Brianna

Today, Brianna speaks to us about her overcoming her childhood years, a pivotal turning point and how she feels called to help the youth with the insight she has gained. Thank you for your vulnerability, Brianna. God is doing something amazing in you.

Tell us a bit about how you grew up and your childhood: I grew up raised by my Mother’s mom (my grandmother and my step grandpa). My mom and dad had me at 16 years old. My mom was always in a unhealthy relationship and my father was on drugs in and out of prison growing up. My mom tried her best, but she was more of a friend than a mother, and my dad did what he can when he was out of jail, but it was hard when he was always away.

I had my first boyfriend at 10 years old and started having sex at 10, running the streets, smoking, cussing, and had a very bad attitude with a lot of trust issues. I went through a very traumatic life change at 12 years of age, and had a lot of depression and anxiety. I was mature for my age and grew up very fast hanging around older people 3/4 years older than me. I had my first child at 16 years of age and was in a unhealthy relationship for five years. I finally got out of that relationship when I was 18/19 years old. I started partying, drinking, smoking and then I got pregnant again with my 2nd child at 20 and my life changed for the better in many ways but there was still a lot of bondage. I am now 28 years old with six children (4 living, 1 abortion (unsaved), 1 miscarriage (March 2022)). I am not married. I was a fornicator [the] majority of my life, seeking relationships, finding love in all the wrong places. It took me almost dying from a miscarriage in March 2022 to finally wake up! 

Inspiring biblical passage of the moment: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33 NLT

Spiritual growth focus at the moment: Slowing down and yielding to the Holy Spirit; staying focused. 

Profession/Mission: I currently work in the hospital as a unit assistant, but I know this was just to set me up for what God has for me. I want to help moms who have been through similar situations as me to know that there is a way out, and it’s Jesus. I do want to also help the youth who feel alone and rejected like I did growing up because the youth is very important (Proverbs 22:6). If I knew all that I know now as child, I would have not went through a lot of things that I went through that has kept me bound up for a lot of years. 

“I want to help moms who have been through similar situations as me to know that there is a way out, and it’s Jesus.”

If you wrote a memoir, what would the title be? UNLEARN THE LIES TO KNOW THE TRUTH 

When did you first encounter God and how did you encounter Him? I went to church a few times as a child, but I didn’t really understand the importance of it. I went to church in my youth, but it was mainly for boys. I tried church a few times in my young adult years, but it was not really something I was interested in. I knew there was a God, but I didn’t know He was what I needed to fulfill the voids I had inside the brokenness, the emptiness.

I got my first true life changing encounter with God at 22/23 (not exact sure my age) when my kids’ father came home with a hickey on his neck, and I felt suicidal and so depressed I remember jumping off my apartment balcony and even jumped out the moving car hoping my life would end, I screamed out something like “GOD WHO ARE YOU? WHERE ARE YOU?” Slowly but surely the Lord started really pulling on me and changing me for the better, and I got baptized September 29, 2018. 

How would you describe Jesus? Jesus saved my life. He is MY LORD & SAVIOR!! Before Him, I was angry, negative, broken, and sad, no peace ever. He has helped me understand the meaning of life, to know what peace that surpasses all understanding feels like and true love.

How has your relationship with Him changed you? It changed me in so many ways. I look back at my past videos or like past posts I made years ago, and I’m like WOW BUT GOD. He has revealed many things to me that have not felt good, but it had to be revealed to me so I can change! I just thank Him so much! Words can’t even explain.

“He has revealed many things to me that have not felt good, but it had to be revealed to me so I can change! I just thank Him so much!”

What has been the darkest time in your life, and how did you see God in it? Majority of my life has felt dark before Christ, but the darkest time I think was in October 2021, when I felt like I lost my mind and my family thought I was going crazy. I got baptized September 2018, and in 2020 God started taking me deeper, but I battled with fornication and got really caught up in my looks but also I was going through self deliverance at home thinking it would help. In 2021, like Scripture says, when a spirit leaves it will come back more wicked, so I got tormented really bad in my mind that I stopped driving and isolated myself. Through this time, my family didn’t understand, but I knew God was with me and that there was a testimony attached to it to let others know my story and why we must REPENT and stop playing with sin.

What has helped you grow spiritually in this season? Accountability, being connected and having unity. 

Just read/currently reading (and what has it taught you?): “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God has been speaking to me about getting deeply radically rooted in Him to go forth and produce the fruits of His spirit, but it will be a process and uncomfortable. It takes being intentional, disciplined, focused and being intimate with Him. He’s been speaking to me about why it’s a must to be in the secret place because He is our daily bread and living water. He has shown me how we are like trees, and we have roots that need to be uprooted where that’s the uncomfortable part and allow our trees to be fed and watered by Him to spring out the good fruits and remove the bad fruits/roots.

“He has shown me how we are like trees, and we have roots that need to be uprooted where that’s the uncomfortable part and allow our trees to be fed and watered by Him to spring out the good fruits and remove the bad fruits/roots.”

Top three essentials: LOVE, FAITH, and IDENTITY . 

How did God speak to you recently? He gave me the word FOCUS & YIELD but used things to show me while driving like on the road there were signs that said SLOW SLOW SLOW and a Target truck.

Hobby: I don’t really know. I do like to be creative when I have time like journaling, decorating, making pictures, etc.

Top three practical tips for staying spiritually strong: PRAYING, WORSHIP, READ, KNOW, and BE THE WORD. 

Favorite person in Scripture? Paul because he shows us how we are more free then we think, but we also can’t let our environment, circumstances change us, shake and move us. Stay focused and rejoice in the Lord always!

What do you want people to learn about God when they look at you? That no matter what your past looks like God can turn it around for His glory! God changed Saul to Paul who can He change you to has helped me so much!

How do you engage with your community? Being the light and sharing the Good News. I do want to be more involved, and I believe this is the year! 2023🙏🏽

A goal you have? To walk out the purpose that God called me for here on earth, to keep stay focused and keep my mind set on things above. 

Question you will ask when you get to heaven? Can I meet my baby I aborted and miscarried?

Thing you want to raise awareness about: To understand that there is a place called home, and it’s heaven or hell. We need get the Fear of the Lord in us not in a bad way but in a way to help us understand why Jesus said repent and why God’s Word says not to conform to the patterns of this world and to not be ignorant of the enemies schemes. 

What does your morning routine consist of? My schedule has been off, so the Lord has been speaking to me about discipline and managing my time, so my ideal morning routine is wake up and get in the secret place to spend time with the Father, then exercise, and eat a healthy breakfast.

What is on your nightstand? I don’t have a nightstand, a dresser with a TV on it. 

Define Christianity in a sentence: It’s not about religion, it’s about relationship. It’s about knowing who you are in Him, and that you are apart of a Kingdom a culture to bring Heaven here on earth! “Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

For more Brianna:

@thatssbreee__ 

Until next time, keep witnessing!

XX