I’m blessed with many people placed in my life by the divine hand of God. Some of them I’ve known since I was a child, which means they carry many memories with me. A handful of others have only recently been gifted to me. Each one carries a unique piece of my story and how we connected. But in my 56 years of life, I can’t say that I ever imagined being molded, inspired, and influenced by a past Playboy Bunny. It just wasn’t on my bucket list. But here I am and here she is. And I’m completely blown away by God’s provision and goodness to me.
This wonderful human being is Robyn Dykstra. I first met her in 2023 at Speak Up in Grand Rapids. Her presence and command of attention had me sitting on the edge of my seat. I leaned in with every word, wanting to know more. Little nuggets of her story resonated with me. Her vulnerability and honesty were refreshing. One minute we were all fighting back the accidental “laughing until you pee your pants”, and the next split second we were in tears from the striking sadness. But real life is mostly that way, so I stayed focused in an attempt not to miss a single word.
By the end of her time on the platform, I felt convinced that God had something planned. In the Grand Hall and with so many incredible speakers and writers, it’s relatively easy to feel small and unimportant. And yet somehow, by God’s grace, that actually wasn’t my experience. God had used her to plant a seed in my heart and mind that immediately needed to be tended and watered.
It wasn’t long before I found myself enrolling in Christian Speakers Bootcamp. It was a fairly significant commitment with regard to both my time and my finances. Robyn understood everything on my plate and spent time on the phone with me in addition to more than a few emails. Her investment in me has been an incredible blessing. I definitely made the right decision.
I’ve returned to Grand Rapids every year since. And although it’s a tremendous opportunity to be with legends like Carol Kent, Cindy Lambert, and countless others, it’s so much more than that. Competition doesn’t exist. Comparison has no place. It’s about God-fearing, Jesus-loving women who are willing to lock arms with me while we contend for His Kingdom together. That’s precisely what Robyn has done, and I’m so very grateful.
If you’re looking for another reason to be inspired, look her up and read her full story: Robyn Dykstra | Christian Woman’s Speaker
1 Thessalonians 5:11 ~ Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.