She’s Going Places

Sneak Peak: God is good…’nuff said.

I won’t lie. I was going to write this and talk about all the places I’m going to. Instead, I’m going to share with you how good God is. I’ll be leaving the U.S. September 4th to start another chapter in my life. I received a job offer to work for Semester at Sea until the end of the year. Yes, I get to travel. Yes, I get to meet new people. Yes, I get new work experience. Instead, I’m going to share with the real journey.

Layoff to Back to Work…and Laid Off Again

For those who don’t know, I was laid off October 2023. You can read about that here. I started Authentically Brittany as a way to use my talent of writing for single Christian women by sharing my life (and lessons along the way). I thought I was going to land a job within a month. A month turned into two. Three. Four. Five. I didn’t work again until February. My contract was going to start on the 2nd, but it got delayed to the 20th of the month. I had no savings left.

My mother (left) celebrating my "going away" for Semester at Sea (and my homecoming).

Financially, I was surviving off unemployment, the generosity of my mother, and my grandmother. My best friend flew from Florida to spend time with me on Thanksgiving and did a wellness check on me. Other friends in my "sisterhood", gave me spiritual and emotional encouragement.

My contract was coming to an end. I was supposed to stop working on the 30th of June, but my contract date was changed to the 15th. I could’ve earned more money by lying to my boss. But I knew that God wouldn’t be okay with me lying to get money. I accepted my end date and I asked God to provide. Meanwhile, I went to work and worked my hardest during my last week. The director on my team scrambled to find the money to keep me around for two more weeks. Turns out, I needed those two weeks to help me with something else.

Kindness from People

I had to break my lease. I wasn’t going to survive in Dallas any longer financially. I haven’t lived at home in years. The thought of me moving back with my mom upset me because I felt like I failed. God comforted me and said that it’s time for me to leave. He told me that I didn’t fail, just that my time was done.

I went to the property manager and asked how to end my lease. I was expecting to pay $8000 USD to her (to cover rent for the rest of my lease). She looked at me and said, “You know, don’t worry about it. Just pay me for August and we’re good. I’m not going to keep a tenant that’s struggling. That’s wrong. But I do have to collect something.” I cried in her office and she handed me a tissue. I called my mother and asked if it was okay for me to come home and she said yes, without hesitation. I packed my bags, shipped my boxes, spent time with my friends, my church family, and I left Dallas.

My return to home was bittersweet.

I came back to Florida in August, preparing to leave. God provided me with enough cash to make it, but my bank account was diminishing again. The trauma from losing my money came back to haunt me. I celebrated my going away party with friends and family. God used these people to bless me. My mother helped get things I needed. My friends got things I needed. Some gave me money. My family got me things I needed. God will use people to get you where you need to go.

My mom and I went to visit my grandmother. I was expecting to get the usual handout. She gave me more than I expected! I sobbed on the couch and my mother comforted me. It was tears of God’s goodness (I’m actually crying now while I write this). I thanked my grandmother.

She’s Going Places

 I’m here to tell you this—what is from God will produce fruit. He will send the right people to be a blessing to you. You have to take a step-in faith. Faith is like a muscle. You have to work hard to make it stronger. You will have more opposition as you increase your faith. Sometimes, we think it’s our haters. Sometimes, it’s life that can be opposing.

During this season, he has humbled me…a lot. Losing six figures does that to you. He’s showed me to lean on HIM for provision. He’s shown me that I am blessed to have people around me who care. He’s shown me that I’m not alone. He’s shown me to remember who I am and to not let my accolades determine my worth. So, yes, I am going places. God is taking me to new places to spread His love and to show the world who He is. Sometimes, we get caught up on bragging about things, we forget to take a step back and realize what we do is for Christ.

Keep in touch with me on my journey at @authenticallybrittany on Instagram. I’ll post blogs sparingly depending on my Wi-Fi and schedule while abroad. Stay blessed!

FYI: My blog is not sponsored by Semester at Sea/ISE.