Authentic Life & Leadership
Learn More
Most recent blog post…
3 Ways to Find Peace
If you are a believer, did you ever find yourself going through something really hard, yet you have supernatural peace that makes no sense? I’ve experienced this numerous times, and I’m grateful to have had the experience from God of being held secure even when...
Deconstructing Bad Marriage Advice:
(How I’m Doing It)
I love pastors and pastors' wives. I am both of those things and have served in both of these roles for the past 37 years. I have received the majority of wisdom down through the years from ministers and their spouses. Larry and I leaned most heavily on this when we...
People Ask Me:
“How Do You Find Time to Write?”
I wrote a lot of my doctoral dissertation in airports, on planes, and in the car as my husband drove. The photo you see above was taken when I settled in to write for a few hours during a layover. Although I am finished with my doctoral work, writing on the go is...
What to Do When Things
Aren’t Getting Better
Reality check: some things don’t get better, at least right away. That doesn’t mean nothing gets better, but it means some situations may not, for a while. For example, there are diseases that are managed – not cured, unless God heals them. There are also...
9 Ways You Might Not Know You’re Blessed
I don't know what I thought 2023 was going to be, but I didn't think it would be this. Earlier this week I was telling Judi (my assistant) that I had honestly expected this year to be easier. I don't know why, I just did. Maybe it's because I thought I was going to...
Are You Easy Prey?
(3 Ways to Defeat the Enemy)
On one of my trips to Africa, I met a tour guide who told me the story of a group that had been warned not to get out of the jeep in certain areas. They were told that it was extremely dangerous and they were to stay in the vehicle no matter what. A woman thought she...
7 Ways to Experience True Rest
Confession: I have a lot to learn about rest. I know that on the surface, it appears to be a simple concept. To many people, rest means to, sit down and "rest a spell," as they would say in the South. Put your feet up. Take a load off. But it’s not that simple. I have...
Invite Deanna to speak at your next event!
Deanna is invited to return and speak at many of the same places time and again because the result has been an overwhelmingly positive experience with lives changed, and people encouraged.
BIO
Dr. Deanna Shrodes
Dr. Deanna Doss Shrodes is an author, speaker, and spiritual life strategist whose work has been featured by CBS News, People Magazine, The New Yorker, Woman’s World, GOD TV, and HuffPost. She holds a Master’s in Ministerial Leadership and a Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern University, where she also serves as an adjunct professor.
Dr. Shrodes currently leads as Women’s Ministries Director for the Pen Florida District of the Assemblies of God and directs the Stronger Leadership Network, where she mentors pastors and leaders through practical coaching, spiritual formation, and cohort-based development. A sole author of five books and a contributing writer to five others, her latest work, Uncommon Answers, was released by Chosen Books (a division of Baker Books) in April 2025.
Known for a warm pastoral presence and clear, actionable teaching, Dr. Shrodes speaks at conferences, churches, and leadership gatherings on calling and purpose, prayer and spiritual formation, women’s leadership, and organizational health. She is married to her college sweetheart, Larry; they have three grown children and five grandchildren.
Areas of Focus: spiritual formation & prayer, women’s leadership development, calling/purpose in midlife, marriage, healthy ministry culture, cohort-based mentoring.
Become Your Most Authentic Self
Free E-Book
Are you tired of being who and what others expect you to be, instead of who God created you to be?
If you find the pressure of other people's expectations exhausting and you are ready to be the authentic YOU that you were always meant to be, Deanna would like to gift you with an ebook, 29 Ways to Become Your Most Authentic Self.
It's time to break free and finally live according to your divine design!
