Sarah Jakes Roberts Rouge Tour: A Lesson In Faith, Growing & Going Rouge
My Experience At The Woman Evolve Rogue Tour In Detroit & The Reminder That Sometimes Walking By Faith Means Stepping Outside Of Everything Familiar.
Wow. Two weeks ago, I was living in a dream.
If you know me, you know how much I love Sarah Jakes Roberts.
When I was a junior in college, I had a long commute to work at Nordstrom. During one of those drives, I stumbled upon a podcast called Woman Evolve, hosted by Sarah Jakes Roberts. I started listening, and before I knew it, I was hooked. I began watching her sermons, following her ministry, and learning about the Woman Evolve conference she was hosting in Denver. I had found a new favorite.
I’m a church girl through and through. Born and raised in the church, I grew up knowing the Lord. I was baptized at seven years old, and although I had my own struggles growing up and went through seasons where I was living fully in the flesh, my faith was one thing that remained throughout my life. However, it wasn’t until adulthood that I began developing a relationship with God for myself.
I don’t know exactly what drew me to Sarah, but I think it was her authenticity. I gravitated toward the way she spoke so openly about her walk with God, her past, and the things she had overcome. She wasn’t ashamed of where she had been, and I appreciated that. I saw someone who was willing to be transparent about her journey while continuing to walk boldly in her purpose.
I’ve been hooked ever since.
I’ve watched countless sermons, attended the last four Woman Evolve conferences, and seen her live during her mini tours in Detroit three different times. Honestly, listening to her has become part of my routine. Not out of idolatry or placing anyone on a pedestal, but out of admiration for someone who is walking in her purpose and using her experiences to encourage others.
Everyone in my life knows how much I admire Sarah Jakes Roberts. So when I was gifted a FRONT ROW VIP ticket to see her in Detroit, I was blown away. (Thats a good man savannah lol)
The day started off a little rocky. I couldn’t find anything to wear (of course!), but thankfully, everything came together. And when I tell you it was an incredible experience, I mean it. I’ve seen Sarah multiple times, but this time was different. Sitting front row gave me an entirely different perspective, and I got to experience the evening in a way I never had before. Plus my ticket included a pre show Q+A and I GOT TO MET HER AT THE END.
The Rogue Tour Experience
For the Rogue Tour, Sarah brought together some incredible women. Tasha Cobbs Leonard joined the stage alongside the Woman Evolve singers, Shana Wilson shared her testimony, and Kierra Sheard delivered one of the most powerful prayers that shook the entire room. Mia Ray also came and shared her inspiring story of success, encouraging women to pursue what God has placed inside of them.
And then there was Sarah. She delivered a phenomenal message about keeping your faith and stepping outside of what has become routine.
I’m part of the Woman Evolve delegation and community, and this year’s word is ROGUE. Throughout the year, I’ve heard Sarah discuss this word in interviews, on the podcast, and through different conversations. Hearing her unpack it on that stage hit completely differently. Going rogue isn’t necessarily about doing something rebellious or going against everything around you. It’s about being willing to do something differently. It’s about stepping outside of what is familiar, breaking away from what everyone expects, and having the courage to follow what God is calling you to do.
Sarah preached about the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4, and how her actions required her to do something that wasn’t necessarily normal or what everyone else might have advised her to do. She had to move according to what she knew and what she believed. There were so many powerful points throughout the message, but one thing that really stuck with me was how Sarah connected the story to her own life. Earlier this year, in April, Sarah experienced an accident that left her facing a long and difficult road to recovery. She shared how the experience changed her and how she had to let go of the person she thought she would be in order to become the person God was calling her to be.
Another one of my favorite parts of the evening was watching her husband, Toure Roberts, support her. Seeing him cheer her on from afar while allowing her to have her moment, yet still glowing just as brightly, was so special to me. There was something beautiful about watching someone celebrate their partner’s purpose without needing to be the center of attention. It was one of those little moments that may have gone unnoticed by others, but I appreciated it. Seeing that kind of support and partnership was just as inspiring as some of the messages shared on stage.
That hit me. Sometimes life changes us in ways we never anticipated, and not every change is necessarily bad. Sometimes the very things that shift our lives are preparing us for something we couldn’t have imagined for ourselves.
I’m Going Rogue
This is just a snippet of my Rogue Tour experience, but I left feeling overwhelmed with gratitude and inspired to break down the barriers standing between me and the dreams God has placed inside of me. The changes I’ve experienced haven’t broken me. The heartbreak from what I thought my life would look like isn’t the end of my story. Maybe some of those experiences were preparing me for everything God has in store.
I left feeling recharged, encouraged, and ready to go after the things I want in life. I’m no longer interested in doing things simply because that’s how I’ve always done them. I’m no longer taking the conventional route just because it’s familiar. I’m challenging myself to break routines, step outside of my comfort zone, and show up differently. Truthfully, sometimes that’s where the miracle happens.
I used to think I was waiting on God, but lately, I’ve been learning that He might be waiting on me. I have to do the things in the natural so He can do what only He can do in the supernatural. I can’t sit around waiting for everything to fall into place. My faith has to move, too. And that’s what going rogue looks like for me in this season.
I don’t know where you are in life or what you’re believing God for. Maybe you’re navigating a change you never expected, trying to recover from heartbreak, or standing at the edge of something that requires you to step outside of everything you’ve ever known. Whatever it is, don’t bury the things in your life that God still wants to breathe on.
Don’t get weary. Don’t allow what changed you to convince you that it disqualified you.
Break the status quo. Trust God enough to move differently. And don’t be afraid to go rogue.
