have a constant “loop” in my head that communes with Him nonstop. And friends (or any follower of Jesus) who spoke truth into my life especially when I didn’t want to hear it were priceless to me.
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?
Without hesitation, the Bible has turned my whole world upside down. As the stories on the pages came to life for me, I realized that God was at the center of it all. With all of the struggles and trials I’ve encountered, I needed to know something that didn’t change. That was God. Since 2001, my life verse has been Proverbs 3:5-6 ~ Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
Those words have applied to every challenge I’ve ever met.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://michelekeithderolf.com/
- Facebook: Michele DeRolf/Writer & Speaker
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