brittany nicole

In honor of graduation today at my alma mater: University of North Alabama, I just wanted to share some words of encouragement. I would like to extend a huge CONGRATULATIONS to all of the graduates of 2015. You are about to embark on your next adventure, and I pray that it’s all you hoped for.  I graduated from college in 2013, and here’s what life after college has revealed to me.

I’m  so hard on myself when it comes to progressing in life. I question myself daily about if I could have done more today to advance to the next level tomorrow. I’m striving towards greatness, but along the way failure has popped up so many times that I’ve lost count.

When you’re as determined as I am to make a difference in the lives of others, you will not allow anything to stop you. Someone had to inspire you along the way, be that same inspiration for someone else. The struggles that I face daily motivate me to keep pushing towards accomplishing my goals. Some nights I may cry myself to sleep, because I’m praying to accomplish more on tomorrow. The idea of perfection is a constant reminder for someone who is their biggest critic. I never understood as a child why my grandfather was trying to instill so much knowledge in me, but I thank God I was listening to him. That one person that you think has it all together, is probably the same individual who is facing financial difficulties, self esteem issues, suicidal thoughts, and unaware of the potential that you see in them. 

I aspire to surpass the finish line, so that one day I will hear these words: “Because of you, I didn’t give up.” When an individual is faced with so many struggles, it may cause them to be on the verge of giving up on life. I just want to share with you that the God that I serve keeps on blessing me day after day. There’s no way I would have made it to this point without keeping the faith throughout it all. Appreciate the opportunities that you have been presented with instead of comparing your blessings with others. You never know who might be looking at your life thinking that you’re doing better than them. 

From a personal standpoint, I’m not giving up because I’m fearfully and wonderfully made. God has a purpose for all of us… 

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 

I just know that he wouldn’t bring me this far to leave me. His grace is sufficient and God’s timing is perfect. To question God’s timing is to have lost faith in His word. 

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Signed, 

Walking by faith, not by sight ❤️