I Finally Sat Down With My Wife (and we talk about everything)

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Deep End With Lecrae

Episode: I Finally Sat Down With My Wife (and we talk about everything)

Host: Lecrae
Guest: Dara Moore (Lecrae’s wife)
Release Date: April 2, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this deeply personal and vulnerable episode, Lecrae sits down with his wife, Dara Moore, for a wide-ranging, honest conversation about marriage, faith, trauma, personal struggles, and growth. After years of staying behind the scenes, Dara opens up about their story, ups and downs, and the strength required to weather difficult seasons. Their candid discussion delivers raw insights into how faith, honesty, and friendship sustain a marriage that faces pressure from within and without — including fame, depression, expectations, and the tension between being seen and staying grounded.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dara’s Reluctance to Go Public

• Dara shares why she’s avoided public platforms, preferring to stay behind the scenes due to discomfort with attention and concern over being misinterpreted.
  • “I just don't like being in front of the camera… I ramble, and I like to do what I do behind the camera.” — Dara (03:46)

2. Dara’s Background vs. Lecrae’s

• Dara describes her stable, church-focused upbringing in Dallas, contrasting with Lecrae’s chaotic childhood.
  • “I am from Texas, the Dallas area. Grew up in desoto. Mother, father, stable home. Grew up in a church…We’ve been in the church for a long time.” — Dara (05:37)
• Lecrae reflects on this contrast and how it impacted their perspectives.
  • “…your life isn’t perfect, but it’s the opposite of mine. With all the chaos I grew up with and having you have this, like, great dad, great mom, church family...” — Lecrae (06:25)

3. How They Met & First Impressions

• They met through Bible study at the University of North Texas; friendship for 8 years before dating.
  • “I feel like your version was when we were trying to go to the Impact Conference. But I feel like I met you before that.” — Dara (07:49)
  • “I just remember us...out on the streets trying to find money to go to this conference.” — Dara (08:18)
• Dara’s prayer for a spouse: “I just want somebody who can lead me. Tall, skinny, and wear hoops. And I was like, oh, he might fit that description.” — Dara (09:49)
• Lecrae was not as spiritually mature; Dara was drawn to his energy but didn’t know he wasn’t yet a believer.

4. Eight Years of Friendship & ‘Evangel-Dating’

• They address Lecrae’s reputation among friends for “evangel-dating” — attracting women to church through romantic involvement.
• “We would see that, you know, if you were to date someone new...they would come, you introduce them, because you want them to grow in the Lord too… next thing you know, y'all broke up and they’d stay.” — Dara (16:00)
• Both reflect on navigating friendships, crushes, and spiritual growth before entering a relationship.

5. Dating With Intent to Marry

• When Lecrae and Dara eventually dated, it was serious from the start due to their history and spiritual context.
  • “Our conversation was like, I'm dating you with the intention to marry you.” — Lecrae (23:55)
• Early relationship struggles: Dara felt pressure to be someone else; after an honest conversation, “that wall came down and...we were just able to just have a conversation freely...” — Dara (24:25)

6. Spiritual Growth & Trust

• Observing Lecrae’s maturity over years helped Dara trust his spiritual leadership:
  • “To me, that's what's most important because everything else should fall in line… I saw that in you. I was attracted to you. So it was like, yeah.” — Dara (32:02)
• Dara valued spiritual leadership over material provision.

7. Early Marriage: “10 Years of Hell”

• Both describe brutal initial years: immediate pregnancy, lack of honeymoon phase, constant conflict, financial hardship, and communication breakdown.
  • “The first 10 years, I think, were hell for me… We never had a honeymoon phase.” — Lecrae (50:39, 50:45)
  • “It is what it is. We just...” — Dara (51:23)
• Memorable arguments: Lecrae jokes about praying that “one of us got to die for us to get out of this.” — (54:35)

8. Conflict & Resolution Methods

• Common issues stemmed from unmet expectations and poor communication (e.g., the “paper plates” fight; 51:36).
• They recount the importance of not considering divorce (“divorce is not a word”) but also initially avoiding counseling.

9. Navigating Career, Fame, and Staying Grounded

• Dara supported Lecrae’s music career from the start, managing his bookings, doing merch, and handling practicalities.
  • “I was your booking person… I was your booking person because you got to the point where you had enough...you would go to those shows, you would drive to the point your car blew up…” — Dara (36:14)
• She was never impressed nor intimidated by fame, refusing to adopt a ‘celebrity wife’ persona.
  • “I am who I am and I know who I am...I've never felt like I have to be somebody I'm not.” — Dara (64:05)

10. Key Career Milestones & Turning Points

• The BET Cypher invitation, which coincided with Dara’s imminent labor, became a pivotal moment.
  • “It was like once in a lifetime opportunity. Wife going in labor. What you gonna do?” — Lecrae (62:08)
  • “And I was like, go.” — Dara (62:24)
• Dara served as a grounding force, pushing back when Lecrae considered outward displays (e.g., not letting him put rims on a Suburban; 66:23).

11. Staying True to Self & Parenting

• Dara prioritized maintaining a normal family life, minimizing celebrity trappings for their children:
  • “We both kept home, tried to keep it so normal...there's never been...there was never an old life, really...It was like, I'm just doing life.” — Dara (78:30)
• Shares about their joint parenting philosophy and Lecrae’s active involvement.

12. Faith Through Suffering and Depression

• Dara walked Lecrae through “a clinically depressed state,” leaning on faith and her spiritual gifts.
  • “Definitely...stay grounded for yourself and have the word for yourself...spiritually so I can be there and be strong during the hard and dark times.” — Dara (80:53)
• Reliance on community, support systems, and openness about their need for growth.

13. How Faith & Prayer Shape Their Marriage

• Lecrae and Dara differ in process: Lecrae seeks understanding by reading and wrestling; Dara simply trusts God.
• “You are a faith girl. I’m a skeptic about stuff. And you be like, God got it.” — Lecrae (47:16)
• On spiritual rhythms: flexible, not formulaic. Dara is constantly conversing with God throughout everyday life.

14. Lasting Commitment and the Gift of Stability

• Lecrae credits Dara as a rock and continuing presence in his life, crediting her for his perseverance and growth.
  • “You have been a rock...I grew up in this dysfunctional background...and here you come, just like, I'll be here...And for me, I'm like, you gonna be here?...I'm a mess. And you like, yeah, I'm a mess, too.” — Lecrae (85:11, 86:44)
• Dara: “That should be normal...not like...I don’t know, like a special thing.” (87:29-87:40)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On honesty and expectations:
  “Why are we arguing over some paper plates when it's really deeper issues? And I feel like that was so much of that time...” — Dara (52:48)

• On putting faith over fame:
  “I've never felt like I have to be somebody I'm not...” — Dara (64:05) “Literally, God puts you in my life for humility purposes. It's clear. Because you don't care.” — Lecrae (69:21)

• On weathering spiritual crisis:
  “...I never felt like...I mean, there may be like little moments where it would be a little, like, okay, but still, I felt like my faith was over, that. I don't know if that makes sense.” — Dara (45:43)

• On parenting and spiritual modeling:
  “...now, like, as they're getting older, is them seeing us fight through things the right way. Like, us having our issues, but seeing us always coming back to the Lord or and apologizing...” — Dara (90:22)

• On friendship as the foundation:
  “Thank the Lord we were friends. But it was, it was a struggle, you know...it's like, we are fighting this, you know.” — Dara (50:45-50:54)

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Important Timestamps

• Dara reflects on her private nature: 03:44–05:07
• Contrast of backgrounds: 06:25–07:34
• Meeting and initial impressions: 07:41–10:13
• Evangel-dating and friendship: 15:03–17:46
• Deciding to date intentionally: 19:16–25:14
• Early marriage struggles, “10 years of hell”: 50:39–57:47
• Memorable arguments & communication gaps: 51:36, 54:35
• Career beginnings and supporting Lecrae: 31:13–36:14
• Navigating fame & remaining grounded: 61:28–66:23
• Huge moments (BET Cypher while Dara in labor): 61:41–62:28
• Depression & faith during hardest times: 44:21–48:02, 80:53–83:51
• On parenting, modeling faith, and priorities: 77:13–92:23

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Takeaways & Lessons

• Vulnerability and friendship are keys to marital endurance—there’s no shame in imperfection, only in hiding.
• Spiritual growth, consistency, and self-awareness (from both partners) make it possible to sustain love in tough seasons.
• Living in the limelight doesn’t mean losing yourself—knowing your value independent of public perception grounds a family.
• Open, honest communication and willingness to admit fault (and apologize) are necessary for long-term relational health.
• Faith looks different for everyone; persistent prayer, spiritual community, and daily grounding practices sustain journeying through hardship.

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Final Thought:
This episode is a masterclass in honest marital storytelling that provides hope, realness, and practical wisdom for anyone walking through hard seasons—reminding listeners that faith and endurance are often forged, not found, in the fire.

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Transcript

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[Lecrae]

The first 10 years, I think, were hell for me. I don't know how you feel.

[Dara Moore]

I don't know what they were.

[Lecrae]

Do you look back and be like, what a great time?

[Dara Moore]

No, no. He was like, divorce is not a word.

[Lecrae]

One of us got to die for us to get out of this. Like, you just praying like, lord, if it's me, just take me on home, Lord. Do you remember your first impression of me?

[Dara Moore]

You know, lord, I just want somebody who can lead me. Tall, skinny, and wear hoops. And I was like, oh, he might fit that description.

[Lecrae]

Yeah. So I was just that dude.

[Dara Moore]

I'm sure.

[Lecrae]

Touchy subject, but you walked me through a clinically depressed state that get me emotional. I ain't gonna cry today. I go on this big tour, and I'm super Johnny, gung ho Christian guy. Everybody loves Jesus. I get on this tour. It's not my tour, won't name no names. And I'm seeing people a wallet. And I'm like, y' all not really living this out. Like, is this whole thing fake now? I don't think I believe in this stuff no more. I don't want to do Bible studies with the kids. What do you think in that moment?

[Dara Moore]

This is the deep end with lecrae.

[Lecrae]

All right, so three seasons ago, you know, we started this podcast, and from the beginning, people were, like, listening to my story and having questions about, you know, what did my wife have to say about this? Or what was it like for her or you want a Grammy? What is she. What was it like on her end? Or you, you know, you had these lows or these tough times. What was that like for her? And what's her perspective been?

[Dara Moore]

And.

[Lecrae]

And I asked her to come on the podcast, and she said no. And she said, I don't do the talking. I'm behind the scenes. She is a servant leader, that is for sure. But, you know, she's like, I don't do the talking. I don't want to do all that. And I told her, this is not going to be a big deal. It's going to be low key. It's just us having a conversation. And she was just kind of like, no, no, no, it's not my thing. It's not my thing. It's not my thing. So, you know, it took us. I don't even know how many episodes later, but three seasons later, and I pushed and I pulled and I drug her in here kicking and screaming, but we got her in here, y'. All. We got my wife, Dara Moore. We are happy, we are grateful that you will bless us with your presence. I know you hate this.

[Dara Moore]

Yep.

[Lecrae]

But it's. I'm. I'm glad that you're here. So why do you. Why do you not want to do this?

[Dara Moore]

One is not my thing.

[Lecrae]

Okay.

[Dara Moore]

I'm purposefully. I just don't like being in front of the camera.

[Lecrae]

Okay.

[Dara Moore]

As far as asking me questions, I'm a rambler. It's just not my thing. Okay. And I like to do what I do behind the camera.

[Lecrae]

You. This woman engineered my. My first album so that you've been behind the scenes for a long, long time.

[Dara Moore]

Long time.

[Lecrae]

A long, long time. But you're. But you're a lively, fun person. Everybody loves you. Everybody. Every time somebody gets around you, they love your personality. You're the life on the camera. Just not on the camera.

[Dara Moore]

Just not on the camera.

[Lecrae]

Okay.

[Dara Moore]

I mean, and also, it's. It's just like texting. You don't want people to take things you say and do the wrong way and. And

[Lecrae]

so the opposite.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah.

[Lecrae]

Like, I say things that mess up all the time, and you'd rather be a little more like, ah. And then I get myself in trouble.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah. I don't care about messing up things.

[Lecrae]

Okay.

[Dara Moore]

In person, because I can clean it up, but I. We can talk about it. We can figure whatever. Whatever. But I just don't.

[Lecrae]

You're not gonna mess nothing.

[Dara Moore]

No, it's not even just that. It's just people and Their okay interpretation of what you say and what you do in this, which is the same in life, but it's way worse when it's like. Like thousands of people who don't know you. And I don't want to deal with all that.

[Lecrae]

I feel you. Which makes sense. And I agree with you. I don't. I wish I never dealt with none of that. Being honest. Just a lot of people just don't know, like, you know, your story and. And who you are and your background, but they interested. They're genuinely interested. I know you. It's weird to you that people are interested in your life, but people are interested in your life. Okay, like, give us a snapshot. Where you from? You know what I mean? Like, who raised you? What, How. Where did we meet? Give us a backstory. Give us something.

[Dara Moore]

I'm a proud Texan. I am from Texas, the Dallas area. Grew up in desoto. Mother, father, stable home. Grew up in a church. Love my church. My dad grew up in a church I grew up in, I think. Not sure my grandmother grew up in the church, but I think she might have, too. So it was. We've been in the church for a long time, so. Yeah, grew up in church.

[Lecrae]

Truly?

[Dara Moore]

Yeah, truly. Missionary Baptist Church, South Dallas. Hey. Yeah. I'm only child,

[Lecrae]

which a lot of

[Dara Moore]

my church family and friends, they were my. That was. My siblings didn't have. Yeah, it was pretty regular.

[Lecrae]

Deglar, growing up to you, to me, is like the most perfect circle. I mean, your life isn't perfect, but it's the opposite of mine. With all the chaos I grew up with and having you have this, like, great dad, great mom, church family, y' all went on church trips.

[Dara Moore]

Church trips.

[Lecrae]

Drove everywhere.

[Dara Moore]

Had a great youth group. Yeah, Drove everywhere.

[Lecrae]

So just from knee high to tree high, you were always in church and loved it. Yeah. Do you think. I don't know. Do you think that growing up in church makes a difference in terms of, like, how you see the world as an adult? Do you think it made a difference for you?

[Dara Moore]

Definitely. I sort of got my foundation even before going off to school. Even if I. Even though I didn't necessarily always understand things or I didn't understand some things until I got older, just having that background, especially going off to college, was a huge foundation in my life, and it definitely shaped me. Mold me to this day. Definitely.

[Lecrae]

Do you remember. Do you remember the first time we met?

[Dara Moore]

I don't know, like, the exact first time I met, but I remember for the most part, yes.

[Lecrae]

Okay. What do you remember? Because I know my version of it. I'm curious.

[Dara Moore]

I know. I think. I don't. I. I feel like your version was when we were trying to go to the Impact Conference. Okay. But I feel like I met you before that.

[Lecrae]

But I probably did meet you before.

[Dara Moore]

Okay. So I know we met through the Bible study on campus. And I don't even know how I just knew we were trying to go to Atlanta. We were in Denton, Texas, at the University of North Texas. Our Bible study group was trying to go to the conference in Atlanta and we didn't have to have the money. I was me, you. And I want to say Vanger, was it me, You?

[Lecrae]

I can't remember.

[Dara Moore]

I don't know. But I just remember us. Like we were going. I was asking people, people that I knew, reaching back, like, hey, I'm trying to go to this conference. Come get some money. And somehow we were out on the streets trying to find money to go to this conference.

[Lecrae]

Holding up signs.

[Dara Moore]

Yes.

[Lecrae]

Like. Like will. Raising money for mission trip.

[Dara Moore]

I don't remember how that happened, but I just remember that that was the start of it, of us meeting.

[Lecrae]

What do you remember? Your first impression of me?

[Dara Moore]

What was my first impression of you?

[Lecrae]

Loud. I don't know if I was.

[Dara Moore]

I don't think I thought she was loud. I was like, oh, he was the. Like, in my. Okay, this was funny. Was my only prayer for. I remember praying of who? You know, lord, I just want somebody who can lead me. And tall, skinny and wear hoops. Don't know how. That was my random prayer. And I was like, oh, he might fit that description, I don't know. But what was funny was not knowing at the time. I didn't know till later that you weren't even a believer yet you became a believer on that conference. But I would never know, I even know, like, until later, way past that conference, that you didn't know. Know anybody. You just fit right in. Just thought you were, you know. But yeah, I just remember that. I remember you were. You were not. You had. You were energetic, but you weren't like, over the top, like, okay, so I didn't think you were.

[Lecrae]

I think I. I wasn't trying to show off as much around the Christians, like, like, you know, I was 18. I was trying to learn. So your first impression was like, oh, maybe I was date worthy.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah, I guess. Well, no, I don't know. This is your first. I don't know if I knew that because I didn't know you like that, but I was like, well, he's cute, he's tall. He's. He's at the Bible. He's at the Bible study. So, you know, I don't know, maybe. But clearly that is funny. We didn't get together to way later.

[Lecrae]

So the hoops is crazy because the hoops was funny.

[Dara Moore]

I don't know what that was. I was like, I just wanted somebody to be taller than me in heels.

[Lecrae]

Okay.

[Dara Moore]

Skinny or. Well, not skinny, but you know, tall, I guess. Basketball shape, I thought basketball, yeah. Physique and hoops. I figured basketball cuz they probably be taller than me.

[Lecrae]

That is funny. This the first time I done heard the hoops.

[Dara Moore]

That is so for real.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Dara Moore]

I never remember.

[Lecrae]

Yeah, my first impression of you was I thought you were cute. I thought you were lively. Like you was a ball of energy. You, you know, get it, crunk, get it.

[Dara Moore]

Definitely that. That's. I probably wouldn't think you were loud cuz I'm like, I was loud enough.

[Lecrae]

Yeah, you was. You was a ball of energy and I thought you were cute. But there was.

[Dara Moore]

But he thought I was homely.

[Lecrae]

That's later.

[Dara Moore]

Okay.

[Lecrae]

That's later. I did think you were homely. But that's after I started to debate if we should date or not. Then I was like weighing my options. But when I first met you, I thought you were cute. I just thought I knew I wasn't a Christian. Well, I guess I was like, I didn't know Christian was like a heart change. I thought it was like a choice. Oh yeah, I guess I'll decide to be Christian today. I didn't know it was like a transformation. So I was like, I'm not that serious about God as she is. So in my brain I was just thinking, she's too serious about God for me. That's kind of what I thought about all y', all, if I'm being honest. But when I saw you, that was. My thought process was too serious about God. So I just was like, uh. And I was experimenting. I didn't really know what I was looking for. So that's. Yeah, I didn't know what I was. What I was searching. Why were you. What made you join the campus Bible study?

[Dara Moore]

Oh, because I. I mean, I knew right away I was going to. I was going to gravitate to what was biblical. So I sought out the choir, the gospel choir, the Bible study. But that's. That's where that foundation of growing up in church, you know, I still went through my stuff in college, but I knew that foundationally this is where I needed the Lord and I know I needed to seek out things. So that's how immediately.

[Lecrae]

Yeah, the thing that sticks out to me is you was doing the women's program, which is this Bible study at this church in Denton. And I don't know how many girls are in your class. Maybe 25 or something like that. And out of them 25, there was only two black girls.

[Dara Moore]

Yep, there was only two of us.

[Lecrae]

And you are very soulful. So you're not like the typical black girl that you would imagine to just be hanging out with a whole bunch of other white young ladies. So I did. My brain was trying to figure it out because she was like, whatever girl, da la la la. But then you like hanging out with Becky and Sarah and my brain couldn't understand, like, what was you. Why was you just okay with being in an environment that was completely different than what you grew up in?

[Dara Moore]

Something in me, I don't know what that is. I always like being different. I always like different. And I didn't care. It was like, either you accept me for who I am or you don't. And I'm just like, hey, I'm interested in that. I'm gonna check into it. I'm gonna. I'm gonna do this, I'm gonna do that. And if I wanted to do it, I would try it. And so I didn't care about whether it was majority this or majority that or.

[Lecrae]

Yeah, like you didn't just not care. You went all in. Like you lived with these girls, you like, these became your buddies. It was super strange to me, cuz I was just like.

[Dara Moore]

But I also. It wasn't to me though, because I also. My. Where I grew up at the time, my high school was predominantly white. Like we had, you know, it wasn't. By the time it ended, we. There was more and more people being that brought in, came into the school.

[Lecrae]

Your high school is hood now, you

[Dara Moore]

know, maybe, but it's definitely not the same as it was when I was there. But that gave me. So when I went off to school, I just felt like there was a bigger version of my high school. So it was like, I'm not uncomfortable around other races. So to me it was like, okay, like this was just an extension of what I've already been going through.

[Lecrae]

Did. Did that. Did you feel like they accepted you or was it. Was it weird ever for you or did they treat you different being in that. In.

[Dara Moore]

In college or in college? Okay, so my personality, I don't really give people Time to really. I just. I just do. I just. I am just me, and I'm not thinking about whether you. It. I mean, I'm sure I do. I am very observant, so I do think about things, but I'm not. I don't think through that. I'm just. I just. I just go.

[Lecrae]

So I want to learn about God. I'm just gonna join this group.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah. Like, this is. This was. I know. This is, you know, biblically sound, and I want to grow, so I'm gonna do it. You know what that means? Anyway, go ahead.

[Lecrae]

No, no, go ahead. What was you about to say?

[Dara Moore]

I kind of forgot. What was your question again?

[Lecrae]

Okay, don't worry about it. It's fine. This is. This is. This is what it's like at home.

[Dara Moore]

Yep.

[Lecrae]

No. Okay. I'm curious because you. We were talking to somebody the other day. I can't remember who we were talking to. I don't know who we're having conversation with. But you said that I used to evangel date. I had a women's ministry.

[Dara Moore]

Yep.

[Lecrae]

Okay. Break down what that looked like from your perspective.

[Dara Moore]

Okay. So those who don't know, we were friends for eight years before we actually got together. So during those eight years, I would have crushes on you off and on, but it was very. Just nothing I really thought was ever going to come out of it. So you date people? I date people. So we would see what was going on. You know, we were friends the whole time, but nothing like. Nothing more than that. So in that I would see. All of us in the ministry would see that, you know, if you. You would date someone new, that was not. That wasn't part of ministry. They would come, you introduce them, because, you know, you want them to grow in the Lord, too.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Dara Moore]

But next thing you know, y' all broke up in the women's state. And so there were several people that came a part of the ministry from dating you, so.

[Lecrae]

So.

[Dara Moore]

So called you the evangelator.

[Lecrae]

What did y' all think of that? What was people's perspective? Do you remember what they thought you was the avenger. Was it, like a negative thing or were people, like. Like. I don't know. I'm just curious what that.

[Dara Moore]

Oh, I mean, I don't know. It was. I mean, if I think back on it, I don't know if it was necessarily a negative thing, because most of the girls stayed, and it was like, hey, they now. They stayed. They wanted to grow in the Lord, so I guess that. But are you hurt? Like, are These girls. Are you hurting these girls? Like, what is, you know, so more in that part. It's like, okay, you know, just be careful. I think it was more just like, you know, just be careful with maybe, you know, are you hurting these ladies? Or, you know, like different things like that. But I mean, they stayed around for, you know, and I was young. Yeah.

[Lecrae]

I didn't know what I was doing. So the funny part about that is from my vantage point, it was like this was the most solid ministry, campus ministry, young adult ministry. And I was like, if somebody could be a part of this, they'll grow. So I wanted them to be integrated. Cause this is my community, my family. But I had jumped the gun in dating them, so I didn't know to both guard my heart, guard their heart. It just be like, you love God, I love God. Or you kind of say you love God, but I don't know. But you'll know better if you get a. Become a part of this.

[Dara Moore]

But yeah, I think that we saw that and I think it was like, we just saw you as. It's just as Lecray, you know, because then you will be around, then you'll be gone, then you'll be back, then you'll be gone, then you'll be back. And so it was just kind of like, you know, that's the cry.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Lecrae]

I remember, though, before we started dating. Well, when we was dating, right? So first of all, our dating process was weird. That's a whole nother conversation. But when we started dating, I remember one of the campus leaders, James, came up to me and he said, do not break her heart. Do not break her heart. And it was the first time I felt like, oh, shoot, I cannot break up with this one. You know what I'm saying? It was like everybody was watching me. You keep on bringing these girls around, dating them, and then being like, ah, I'm good. Don't do that this time. Don't date her unless you're serious.

[Dara Moore]

So, because I want to say I was probably, if I'm not mistaken, I probably was the first one that you actually dated that you didn't bring in.

[Lecrae]

Right?

[Dara Moore]

Yeah, I think.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Dara Moore]

I don't know.

[Lecrae]

That is true.

[Dara Moore]

But so even like, even then I knew, I was like, if he approaches me, he knows, like, yep, I have too many brothers out here and sisters that will be like. So I knew that you had to be pretty serious, like, yeah. All these years if you hadn't. And once we did, I was like, he's gonna have to be. Yeah.

[Lecrae]

So for you, I always tell my version of the story about how we met. And my, My version is, you know, I always thought you were cute. I saw you. But I was, I was very. What's the word?

[Dara Moore]

Picky.

[Lecrae]

Picky. What's the word when you like. Superficial. Superficial, Yes, I was very superficial.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah.

[Lecrae]

So it was like I wanted to love the Lord, but then I also wanted to be like, you know, she. She got. She a little, she got a little sauce. She a little, you know, you was, you was, you wasn't hood, but you were. I thought you were because you grew up going to church in the hood. Your family members, a little soulful. I'm just say soulful, you know, but so I was like, she gotta be like a little urban twist to it and. But you just were not, like, I'm about to put on my best outfit and step out. You were like the, like, even to this day you see college students and they go to class just like, whatever. I'M just here to get my education and get up out of here. And that's kind of how I felt about you in school. Like, you just like. I was like, man, she would be bad if she just X, Y, Z. But I didn't. I wasn't gonna say that to you. And then one day. Was it Gina's wedding?

[Dara Moore]

Mm. Mm.

[Lecrae]

Whose wedding was you?

[Dara Moore]

Tarinthia.

[Lecrae]

Terinthia. One day you were going to one of your friend's wedding, and I saw you with your hair done and your nails done, about to go to the wedding. I was like, shoot. I said, if she could do that on a regular, it's all good. So that's what made me say, yeah, I gotta make that move. Cause it just. I saw you in a superficial light at that period of time. I knew your heart was right. We was already good friends, but. Which ended up being probably the best thing for us, is that we were good friends. But that's kind of my version of it. When do you feel like it got serious? Like, us dating? Like, it was like, oh, this is real? Cause I mean, it really was from the jump, I guess.

[Dara Moore]

But I guess it depends what you mean by real. I don't know what you mean by real. Cause I feel like it. I mean, I feel like. Cause we went through as mean. Our process was fast, but we. We went through a. I mean, I guess I would say. I remember when we had that. Sit down, I was. I had that. We were basically trying to see we were going to, like, okay, are we going to just end this or pursue this? Because it felt like it wasn't that you was trying to make me somebody that I wasn't, but because you had such particular standards and things and just whatever it was, it started making me uncomfortable. There was a period of uncomfortableness, and I felt like that was being. I didn't realize it, but I guess you were seeing it and. And it was making it hard for us to have conversations. It was something like that. I don't know. But I remember sitting down. I don't remember the conversation and what was said totally. But I think I was like, I don't feel like I can always be myself. It felt like you kept wanting me to be something else that I was not. And it was like. And that was putting up a wall. And I just remember us having a conversation and that wall came down, and I just felt free to be me. And I wasn't that. I felt I was trying to be something else. I just felt like you were wanting something else. I don't remember. Maybe you do. But I just remember a while coming down then. And then we were like, okay, we can do this.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Dara Moore]

You know, okay.

[Lecrae]

Because we didn't date. Date. We weren't like daters. It was like, hey, if I'm a date you, I'm dating you with the intention to marry you. And that was. Our conversation, was like, I'm dating you with the intention to marry you. So I don't want to just date you to see if I like you. I know you already. Which I think was dope. But then it turned into, okay, we hitting a little. A couple bumps in a row.

[Dara Moore]

Yes. Yeah. And it was like walls were building up.

[Lecrae]

So now what? And I don't remember how we got through that.

[Dara Moore]

I remember. And all I remember is being at a restaurant having this conversation. And something was said in that conversation where I just finally felt. I felt you communicated something in a way that made me feel like, okay, okay, that's not what he's doing. Or that's not what it is. Or that's not what he's. Even if you were. You didn't want that. But something made that wall come down and now just felt like we were just able to just have a conversation freely and just be. But I don't remember. I don't remember the ins and outs of that conversation.

[Lecrae]

I never asked you this before. Did you. Did you feel like. Did you feel like God? I don't know. Like, were you praying about us or were you like. Like, what was your conversations with God like during this time?

[Dara Moore]

So I definitely feel like it was. I feel like definitely looking back. I just felt like I could always see God's hand on my life and just guided me through. Through my life, looking back on it, not necessarily thinking at the time, but always seeing that. And I felt the same way with this. Just like I was saying earlier how we knew each other for eight years, never dated, never even knew we were good friends. We would hang out. We would hang out just with each other, but it never felt like we were dating or anything. I always felt like friendships. And through that, knowing I would have questions on you off on and off. I'm telling Vanja I got a question. Him again and all that, you know, telling my best friend. And. But he. Then you'll be dating somebody, then I'll be dating somebody. And it was, you know, nothing ever came of it. But I remember this one particular time I was finally like, okay, Lord. I didn't even say anything to Vanja. I was just like, okay, Lord, I just. I want this feeling to go away. I was like, I just want to see him as my brother. Like, if this is not what you have or this is not what you want, I should not have these feelings. I truly want to just see him as my brother in Christ. And I remember having that prayer and literally. Not even probably days after that prayer was when I went with y' all to that. I went with you to a concert. Drove. We drove to one of your concerts and came back, and you were like, it was late, late, late. And you text me and you was like, hey, I think we need to have a talk.

[Lecrae]

Is that when I got you to Dr. Pepper?

[Dara Moore]

Yes. So. Okay, I can go to that. I can do that story. You want me to tell you? Okay. So the thing about lrae, even though he was an avenger dater, he was very. He never. He wasn't flirty to me. He was never. You never a flirty person. A lot of girls liked you, but you never. I never saw you as a flirty person. And I remember. I think it was me, you, and maybe Tadashi, I don't know. And one of the guys that you were event. Jamie. I think it was Jamie. We were coming back from the concert, and I was. I helped y' all sell merch. And I was driving. I remember you going to the gas station and you just came back with some Dr. Peppers and Cashews. And I was like, no, you asked me, I want anything. I was like, no, I don't want anything. And then you came back with Dr. Pepper and Cashews. And I was like, oh, whoa, that's weird. That's my two of my favorite things. And I was like, thank you. And then we got back to Yalls Place, and I think my car was there. And you dropped. You. We had. Somebody went in, and anyway, I just thought it was a couple of things. I started feeling, like, little bitty things of flirting. And I was like, is he flirting with me? And that might have been when I was like. I had that prayer, and I was like. I was like, okay, Lord, I can't. I don't. And you've never been flirty with me, so I didn't really know what it was. I was like, is. I was like, that's weird.

[Lecrae]

I don't know what's wrong with the Dr. Pepper and the cashews.

[Dara Moore]

There you go. And so anyway, what was your question?

[Lecrae]

That just like, yeah, basically, like, you. You felt like the Lord's hand was guiding you in this and that Was.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah, yeah. With.

[Lecrae]

But then that was the Dr. Pepper moment. That. That's.

[Dara Moore]

No, it was something. It was something else. I was going somewhere with that. What did you. You asked me.

[Lecrae]

I wasn't flirty. I wasn't. Oh, that's when I. That night is when I came home and I hollered at you.

[Dara Moore]

Oh, you said, I ever have. Yes. Because I prayed that prayer. And I was like, okay, Lord, I don't want to see him like this. I'm. Every night. I wasn't telling anybody. I was like, I'm for real. Like, I, you know, I just want to see him as my brother.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Dara Moore]

And you sent that text and I was like. He was like, can we meet tomorrow? For, like, we need to have a convo. And I know. I remember in the past something you've told me. Well, let me rewind you. I text you back and I was like, yep. And I'm available now because I was not trying to wait till tomorrow to have some conversation to figure out what you about to say. And so we had the conversation. You. Well, you called and we started talking. And I should have known then that this is going to be. You had a whole bunch of analogies that you were giving me in this conversation. And I remember having all these thoughts. I was like, okay, he likes me. He doesn't like me.

[Lecrae]

He.

[Dara Moore]

He thinks I like him. He doesn't want. He. But he doesn't like me. It was all kind of things going on in my head because I remember you telling me in the past, if a girl ever liked you and you didn't, you would tell her, like, hey, this isn't really. It's not going.

[Lecrae]

I want to lead you on.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah. And you told me that you had told me that before. And so I was like, maybe that's what is happening right now. And then, you know, I told you. Yep. I don't know what you're trying to communicate. And you ended up letting me know that you wanted to date you with

[Lecrae]

the intentions of courting.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Dara Moore]

To marriage.

[Lecrae]

Like, to marriage. Which is kind of crazy at the time. Like, I didn't. But I didn't know how to date. I don't think I knew how to date, like, modern dating anyway. Like, I didn't know how to just, oh, let's go out and eat some food. And then, like, I didn't know how to do that without being, like, too intentional. So it was like a weird thing. Like, I don't think I could have just took somebody out on a date to A restaurant and not been like so intentional that they would have been like, wow, he's really interested in my life. And then it would have been ugly. And that's how I got into evangel dating situation. So I was like, I'm just not gonna date nobody. So we hit the fast forward button a little bit. We dated what, four?

[Dara Moore]

I want to say we dated four months.

[Lecrae]

Four months.

[Dara Moore]

It was engaged and then six months for. I think it was like eight months. We were married.

[Lecrae]

Okay, so four months dating, four months engaged. And then we got married.

[Dara Moore]

And

[Lecrae]

what. I'm curious because. Okay, a lot of people ask this question just in terms of like my music career and stuff. They don't like, people are like, man, how did. What did support look like? Did you know? He was like, I don't even know. Our brain weren't. Wasn't thinking about any. So I know for me at the time, I think I had quit my job at Comcast and then I was rapping, but I was getting like love offerings. I may have been making like 500, maybe like 800amonth rapping. And then you're like, yeah, I'mma marry this guy. So what?

[Dara Moore]

So for me, I. The biggest thing was literally it was. Had always been my prayer is somebody who can lead me spiritually. And just from. Because we knew each other for eight years and me seeing your growth and I was able to see like, okay, your inconsistency and then your consistency, you know, like, I was able to see that it's just being your friend, not having any kind of, you know, we're dating, we're together and I think that was a better thing to see. And I was able to see your growth. And so I. I never even still never doubted where you were leading spiritually. You know, so even through all that, because that I didn't care about, you know, the financial. I wasn't care about the financial because you was helping me out, trying to teach me how to budget, talk to these. Yeah.

[Lecrae]

To these women out here.

[Dara Moore]

To me, that was literally because I felt like if somebody can lead you spiritually and this guy is truly honoring the Lord and following the Lord, then that's all I. At the end of the day, to me, that's what most. What's most important because you're everything else should fall in line because. And so that's truly how I felt. And so to me, it's like I saw that in you. I was attracted to you. So it was like, yeah.

[Lecrae]

So I was just that dude, you feel me?

[Dara Moore]

I'M sure. So anyway, so I. So for me and I, I. And like I say you were trying to. You was teaching me, helping me, like how to budget and showing me, you know, and everything. So that was never. I mean, probably should have been more not concerned as far as for you, but just for myself, you know, thinking whatever. But anyway. But yeah, so.

[Lecrae]

So you're what did early on in the early days, I'm. I'm going around doing like ymca, community centers, small church, youth groups. What did, like, how are you feeling at that time? Did you feel like I need to be supportive? It was fun for you to track. Cause you used to travel with me, you used to do my merch, all that type of stuff. Like, what are you thinking at this time? Is this just fun for you? Is this like an adventure? Are you like, I don't know about this. Like, what are you thinking during this season, the early days, Honestly, even when

[Dara Moore]

I look back at that, I see how even the Lord, just the way I was brought up, like, like with my parents, we literally drove everywhere. Like, we. The conferences, wherever they were, I drove it. We. We drove wherever that was. And I enjoyed that. Like, I enjoy the simple things. I enjoy simple things. And so I feel like I just naturally went into that rhythm with you. Even like, I feel like even my dad being a fireman, like, he, He w. He was gone for 24 hours and he was home for two days. So even in that I saw where someone may, you know, he wasn't traveling, but he wouldn't be there like for 24 hours and then he would be home for 40, you know what I'm saying? So I already even saw a schedule of a leader who, you know, even in that. Because you not. He wasn't traveling like you and being gone like you. But they still kind of gave me a. Like, I don't know, just felt like I fell right into it. That makes sense. But as far as how I. I saw you. Is that what you said? Yeah.

[Lecrae]

Just like, how did you feel about all of this during. You know what I mean?

[Dara Moore]

Like, Well, I would say, number one, I never. My thought press process was never. You was about to go where you were. Like, we, we. None of us ever thought that. What I saw was someone who loves the Lord. He loves what he's doing and he's. He's spreading, Spreading, spreading the gospel. So from the beginning, just seeing that. I don't. I never. I was, it was. I mean, I guess you could say it was still fun. Like, I enjoyed. Well, number One. Cause I was, I was a fan in the sense of. I thought you was very talented. Like, I was like, whether we was together or not, I was like, you were one of my favorite. Whatever, whatever you want. Gospel rappers, Christian rappers, whatever. And you was like, you know, having. That was just you being rapping at this, at the school or at the praise parties or whatever. It was your lyrics. And. And you had, you were. I could tell you were gifted. And so, so, yeah, so

[Lecrae]

it was just a fun journey. It was like. Yeah, you felt like it was so. That's interesting to me because.

[Dara Moore]

But it didn't feel like, I don't know, it was just so natural because I was literally there from the beginning. Yeah, in a sense. Except, you know. You know, so it never.

[Lecrae]

I didn't feel pressure to be. I. I knew I was going to take care of you, so I did. I never felt pressure to, like, I gotta make it. Otherwise, like, I knew I was gonna do whatever I had to do if I had.

[Dara Moore]

And I think that was the same for me. Like, I never. I know if nothing else, you was. You was use a hustler and not like in a hustler, like, I'm like drugs or nothing. But you was just like, I'm never gonna not be able to pay my bills.

[Lecrae]

Right.

[Dara Moore]

Like, if I have to go and work here or do that and do that. Like, even when you, you know, you. Because you've already done the Comcast when we got together. But I saw that process with you too. Well, I was your booking person. Yep, you did my booking before we even got together. I was your booking person because you got to the point where you had enough. You never knew if you're gonna get paid, but you would go to those shows, you would drive to the point your car blew up, your engine blew up, but you would drive and you be like, you might get some or you might not, but there was enough to where you were able to sustain to have a little. I knew, like, even if you didn't, you would figure it out. Like, so I always saw that in you.

[Lecrae]

Yeah, that's funny. I think for me, I just saw you were a servant. You always were serving, like, everywhere. You were volunteering for Reverend Clark's after school program. Like, you would. You drove school buses, you drove the pregnant girls, you was developing relationships with them. Like, you served at the campus ministry. You was the dj, you was the doggone engineer. You was doing, like, everywhere there was to serve, you was serving, which to me I thought was attractive. And then I Think the nail in the coffin for me was you just wanting to volunteer to jump in the car with me and the fellas to just. Yeah, I'll help you with your merch. You were just always there.

[Dara Moore]

Sounds like that was fun. Like, to me, that was fun. That was like. Yeah, I enjoyed that. So, like, hey, doing the shirt, it was just. It was just fun.

[Lecrae]

Yeah. So let's. Let's fast forward a little bit more because as I think people see us now, and they see, like, oh, wow. You know, Like, I don't know. Like, I see a lot of couples online where they're young, struggling couples, and the wife is like, I'm gonna help him get his business off the ground. And I'm a push and da, da, da. That's not really our story. It wasn't like we were trying to build something great. It was just we was loving God and doing what we love to do. I don't think I was. I wasn't striving to hit a mark ever. Like, I was just glad I could do what I love to do. But I'm curious. Cause for me, moving to Memphis, not just moving to Memphis, but moving to the hood in Memphis, for me was like, oh, we made it. You know, like, this is my dream come true. Like, put me in a prison, put me in a hood. Put me somewhere where I can just, like, reach people in dark places. So I was in heaven. I thought this was the best thing ever. A lot of people are curious, how did I get you to go along with me? To, like, did you feel like you were being dragged into the trap? Like, what's your perspective on that?

[Dara Moore]

No, it literally all goes back to. I literally trust the. Your. You letting the Lord lead you. So it was never like, oh, I don't know what he doing. I don't know where we're going as a family. Like, I just never. It was never that. It was literally. I mean, we may. We would maybe have. We would talk about things, but, like, I. Look, I just never. I never felt like he's leading us astray. We're about to.

[Lecrae]

What? Okay, first, if there's a. Like, imagine as a young lady listening to this, like, what are those characteristics that you would say were important to feel like, okay, I can trust this person's leadership? Like, what were you. What do you feel like you saw or needed to see that made you feel like, okay, I can trust his leadership?

[Dara Moore]

That's a good question. I truly believe it was seeing you, those eight years of friendship and seeing, like, literally Your growth in the Lord, like I. Your girl, I saw consistency in your faith. I saw consistency in just your leadership with. With the. The guys you was discipling. I saw even in. Even though you was a ventilator. I even saw you go through, like, towards the end, I saw you. I saw your. I guess your pickiness or your whatever. Like, even the growth in that. Like, I saw so much growth in you and your consistency as a leader outside of a relationship, as just a man, that. Because I. I don't believe that we would have gotten married, I would have said yes if I didn't have see that to begin with. So to me, already seeing that and just your leadership overflowing into our marriage, I just. I would just. Oh, sorry. I would just say, yeah, really, you know, stay being in prayer, being prayerful and really observing and watching the growth in this. In. In what you're see. Truly seeing and getting to know this person before commitment, before committing to. To this person and not saying it's going to take eight years. You know, I was. We were young or whatever, but I think that was. That was huge. That was huge. And that's like. Like you. I think, like you just said, like, that's why we still together to this day through the hard. The good, the bad, the. The. All that.

[Lecrae]

Going to get to that.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah. Is.

[Lecrae]

Yeah. That puts. I mean, to me, that should put pressure on guys to be consistent. Like, it should put pressure on guys to say, like, no, this is who I am and what I'm about. Integrity, to me was always like, when nobody's paying attention, this is who you are. That was always important to me is like, if. I mean, even today, as when we were in service, I knew there was tons of eyes on me, and my prayer was, lord, this is not for show. What I do today, I don't want to think about anybody's eyes on me. I just want to be connected to you because I know that's more important to God. And I'm. It's funny because I. I get people's questions. Like, they're like, man, she. She was with you in the hood and y'.

[Dara Moore]

All.

[Lecrae]

People were getting killed and this and this and that. But I'm like, it wasn't like you were like, oh, my God, this is. Why do you have me out here? This is so scary. I don't like it. It was literally like. Like, you were in the. You were just serving. It was like. I don't know.

[Dara Moore]

Like, it was like we were. We were one. It was like Your call was my call. This is what we're doing. This is where. And as he leads you, I think there's something else to piggyback on your question from earlier on. Women who are. Are single women is something that I've consistently seen and has never failed in which I saw before. And. And all throughout our marriage, even when you had your struggles, is you always wanted to grow. If you didn't know. If you don't know something, you're like, I'm gonna go try to figure it out. I may. I'm a. You know, I out. You consistently want to grow.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Dara Moore]

And anyway, that was huge. And so even if you. We got it wrong. You got it wrong. You whatever. Whatever you wanted to know, you wanted the answers. You wanted to grow.

[Lecrae]

So then I got to ask you this, then.

[Dara Moore]

Sorry, did I. Do I need to fix this mic? Okay. Because I know I knocked it up.

[Lecrae]

You brought. You brought up. Even in the difficult times, like, you know, I've been very transparent about the period of time for me where I felt like I was super church hurt. I felt like I didn't know if I could trust the church, and if I couldn't trust the church, could I even trust God? And I remember coming to you and being like, yo, I don't think I believe in this stuff no more. I don't want to do Bible studies with the kids. And, you know, I don't think I've. I don't think I've asked you your thoughts about that. Like, what. What are you thinking at that point in time? Like, how are you processing this leader that you said, okay, I'm gonna follow him. And now he's like, he don't know where he's at spiritually.

[Dara Moore]

Hold on. You said what?

[Lecrae]

Basically, I'm just saying, like, how did you process that when you know you were saying, like, even through the struggles, you wanted to grow? But now I'm at this place where I'm like, man. Cause I guess basically what I'm thinking, I remember this specifically. I go on this big tour, and I'm super Johnny gung ho Christian guy. You know, I never. I'm just like, everybody loves Jesus. I get on this tour. It's not my tour, but it's a tour. I won't name no names. And I'm seeing people kind of wilding, and I'm like, y' all not really living this out. Like, is this whole thing fake? So now I come home, I'm a little, like, less excited about the Word. I'm just Kind of, like, distraught. And then I remember going. Being in Bible studies and being like, y', all, this is just black ink on white pages. I don't really feel it. And then all of a sudden, you know, we see a lot of innocent black people getting killed on tv. And I'm like, well, I'm gonna say something about this. And I did not expect to get blasted for it. And I'm getting blasted. So now I'm already jaded. Now I'm feeling hurt, and I'm dealing with all this stuff. And then I'm coming to you further down the line in the darkest of places, where I'm like, I don't think I believe this anymore. Like, what do you think in that moment? Are you like, oh, God will work it out. You'll be fine? Or are you like, this is scary?

[Dara Moore]

I think it was a mix of things. I don't know if I ever heard. I don't really know if you ever. I know you would say it, but I don't know if it was. It ever felt like it to me. It felt more like I'm questioning things. Not like, no, I don't. I don't. I don't. And so for me, I never really felt. I. I felt. I don't know. I think part of me at. During that time, not. I would. I'll say. I say I felt like it was a phase, but not like a phase like, I. Like, I'm loosely saying, oh, it's just a phase of life. But I do feel like I felt like this was a season, a tough season for you. I felt like even though. In that I still. I. I think what held me first of all, was the Lord in faith, but it was still. Even in that you were still seeking, you still wanted growth. And I. For me, it's like, if I believe in the God that I say, I believe in you seeking him, he gonna show you, and he did. You know what I'm saying? So I. I never felt like. I mean, there may be, like, little moments where it would be a little, like, okay, But still, I felt like my faith was over, that. I don't know if that makes sense.

[Lecrae]

You are a faith girl. Yeah, I'm a skeptic about stuff. And you be like, God got it. And I'm like, stop saying that. Like.

[Dara Moore]

And even though it may be like, okay, so now it's just. I have to hold down this faith maybe more during this season. But like I say, even in that you were still seeking, you was still. Whether you was even if you fighting it, you still, you still wanted to grow. And I think that's always been consistent. No matter what, however, however hard it gets even you were still seeking. So I'm like, God's gonna show him. He's not. Like, I don't believe this. So I'm not doing nothing. I'm not gonna, you know, I never felt that. So I don't know the answer.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. You don't want to miss the annual beauty event. For big savings on all your favorite beauty products now through April 28, spend 25 on participating products and save $5. Shop in store or online for items like Billy women's razors, Billy body buffer or body Wash, Native hand soap, Neutrogena makeup remover tablets, and Q Tips. And save $5 when you spend $25. Offer ends April 28. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[LifeLock Advertiser]

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[Lecrae]

No, I, I think when, from my perspective, I look at it like I knew you were a faith person and, you know, I'm a, like, I'm a hit. I always got to read a book about it. I gotta ask a question, like, God speaks to me a lot of times through processing it mentally. And it used to frustrate me how you could just be like, I believe God is who he says he is, and I'm just gonna trust God. You gonna have to trust the Lord. And I'll be like, oh, my gosh, this is killing me. You know what I mean? But I See how that worked out. And it's not like I didn't catch you in your prayer closet or anything like that. But I'm sure you were praying often. You know, um, but I, I do feel like those prayers carried me. You know what I mean? Um, let before we get further down the line. I'm, I'm, I'm curious too. Just, you know, we, we back up a little bit. Cause I remember our early marriage was the first 10 years I think were hell for me. I don't know how you feel.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah, they would, they were. I don't know what they were.

[Lecrae]

What would you do? You look back and be like, what a great time.

[Dara Moore]

No, no. I always tell people like we never had a honeymoon phase. Like thank, like thank the Lord we were friends. But it was, it was a struggle, you know, it was a struggle. But even from Jump street, remember that was one of the first things you was like, divorce is not a word. It's not something that's going to be. It's like we are fighting this, you know. So that was never, I feel like it was never that in the, in the beginning, but it definitely was tough. It was, it was like this. It is what it is. We just.

[Lecrae]

I'm telling you. Okay, so these are, these are the couple things that I think about. I don't know if you got stories, but this is a couple stories. The first, the first story I think about is our first argument, our first fight. I don't know if you remember that.

[Dara Moore]

I only. Cuz I feel like you told me about some paper plates or something. Yes. And I was like, what is happening?

[Lecrae]

Okay, so first fight. I think we are just barely married. We might have been married like not months. Cuz we're living in that apartment complex in Texas.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah. Cuz we were only there six months and then we moved to Memphis.

[Lecrae]

Yeah. So I remember first being married and I'm like, hey, you were making dinner and then you served dinner with paper plates. And I was like, we just got all these dishes for our wedding. Why are we eating off these paper plates? And he was like, why not eat off the paper plates? And I don't even remember. I don't know how I know I was pushy. Very self righteous and pushy. But like I would say things in a nice way but it was really like, ooh, you are trying to get under my skin. So it could have. I think it was something along the lines of just like. I'm not saying this is what I said, but it would have been. It Would have felt like. It would have felt like, well, it would probably be a good stewardship for us to use the dishes that someone paid for for us when we got married instead of using these paper plates. Because now, because I had this expectation, we're married now. We need to eat off. You know what I mean? So what you about to say something?

[Dara Moore]

I think that was a lot of our struggles. I felt like in those years was whichever one of us having expectations, but those not being communicated. And then it comes out in something. It's like, why are we arguing over some paper plates when it's really deeper issues? And I feel like that was so much of that time where we had issues over something else really was a deeper issue. But because we weren't. We weren't communicating those things, it came out as the argument of a paper place. Like, what are we doing?

[Lecrae]

Yeah. So I remember that being the first argument. That's the first time I realized you had a temper. I didn't know you had a temper.

[Dara Moore]

Just everyone knows. So that was definitely the struggle in our relationship, was he was Mr. Self righteous and I had the anger issues.

[Lecrae]

Yes. It was an oil and water.

[Dara Moore]

Yes.

[Lecrae]

Which you don't get to see in friendship a lot of times because you're not really like, yeah, that was something that we didn't get to see. So the other. The. The. The other argument that I remember that stands out the most is when I really felt like, yo. I was like, one of us got to die, so somebody gonna have to die for us to get out of this. Like, you just praying like, lord, if it's me, just take me on home, Lord, because I don't want to get divorced. I feel like the D word is off the table at that time. Especially the. The perspective we had. It was like, you know, like, we're not nothing. No divorce. But we also weren't saying we need counseling either. And I remember just, like, being like, oh, somebody gotta die, Lord. Like, just let one of us die, Lord. Then this whole thing will be over. Just take me to heaven, God. It'll be fine. But the argument I remember, we're in Memphis and we over by Wolf Chase Mall, and I don't even know what we were arguing about. Yeah, I don't either, but it got so intense in the middle of the street. You was like, let me out.

[Dara Moore]

And I was so serious.

[Lecrae]

You was like, let me out.

[Dara Moore]

And this was not. I don't even think I was. I don't even know if there was Uber at the time. No, I Don't know where I was going. No, But I was like. And I think it was nighttime, but I was like, I'm getting out this car whether you stop it or not. So let me out this car.

[Lecrae]

And I'm just sitting there like, what are you. What are you doing? Like, what is the goal here? Like, why do you. What are you doing? Where you gonna go?

[Dara Moore]

I was getting out of this car, and I was just gonna walk somewhere. I don't know. Thankfully, you did not just let me walk.

[Lecrae]

Wherever I was, I was like, this is craziness. So now I just remember being like, yo, man, just let this marriage end. Let it dissolve. How do we get out of this? And. And then, like, you know, shout out to our mentors.

[Dara Moore]

But they didn't.

[Lecrae]

But they. They helped. But they didn't help. Help. It was like, well, that was only

[Dara Moore]

because we didn't tell them or something. It wasn't like, you know.

[Lecrae]

That's true. I'm just saying they helped in terms of, like, modeling.

[Dara Moore]

Yes.

[Lecrae]

Consistency. But then when I would be like, man, I don't know. I'm kind of in a hard place. It would be like, man, you know, y' all need to go through the Bible, man. Go do Bible study. That word, you know, is one. So the thing I would say is I think it got to a place where if it wasn't for the Bible, the spirit of God, we wouldn't be together for real. Because I think it was like, okay, if somebody gotta be wrong, maybe the Bible can show us what's right. So it'd be like, all right, let's see what our hearts need to be on. And then I remember countless times watching our wedding video just to be like, okay, you love this woman. Stay in the fight, Craig. Stay in the fight. You love this woman. So we're just barely married. We live in Memphis. We're like six months in. And then. Then another six months after being there, we were pregnant. So we were barely married. We weren't even married a year. For real.

[Dara Moore]

I think nine months.

[Lecrae]

Probably nine months. Now we got a kid.

[Dara Moore]

No, I was pregnant.

[Lecrae]

Pregnant. So then that was the whole thing, you being pregnant. Then after David is born, turn around, and then 18 months later, Maya's born. So now it's two kids, freshly married. And we never had a honeymoon phase. I never felt like I was. I never felt like I had a time period where I could be catered to or thought of. It was like, oh, it's just kids now. You know what I mean? So it was like, that never really got cultivated. Like, the only highlight reel I have of our being without kids is us watching 24. We watched 24 hours of 20 washed. 24 and 24 hours. And then that's like, we didn't go to.

[Dara Moore]

In the wire.

[Lecrae]

In the wire. We didn't go on trips. Like, we went on mission trips, but we didn't go like, we didn't have no money. Yeah. So. So what for you, do you feel like. Like, I don't know. I was. I was like. I felt like it was hopeless. What were you. What were you feeling like? Were you just like, whatever. How. How did you navigate that? Those 10 years are just hell.

[Dara Moore]

I don't think, you know how. I don't know. I think for me, sometimes because I'm such a slow processor, there are certain things and I really processing as that at the time, I look back on it and see like, you know, but. I mean, but at the same time, I do. I do feel like there. Then there became a point. And, you know, I'm not good with remembering exacts and things like that. But where it was like, okay, I felt like we have. We finally got on a better pace in our marriage or a better groove in our marriage. And that was actually. I just felt like it's just hard and it's like, you know, we just. We praying and we're trying to grow individually and as a couple, we still try to do things. So it wasn't like, yes, we didn't have a honeymoon phase. And yes, it wasn't, you know, we just jumped right in the nitty gritty. But there were still good times in it. So it wasn't like. It was just, you know, but it didn't feel like. It just felt like it was taking us longer to get into a groove, even though. But it's hard to. You're not necessarily seeing that in that because it's like you're married now, you're pregnant, so you're excited about that and you're having a baby. You know, so it wasn't like it was. So. I don't know if that makes sense, but. So it was like I just process it now looking back on it and see, oh, wow, that was. Whoa.

[Lecrae]

I think the way for me out was I knew I had to change because I was like, oh, she's stubborn. I was like, I can't force her to see things the way I want to see things. She's going to wall up before. She'll be like, you know, if I. If my intentions if she questions my intentions, a wall's going up. So I know I can't just force her to see things my way. So for me, I was like, oh, I gotta change. Otherwise we're not going nowhere. You know what I mean? And I think that's where.

[Dara Moore]

And I feel like I was felt the same. Not as far as that, but I just feel like. I felt the same as far as. Like, the Lord has to change some things, you know, in me or in you? Like, only the Lord's gonna be able to do that, you know? And we just didn't know, but we were still like, okay, but we're still in this, you know? So.

[Lecrae]

Yeah, when. When. When. You know, I talk a lot about, like. Like, people. People look in my life and they see my career and stuff, but they don't. They don't know where you fit in all of it. They're like, how did. What is your role in all of this? And how are you seeing all of this stuff? And, you know, when we go through the church clothes era and then Anomaly and the Grammys and the BET Awards and all this stuff starts coming in our lane in our world. I talk about how I dealt with it and, like, how I navigated it. But a lot of people are curious how you navigated that. Did you see it? Were you, like, excited about it? Were you afraid? Like, what was your experience? Because there's some wives who are probably like, I want to share in this and let me help be a part of this. And, you know, or like, this is an opportunity for whatever I got going on to get some shine. Some wives are like, I feel like he's getting too out in the public, and he's just Johnny famous guy, you know? But I. But for you, what was it like for you.

[Dara Moore]

To go piece by piece on that?

[Lecrae]

Okay, let's just talk. When did you realize this is a big deal? Like, oh, stuff is getting big. And did you feel like it was or was you?

[Dara Moore]

I know the answer decipher probably.

[Lecrae]

Okay.

[Dara Moore]

I think that was a turning point. First of all, even just the fact that you were just invited to even do it, it was just like, oh, whoa.

[Lecrae]

A lot of people don't. Like, the backstory for that is kind of crazy, too.

[Dara Moore]

Please tell it.

[Lecrae]

Cause the backstory for that is, I got invited to do the BET Cipher and you're going into labor.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah.

[Lecrae]

And it was like, hey, this is a once in a lifetime.

[Dara Moore]

I was close to. I could have been. Yeah.

[Lecrae]

It was like once in a lifetime opportunity. Wife going in labor. What you gonna do?

[Dara Moore]

I think I was probably nine months. I was close to. I was in that. Where I could have.

[Lecrae]

Any day now. Yeah, any day now.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah.

[Lecrae]

And it was like, what do you do?

[Dara Moore]

And I was like, go. Yeah.

[Lecrae]

And I was like, I can't leave. And you were like, go?

[Dara Moore]

Yeah.

[Lecrae]

Why?

[Dara Moore]

I mean, I think for me it was just seeing a bigger picture of, like, how God was using. Even in, like, your hard times. Whatever you can. Like, at least for me, I'm clearly seeing, like, how God is using you and how he's using you to touch people. And I feel like I've just seen that period from. From the jail ministry, from you with the ju. With the juvenile detention center, and just seeing how you're touching people, like touching non believers. And so it was like, hey, I see that. And this is a great opportunity. So it's like, go do. Wasn't even a.

[Lecrae]

A thought. They gonna look at this and just think you the most supportive. Like, man, she's just godly. I don't know. But I mean, truthfully, you are just a very, like, simple, selfless, like, hey, okay. You know, I mean, unless. Unless it. Unless them kids are involved. When it comes to the kids, then it's like, let's prioritize. Okay. So the cypher's the thing to you. That's.

[Dara Moore]

I thought that was starting to be like a turning point in your. Like, from what I can remember. Cause it's been.

[Lecrae]

Yeah,

[Dara Moore]

I feel like that was a turning point in whatever you want to call it.

[Lecrae]

Did you feel pressure? Are you feeling. Did you ever feel pressure, like, I gotta be a celebrity wife or anything? Okay. Why?

[Dara Moore]

Cause I wasn't going to.

[Lecrae]

But why, like, if you see.

[Dara Moore]

Because that's not what I. Like I said, I am who I am and I know who I am. And. And there's things that come with that because people. Now I will say I feel. I have felt over the years that people have had an expectation of me. And, you know, and I mean, I may have, you know, maybe listen people down. I don't really know because I really literally could only be me. Like, you know, if you know me, you know, I can't be fake. I can't. I just. All I know is how it's to be me. I'm not good at pretending. Yeah. So that's never been me and was never going to be and never will be. So. I mean, of course. I mean, I'm married to you, but I'm just saying I don't. I've never felt like I have to be somebody I'm not. Once we got past that wall before we got married.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Dara Moore]

You know, but. Yeah, I don't know.

[Lecrae]

So when. When there's Grammys and then there's number one album, like, how's that stuff affecting you? Are you just, like. You take it in stride or, like, what is your. How are you processing? Because from. From. From my side, my head is so down. I'm not realizing all these things.

[Dara Moore]

I was, like, in the moment. I mean, definitely. Especially, like, you know, when you got the first one, we were all just like. I mean. Nope. Definitely was not expecting it. So it was just like, whoa, you know? So it was definitely a whoa. I can't believe that, like, that just happened or. Cause you're not even. Like, that just wasn't the. Like, the goal has never been at least as far as, you know, what I've, you know, never seen it as. I'm just trying to be this big. Whatever this was, it has been like, I want to serve the Lord and serve him, you know, however I can. And then all these things just started happening. Now, of course, there was, you know, struggles, and I feel like, you know, we have conversations. If I'm feeling like, okay, all right, Lecrae, maybe something this or that.

[Lecrae]

What's something this or that?

[Dara Moore]

I don't know. You have to remind me.

[Lecrae]

You talking about, like. Like, me getting a little too.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah.

[Lecrae]

Like Hollywood.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah. I feel like I was maybe your filter. Yeah.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Dara Moore]

Or something.

[Lecrae]

You have always been.

[Dara Moore]

Yes, because I'm the one.

[Lecrae]

I remember when I bought. When we got the Suburban. Yeah.

[Dara Moore]

He was like, we are not.

[Lecrae]

I was gonna put the rims on there. And he was like, nah, we're not putting them rims on the car. So, yes, you asked me, but I

[Dara Moore]

feel like that's just your natural. Whatever is. You know, I'm California. I want to be mister. You just. You just had a. You have a very. You know, you are creative, so you are very creative.

[Lecrae]

You call me a peacock.

[Dara Moore]

I don't even know what that means.

[Lecrae]

Just like, I gotta show off. I gotta show off. Oh, okay.

[Dara Moore]

No, no, no. Not a show off, but you just.

[Lecrae]

Expressive. Yes, expressive. You're expressive, expressive.

[Dara Moore]

I want the long hair. I want my Cali braids. I want my. This hair.

[Lecrae]

Okay, all right, all right. Slow down, slow down.

[Dara Moore]

I mean, so that's just you. So, you know, but anyway. But not. I don't feel like it's like, hey, I wanna. I'm on a stunt, you know, I Don't feel like it's that.

[Lecrae]

But that's gross to me.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah.

[Lecrae]

Yeah, that's gross to me. So this is something that I always. I. It's funny because people will always assume my motives and assume, like I'm trying to be accepted or be the man and so on and so forth, so forth. And I will read these comments, and then I would be telling you, and you would always tell. Well, go ahead, say what you would say.

[Dara Moore]

I don't know you. I don't know what you're gonna say. I don't know.

[Lecrae]

You would tell me to leave it alone.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah. And I. And I would say, because, well, first of all, stop reading it. And you see, so for me, it was like. I mean, I'm not in your position, but it's trying to encourage you to focus on how many people stop you and tell you how they have changed their life, how they've come to the Lord because of you and this and that. Like, not, you know, I'm saying how the Lord has used you, not because of you. Sure, you know, you're being used by him. It's like, to me, all that outweighs whatever. All this other talk is that people. Because everybody has something to say about something. But to me, like, that's what's the important is, like, if that stops, it's like, that's when it's like, okay, what are we doing? What are you doing? Where or who are you being led by? Because to me, that's what the gate should be is. You know, is being. Are you changing? I guess. Are you. What you. What you want to do is to be used to change lives? And is that what's happening?

[Lecrae]

You know, so. So what you're telling me is you. Were you. The fame and all the. The. The. The. The highlight reels and all that stuff. I know this because the reality is it never affected you. Like, you're just. You was. If anything, sometimes you have to be reminded, like, hey.

[Dara Moore]

Because at the same time, it's like, I'm literally still doing life. It's like, stuff has to get done. Especially, like, yeah, so it's like, I'm still doing, like. And it's not that I'm not excited about it, but it's. It's like I'm still having to.

[Lecrae]

Literally, God puts you in my life for humility purposes. It's clear. Because. Because you don't care. Like, I don't. I never met a person who did not care more than you. Like, you don't care. Like, I'M thinking about. What's the lady you work with at the. At the.

[Dara Moore]

Oh, Jennifer.

[Lecrae]

Jennifer. I'm thinking about the general.

[Dara Moore]

What is Shout out Jennifer.

[Lecrae]

What? Tell the story of what happened with Jennifer. When you was telling her about the party and you was debating or you was like, oh, oh. You was like, oh, yeah, I got this to do. I got that to do. And then I got this Tyler. Tyler Perry party or something like that. And oh.

[Dara Moore]

Cause I didn't want to find a. Feel like trying to find something to wear.

[Lecrae]

And she was like, girl, that's what I'm saying. Like, you're like, oh, man, I don't think I'm gonna go through this. Tyler Perry invites us to come out. And you like, I gotta go find something to wear. I ain't got nothing to We. I'm probably not gonna go.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah.

[Lecrae]

And everyone's like, are you. You're. Are you crazy?

[Dara Moore]

She's like, I'll go with you.

[Lecrae]

Right? But you don't care. Like, the limelight, all of the stuff is like, it does not phase you. No.

[Dara Moore]

And now this is what I will say. It's not. It's just. I think that there are perks. There's definitely perks. And there's things. It's like, yay, you know, and this that comes with it. And I'm not like, you know, those things are not fun or it's not whatever. But at the end of the day, it's, you know, I know. What are you doing today? Going tomorrow. Yeah.

[Lecrae]

So the Lord knew what he was doing.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. You don't want to miss the annual beauty event for big savings on all your favorite beauty products. Now through April 28, spend 25 on participating products and save $5. Shop in store or online for items like Billie women's razors, Billie body buffer or body wash, native hand soap, Neutrogena makeup remover towelets and Q Tips. And save $5 when you spend $25. Offer ends April 28. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[LifeLock Advertiser]

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[Lecrae]

Okay, so let's see. One of the audience questions some people ask is one, did you grieve your old life? When I started getting bigger, did you grieve the simple. The simple life that we had when. When I had to travel more and everything was going on?

[Dara Moore]

No, I've never even thought about that.

[Lecrae]

Yeah, I think if anything, you just challenged me to live. I won't even say just you, just people in our lives have always said, when you're home, be home. So for me, it was never like, I need to be a star at the house and like, let's go hang with the stars and do famous stuff. It was just like, I don't. There was no old life, really. It was like, people would be like, why you in the grocery store, Lecrae with the kids? And I'm like, cause my wife is out with her friends and I got the kids. So. Okay. Another audience question is, how do you stay grounded in yourself when being married to a big personality? I think we just answered that low key. Like, how do you keep from being like, yeah, you know who I am?

[Dara Moore]

Oh, okay.

[Lecrae]

I'm Lecrae's wife.

[Dara Moore]

I'm like, oh, yeah, no, that would be. I was like, that.

[Lecrae]

That's gross.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah, I couldn't.

[Lecrae]

Why?

[Dara Moore]

Yeah, no, I feel like we've talked about that before. Like, because if. If we were. If I was like, that would be

[Lecrae]

a lot like if he was a housewife of Atlanta type vibes.

[Dara Moore]

Well, I'm not even going to go there.

[Lecrae]

That's true.

[Dara Moore]

I'm not going to go there. But no, we just like, I feel like, like how you say we balance each other out. And I feel like if we didn't have that balance, then we, you, we, like, we will be a disaster. Yes. Yeah, we would be a mess. And so.

[Lecrae]

Yeah, it'd be a disaster.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah. I mean, I think. I mean, I feel like a better word. I think it's just my wiring. Just as how God Made me. And I just.

[Lecrae]

It's got me out of plenty of.

[Dara Moore]

I don't even think I could. If I was gonna be like that, I would have been. You know what I'm saying? Like, and I don't even think I could.

[Lecrae]

Yeah. A person who is like that. Like, I think you know who you remind me of in a different kind of way. But there's a online personality, a dude named Uncle John. He's always fixing people's houses and doing stuff, and his wife just gets out there and starts shoveling stuff. And I think of you in the same way. Like, you just. Like, I know this woman is not out here, but she's like, yeah, I'm just like, what? Your husband got all these views and he's doing all this and this and this. And you just like, yeah, this is just who I am. Like, grounded. And I give your parents credit for that. Like, you're a very grounded person who's not like, definitely my parents. You haven't been starstruck. I think the one. Charlie Wilson is like the only person that I could think of where you was. Like, you'd have met everybody. I can't. And Priscilla Shire. Charlie Wilson and Priscilla Shire. The only two times.

[Dara Moore]

And her dad.

[Lecrae]

Oh, Pastor Evans. Yeah. The only times you've been like, oh, my gosh. Like, of all the celebrities you'd have met, of all the people you didn't. Beyonce walked right by. So many people. And it's like, like, you're just. Nah, I'm not finna be. And sometimes I try to get you to be a little more like, come on, man, we in Hollywood. And you, like, I'm not. I'm not doing it.

[Dara Moore]

I will run.

[Lecrae]

Yeah. That's why you don't wanna do this.

[Dara Moore]

No.

[Lecrae]

Okay. Another audience question. We all know the sacrifice was worth the family you got to raise and love, but do you feel like you put a career on the shelf to invest in the development of your family? Do you feel like you put a part of your life on the shelf?

[Dara Moore]

No. No. Because I feel like,

[Lecrae]

you know, did you. Did you. Do you feel like. I guess you didn't.

[Dara Moore]

You.

[Lecrae]

You. You just dove into wanting to be a full time mom and caretaker. It wasn't like a.

[Dara Moore]

Well, yeah, I just felt like that's what we. We talked about before. Even like getting married, what we wanted and. Because at the time, you know, now, of course, some of that maybe be like just being overprotective or just whatever. It was like, hey, if I have opportunity to be with the kids and know what's going on in their life and being able to be there and not, you know, and we can do that, then. Oh, I'm. I'm. I'm all in for that, you know, so. No.

[Lecrae]

Any tips on. For somebody who's like, hey, raising kids, like, what do you. What do you feel like? I guess one of the questions is like, this. Was it your responsibility. Was it mine or your responsibility to handle the kids? Especially when they started understanding who I was and I was a public figure. Like, whose responsibility was it to kind of keep them in line and keep them in check?

[Dara Moore]

As far as.

[Lecrae]

I think. I think the thought process is like, who is speaking to their. Who is kind of developing them? And like, what is. What did our roles look like in developing the kids? It's more. Probably more or less what they're trying to do.

[Dara Moore]

I don't know. I just feel like. I guess originally the. From what I was getting from that question, I felt like it was both of us.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Dara Moore]

I feel like we both have our roles. And I. I don't know. They were out there asking, as far as you think, like, a fame thing or.

[Lecrae]

I think that's part of it is they were saying that's the second part. Like, especially once they realize you're that who I am. And I don't know what that assumes. Maybe that assumes, like, they be entitled or they. But. But that's not really. They've run from being associated with the bigness.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah. I feel like. I feel like we both kept home, tried to keep it so normal. Like, it doesn't. Like, we. I feel like there's definitely some things that they definitely see and get to do that other people don't. But I feel like home is so normal. Like, even just the fact, like, you say, like, you've been going to the grocery store with them, you know, three of them, you in a cart. You know what I'm saying? Like, none of that. There's never been. Yes.

[Lecrae]

A week at a time while you on a girls trip.

[Dara Moore]

That's why I would say shout out to. Lecrae has never. I've never. Like, he has never had a problem from infancy on. Once again, you want to go. You're like, no, I want to know how to be able to take care of the kids by myself. Like, I need to be able to be with them by myself and know what to do and this, this and that. And you've always done it. So I just feel like that was a. Both of us. A. Both. And like, yeah. Even to the fact we're one. Like, sometimes our kids are like. You know what David would say? Sometimes his friends would be like, why? You don't have a new this and the new that and the new that? And it's like, no. You're like, no, you can buy yourself a new this or the new dad or, you know, so I feel like that's a. Both. And just keeping them trying our best to.

[Lecrae]

Yeah, okay. So touchy subject, but. You. You walked me through a clinically depressed state. You were. I don't know. You were. You had to be a rock in a time where you probably didn't have it, I guess. How would you encourage people who have to. Yeah. Support folks, Support a spouse or a husband who can't function at full capacity. You know, what has. What did you learn? What did the Lord show you? How did you navigate it? Yeah,

[Dara Moore]

I'm. I definitely is. Stay, stand, definitely. That's why it's always good to stay grounded for yourself and have the word for yourself and stand. Growing, whatever that looks like for you to grow. I'm. For me, it's been different phases. It's been people, it's been Bible studies, It's been my own Bible study. Just definitely staying grounded myself spiritually so I can be there and be strong during the hard and dark. The dark times. So I think that's one thing. I'm sorry, what was the other?

[Lecrae]

Yeah, just, you know, if. If you have to be. You had to function during that. That tough time. Like, what's. Yeah. Like, what tools were. Did you have? What did you feel like you needed? Was it the community? What. Like, what did. What. Yeah, I'm just curious from your perspective.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah, I think it's having community. Even though I'm not a. I don't always know I need to tell somebody or know I need to reach out, but I still know that they're there. And I know I have people in my life who want to grow as much as well, and so leaning on them, even though I may not be asking them to lean on them or knowing I should be asking. Sometimes I remember you even told me why you should reach out. Like, oh, yeah, I should talk to somebody. And, you know, but sometimes I'm not even thinking that, because sometimes you just, like, you just keep pushing through life and not even realizing, like, I need help or I need some. I need some. Yeah, I need support. But I don't know if it.

[Lecrae]

Well, here's my question. When you look back, like, if you look back on Some of those dark times, like, I think in 2018, this is the darkest time in my entire life. When you look back, I'm curious. Can you see now how God used you in my life? Not even on that time, but just over the course of my life. Can you see how God has used you? Do you feel like, oh, I see what you were doing with me here, Lord. Like, I'm. What do you think?

[Dara Moore]

Yeah, I definitely. I. I would definitely say I. I can see why God put us together in, In. In that, in that aspect of like even just, I mean, you know, I don't like saying that because it feels whatever. But I do feel like God helped or like that balance of just the humility and I mean, it is what

[Lecrae]

it is even in my life. To humble. It's like.

[Dara Moore]

Well, not just that, but just. I know what you said, you know, like.

[Lecrae]

Like it was a gift.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah. And even like with the quality control, like, you know, me being kissing. Quality control. It's like just thinking through, like, I don't know, it's so much.

[Lecrae]

I don't even know how to categorize it all.

[Dara Moore]

Yes. But I think that the Lord definitely is used, like my faith. Like, faith being my. What are those. What we used to call it, spiritual gift. Yes. It's always been my top. And I feel like that, like, has helped as far as in our marriage to. To be that for you. You know, even when, if you're feeling whatever, whatever. I'm like, I. I'm not doubting, you

[Lecrae]

know, irked me so bad. Like, I was like, you don't question nothing.

[Dara Moore]

Not, not that, not when it comes. Not that I may question, like, am I, you know, what am I? What kind of. What am I doing raising my, my. My skills of motherhood or something. But I'm not going to question the Lord. You.

[Lecrae]

He got one on. About to be about the house.

[Dara Moore]

I'm like, oh, Lord, I hope I haven't traumatized my children too much. You know, stuff like that. But not as far as my faith.

[Lecrae]

A couple other questions. Here's what I'll say. This is one thing I'm going to just say in light of all of that, because I'm the wordsmith. I'm the romantic. She's the realest. I'm the. Like, I live in the clouds. I mean, she lives in the clouds too, but in a different way. Yeah, I live in the clouds. I'm all like lovey dovey, artsy, fartsy. And she's more like on the ground, like, well, this is the reality, you know? And I think I'm a realist, too, which is why we're. Why we are connected. But for me, I don't know. Honestly don't know what my life would look like. Like, I don't. Like, I think I would have. Like, you have stopped me from ruining my life multiple times. You know what I mean? And on top of that, you're so faithful and consistent that in the back of my mind, I'm thinking, man, if I'm leading, that's a high bar. Somebody who's this faithful and really believes in the Lord, like, okay, I gotta be for real about this. But the thing. I would say the thing where you have changed my life is sincerely, you have been a rock. Like, you have been. I grew up in this dysfunctional background. Abandoned, abused, neglected, and here you come. Just like, I'll be here. And I'm like, yeah, but. I mean. But you're like, no, I'll be here. And I'm like, but you don't. I'll be here. And for me, I'm like, you gonna be here. Like, still, like, I'm a mess. And you like, yeah, I'm a mess, too.

[Dara Moore]

We all a mess.

[Lecrae]

Which to me is like, that get me emotional. I ain't gonna cry today. But to me, that's like, where I see the Lord has put you in my life is because I just expect people to abandon me. I just expect people to run out or to be like, I'm done. One of my worst nightmares is my daughter saying, I don't want you to walk me down the aisle. You're a disaster. You know what I'm saying? And just to think, like, oh, she's here. She loves me. She really loves me for me. Like, I wasn't famous. I didn't have this. She's not here for any other reason other than, like, nah, I really love you. I'm really here. And I think that is.

[Dara Moore]

And it's so funny to me. It's like, no, that's. That's a. That's. That's how I should be. It's not. It's like, that should be normal, not like,

[Lecrae]

I don't know, like a special thing.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah.

[Lecrae]

Take your compliment, Dara. Good God. Take your compliment.

[Dara Moore]

Nah, but I mean, yeah,

[Lecrae]

talk a little bit about your prayer life. Like, because I know you're a faith person. Like, some. A lot of people want to know, like, what our. What our spiritual life looks like. And I think it's looked different in different seasons.

[Dara Moore]

Yeah. Because I think like something that we try because, like, we would try to do Bible studies together and that just did not work out.

[Lecrae]

It didn't work out because. Because I would be long winded and trying to teach you the.

[Dara Moore]

The.

[Lecrae]

The cultural background of every little thing. And.

[Dara Moore]

Well, I mean, it might have been like early on, but I just feel like we just. We. We just. I don't know, we just felt like it was. Yeah. It was just different and then. Yeah. So we would do individual studies or I would find like different seasons. I would, you know, have. Have go to certain different Bible studies or different things like that help. But like, for me, my prayer is like, to me, I'm like praying off like this throughout the day. Like, I just pray. I'm in my car because I'm in the car all the time. So to me it's just like, I'm just talking to God, like, all the time. So it's not a. So that. So that's one thing. As far as just praying. I mean, you're more. You're consistent with, you know, like, like, hey, let's just pray. Let's just pray before we go to bed or together or. I don't know. That's what it looks.

[Lecrae]

Yeah. No, I'm just. People are just. I think people. A lot of times people want a

[Dara Moore]

formula and there's no formula.

[Lecrae]

Yeah, that's what I was gonna say is like.

[Dara Moore]

At least for me, there's not.

[Lecrae]

I don't think we have a formula. That's one. There's definitely. Cause I'm more. I'm more like. I like structure, but, like. Because I'm a loose cannon, I like structure. And you're more like, I like the

[Dara Moore]

idea of structure, but I'm not a structured person.

[Lecrae]

Right. So I think that's what it is. It's like, I wanna wake up in the morning, I'm gonna go to the gym, I'm gonna read my Bible, I'm gonna listen to a sermon, then I'm gonna go do work or whatever. And then you're like, I may go to the gym with you. I may not. I may sleep in. I may eat breakfast. I may go to breakfast with some friends. I may do like. It's just. You just all over the place.

[Dara Moore]

I am all over the place.

[Lecrae]

So I think in raising kids, what was important for you in terms of, like, spiritual formation? What has that looked like? What's been important for you in raising kids as a believer? Like, when it comes to raising kids as a Christian mom, what do you Feel like, oh, this is important for me.

[Dara Moore]

Well, this is what I would say. Well, my prayers always is just God giving me the wisdom to whatever they need. Because I don't ever know how or what they need is just use me to give them whatever they need. Because I don't know. I always know what that looks like. I don't always know what to say and what for. So for me, I feel like some of the things has been important, especially now, like, as they're getting older, is them seeing us fight through things the right way. Like, us having our issues, but seeing us always coming back to the Lord or an apologizing and just seeing like, okay, yes, you know, I'm a yeller or I'm a whatever, but I'm trying to work on that. And the Lord is working on me, and I'm. And I need the Lord to do that. And just for them just to seeing like, I constantly need the Lord to change things in my life and in our marriage or in us. You know what I'm saying? I think just to seeing the dependency on the Lord that I can't do these things by myself because clearly I need help. We all need help. He's the only one that can do that. But I think. And especially, I mean, I don't know if I'm answering this or not, but this is my rambling. I think it's just one of my prayers is just. Just want to make sure, like, we are giving them that they have the tools that they need. And they. And. And knowing, like, okay, we've done what we can. And just try not to have that guilt of feeling like I have. Am I traumatizing them or am I doing this or am I doing that or. And then that. Then that just comes back on me being I. I. And just really trusting in the Lord that He's given us the tools. He's given us what we need to. To give to them. And just trusting in. Trusting in that and trusting. Like, at the end of the day, we have to give them over to him, which is scary going into these phases of life that we are heading into with.

[Lecrae]

No, you the faith person. You got it.

[Dara Moore]

I have faith in Him.

[Lecrae]

No, bae. Thank you. I appreciate you. You didn't have to do this. You didn't want to do this.

[Dara Moore]

Nope.

[Lecrae]

But you did it, and I love you for it.

[Dara Moore]

Love you, too.

[Lecrae]

Thank y'.

[Dara Moore]

All. Thank the people, or I wouldn't have done it.

[Lecrae]

Yeah, you right. She does love me.