NO MORE NAILS!
This past weekend Pastor Steven preached a sermon that shook me to my core. It was entitled “No More Nails,” and you can watch it here. Seriously, it’ll change your whole life. One of the things he said in his sermon was, “The Son of God shows His scars, why would you hide yours!?” He went on to say that we have a “cosmetic view” of Christianity. Basically everything has to look nice, pretty, and put together all of the time. We don’t show our scars. The fact of the matter is that we all have scars and we all have a story. If people could see our scars, they’d probably just sit and weep with us. The Lord convicted me to share my story and to stop trying to cover up my scars and start showing them. You never know who you could help, or who could benefit from your story.
My childhood started out in a nice home, with loving parents. My mom and dad both worked full time jobs and they worked hard to provide for me and my siblings. We were enrolled in private Christian schools, played sports, went to church every Sunday, and life was good. When I was in middle school, things seemed to fall apart. My parents set us down one night and shared with us that my dad would be leaving to go stay with my aunt for a while. We were all confused and saddened by this news and didn’t really understand at all why our world was shattering around us. Later, it became known that my dad had been unfaithful. My parents tried to make it work. My dad would leave, and come back, and leave, and come back. There would be fussing and fighting and arguing and yelling. It was a continual, destructive cycle, that I just got used to. I guess you could say, my heart began to form a callous over it as a protective mechanism. I learned the continual, bad habit of walking away when things got hard. I eventually went off to college, thanking God that I could just get away from everything. I graduated four years later with my Bachelors of Science in Nursing degree. My parents finally got divorced and both remarried. I moved home from college and began working. I met my husband, who has been such an angel to me. He encourages me and loves me on the good days and on the downright awful days too. Jonathan and my Father God are helping me become the best version of myself.
I’ve had to work through and continue to work through distrust, insecurity issues, hate, bitterness, and anger. But, I wouldn’t change my past because it’s made me stronger and I have learned A LOT. I’ve walked away from so many things when there was tension and strife including… friendships, churches, and many situations. I am continually learning to communicate, forgive, stay when things get tough, pray through the hard times, and press on. My scar was formed a long time ago and to physically see it, you’d have to crack my chest. It’s healing and will continue to heal. But, thank God for redemption! Pastor Furtick said, “Where were you wounded, and how long do you intend to stay there?” I’m declaring freedom over my life today! I will break the generational curse of divorce in my family’s lineage. I will not walk away anymore when times get tough! I will press on and forgive! No more nails!
Psalm 116
“I love the Lord, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy.
Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live.
The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, save me!”
The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, He saved me.
Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.
For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.”
Another cool God tale… Jonathan and I went to church Saturday night, my mom and my brother stayed home with Theo. My mom and Cody went to church on Sunday and my brother rededicated his life to Christ! He lifted his hand without hesitation at the end of the invitation and talked with the campus Pastor afterwards, where he was gifted a Bible, prayed with and encouraged. Go God!!! He is crazy faithful and thank goodness, He never walks away from us. He follows after us no matter how many detours we may take. My brother is currently living with us, and we’ve been helping him get back on his feet. He got on the wrong path for a while and has made his way back to following Christ. It’s a journey, sometimes it takes some of us longer to get there than others, but by God’s grace, we get there.
Sherri Barham says
Thanks for sharing Brittany! ❤️️ Always love to hear how God has worked and answered many prayers.
Brittney says
Thanks for reading along! He is a good, good Father!
Linda Graham says
Very powerful Brittney ‼ Our messes become our message of God’s goodness,grace, n continual love ❤️ for us, HIS children. I ❤️ you and appreciate you.
?❌⭕❤️Mama
Brittney says
So very true! Love you too!
Mary Ked says
Loved reading your story. Beautiful! Sounds like you are doing great. Your family is beautiful.
Brittney says
Thank you so much!
Nicole Lyons says
Brittany this was a beautiful testimony very similar to mine. thank you so much for sharing
Brittney says
Thanks so much for reading along! So thankful for a redeeming Father who brings beauty from ashes!