Meet Darla Colinet | Christian Author, Speaker, & Consultant on Love, Marriage, and Abuse

We had the good fortune of connecting with Darla Colinet and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Darla, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
After overcoming thirty-years of abuse in three marriages that ended in divorces and by finding healing and the truth about Christ’s pure love design, I knew my mission. I knew I was not the only Christian woman looking for true love that found herself in unhealthy or abusive relationships. I created God’s Transforming Grace to help Christian women discover and eliminate the lies they believe about love by teaching them Christ’s love design, so they can thrive in happy, healthy, loving relationships and end the cycle of abuse.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Through the lessons in my life and from talking with thousands of women as a Bible teacher, author, speaker, and Christian Life Coach, I realized we all begin our love relationships operating from an imperfect definition, understanding, and interactions of love without realizing it. We don’t realize that we love others and let them love us according to the flawed love design we formed from our imperfect experiences, messages, fantasies, and role models. We’re not shown how to discover and define our definition and design of love. We’re not taught the signs and differences between healthy, unhealthy, or toxic and abusive relationships. We are not aware that we can choose another definition and design of love. In our unawareness, we assume our spouse’s definition and design of love is the same as ours, and we will be happy, especially if you both proclaim to be Christ-followers. The reality of each spouse’s unique broken love design appears after the honeymoon phase as a constant tug-of-wills. Christian marriages struggle with fighting, not feeling loved, and hurtful words. They are confused and frustrated that their marriage isn’t automatically happy because they both love Jesus and love their spouse. People are like computers. We can only do what we know. Unless you learn Christ’s perfect healthy love and implement it in your life every day, you will continue to use your imperfect love design. Without knowing our definition and design of love and how it differs from Christ’s pure love design, we will continue to operate in our relationships and marriages with two broken love designs fighting for control. The only way to love one another as Jesus loves us and thrive in a healthy, happy, Christ-centered relationship or marriage is to learn and live in his pure love design. As I healed, I had no intention ever to remarry. God had different plans. I met my husband Alan from Pennsylvania six years ago on a tour of Italy. If I hadn’t become healthy in Christ’s love design, I wouldn’t have recognized or been open to Christ’s healthy love flowing from my future husband. For the first time in my life, I truly understand what it means to be loved like Christ. What sets me apart from other people teaching about love, marriage, divorce, and abuse is that I have overcome these challenges in my life and know how to help others overcome theirs with Christ. I’ve walked in their shoes, and my life is proof that with God, all things are possible. I’m excited to share my life’s journey and lessons because I have seen struggling marriages thrive, victims of abuse create their path to break free, and depressed, suicidal women choose to live. I’m also honored to help faith leaders learn how to support abuse victims in their church and avoid spiritual abuse. God’s Transforming Grace gives God’s truth to people looking for answers about love, marriage, relationships, and abuse. It is a safe space to ask questions and find your truth. I had many jobs in various fields in my life. I attended many seminars and read hundreds of books about all the aspects of running a business. They helped me have an overview of how things flow. They also showed me my strengths and weaknesses, so I knew what I could handle and where I needed help. Writing, teaching, speaking, and business have taught me to be clear about my mission and audiences and speak to each one separately. I have also learned to get help with the things that take my time away from my primary mission. With social media, marketing, interviews, teaching, and writing books and online courses, it is easy to get distracted. Believe in your heart mission, stay focused, and you will succeed. Many professionals advised me to focus on the world audience instead of a Christian audience and people seeking spiritual answers. They said my business would not make it, but they were wrong. I knew that God would use all of the lessons I have learned with Him to help others as He said in His Word, and He was right. I stayed true to my mission as I wrote Quest for Exceptional Love, and this has been the springboard to helping others live in Christ’s perfect love. My primary mission is to help people learn to love one another as Jesus loves us by teaching them Christ’s love design so they can thrive in a happy, healthy, loving marriage and relationships. I’m an author, speaker, and online course creator. I also teach faith leaders and churches to identify, support, and educate victims of abuse so they can thrive in Christ’s love and break the cycle of abuse. I believe everyone can thrive in Christ’s perfect love design when they are his faithful disciple.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
• Breakfast spots: La Creperie, Original Pancake House, the Silver Grill in Old Town, Johnson’s Corner for giant cinnamon rolls and doughnuts! • Old Town- Walrus Ice Cream, Caninos authentic Italian Food, Nature’s Own Fossil store, Listen to Live Music outside in the Old Town Square, Art shops, and more. • Walk around the Prospect Ponds Natural Area and City Park. • Ride an electric bike on several bike trails and grab a treat at Dairy Queen. • Ride up to Horsetooth Lake and take in the view.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would not be the confident, healthy woman I am today without the saving grace and restoration of Jesus Christ and my second mom, Louise Breyer. I met Louise at age eight as my Sunday school teacher. I was visiting with the girls in the class, and Louise said it was time to start. I looked at her, placed my hand over her mouth, and said, “I’m not done telling my story.” Needless to say, she took me to my mom, and our friendship began. I reminded her of herself, and we instantly had a heart connection. Louise helped me through so much of the pain and confusion I had living with a mom with mental illness and co-dependent parents. She was there to take care of me when no one else was. She helped me see Jesus as my friend, help, and Savior. Through the 30 years of abuse in three different marriages ending in divorce, Louise has encouraged me to share the lessons I have learned to help others who were lured into abuse without knowing it. She encouraged me to walk in the mission God has prepared me for by creating my company God’s Transforming Grace. She is still my counsel of wisdom, my encourager, and the person who has empowered me to be the strong, courageous woman of God I am today. Thank you for believing in me and helping me soar to new heights!

Website: www.GodsTransformingGrace.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlacolinet/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darla-colinet/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarlaColinetSpeaker

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMis2kfa-Hh_Y0KmAgbsPaw/

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/darlatgm/ Amazon Book Link https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GM7Q7DL