Author: Taylor Nicole

#NoFilter

#NoFilter

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 2 Comments

I felt so unsure what God wanted to me to share this week. But then I was scrolling through all my old photos…scrolling through Instagram and the endless feed of pictures. And I thought “what would my life look like unfiltered?…what would their life look unfiltered?” So many times I find myself comparing myself to others on social media. Even comparing myself to photos of me on social media. Really, what would life look like unfiltered?

What if we stopped comparing. Stopped feeling the need to put a filter over everything. Like being real isn’t enough. I know most images we see online are edited or retouched in some way or another. Still, it doesn’t make me feel any better about who I am. Measuring myself up and all that I am versus the perfection portrayed online. And then I start to question “who am I?”

These images we all overload ourselves with aren’t real. Yet they affect who we are. How we think. How we perceive ourselves. How we live our lives. Personally, I try to live up to this standard of perfection that just isn’t realistic. I go through waves of security in who I am only to crash when I see an image that just seems too unattainable. Just when I start feeling worthy enough I compare myself to someone who seems they have it all together. That’s the trouble with basing our worth off of the worlds standard of success and beauty.

When you turn to the world for worth and value you will never be secure in who you are. This world is constantly changing. Shifting. What’s beautiful today may be considered ugly tomorrow. Fashion, beauty, sex …all these standards are constantly shifting. But when you base your worth on Gods word. The truth. You can be sure you won’t be shaken. Gods word never changes. Just like Psalm 139:14 says “You are beautiful for you are fearfully and wonderfully made.” God created you to be unique! That really is amazing when you stop and think about it. There never is or will be another you- EVER! So why not be the best you that you can be? No one else could ever be a better you!

When I’m feeling down I have to sit and remind myself of what Gods word says about me. I can sit and compare myself for hours and have a pitty party. Or I can celebrate all the gifts and talents God has placed in me. God will never ask you to be someone else – so we might as well stop expecting ourselves to be. I think its easy to look at everyone’s perfectly filtered curated lives on Instagram and think they have no flaws. But the truth is perfection doesn’t exist and we all fall short. I know it can be hard to do but look at all the amazing qualities you do have. No one person or their life is perfect no matter how it looks online. Start looking at things as if there were no filter.

Remember…YOU are Fearfully Made

xoxo Taylor Nicole

Not Walking Out

Not Walking Out

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

You know this week I wanted to talk about restoration. How God repairs and restores what is broken and makes it knew. With spring making its appearance the evidence of God bringing new life is all around. But, there was this heaviness on my heart. This overwhelming sense that I would be fake if I spewed some story of how great everything is. Don’t get me wrong, God has completely restored my heart! I’m definitely not where I want to be but I’m not where I used to be. God is using me and bringing new blessings everyday…but something has still felt off. Until I heard this song “How to be Yours” by Chris Renzema. OMG! It’s seriously amazing! Right then I thought to myself “This is it!” the lyrics of this song are exactly how I feel. I’m sure how most of us feel.

A lot of times we don’t know how to act or how to feel. We almost feel unworthy of God and the process that this walk entails. I love the lyrics he sings “You say that you love me, don’t say that you love me. Cause I don’t know how to be yours. You say that you want me, don’t say that you want me. Cause I don’t know how to be yours.” This speaks straight to my heart because I realized that I project my hurt onto God. We have all been told we’re loved and then got our hearts broken. And it’s hard to let someone back in with every scar and wound we’ve accumulated. That’s kinda where I’m at right now. Everyday I process my feelings and it’s always changing. Life. Healing. Growing. It’s all a process.

“I still act like an orphan I guess, and my hard heart breaks to confess. That even while you hold me as I cry on the floor, I still don’t know how to be yours.” We act like orphans. Like we’re alone in this, not knowing how to accept His love and sometimes pushing away out of fear or self defense. I know many of us compare God to our earthly fathers or maybe other relationships we’ve had. We turn away from God in all our brokenness because we don’t think He will accept the mess. Through every broken situation God is right there. But I still push away in fear “I still don’t know how to be yours.” We think we have to be perfect to be loved. But God’s love is the kind of love that pulls you from your mess to turn it into your message.

The last few months have been really hard for me. Honestly, it has been the biggest struggle some days. I went through the most painful breakup and it’s brought trauma out in me that I forced myself to forget. Often times we force ourselves into isolation out of fear because we don’t see the value in who we really are. But God never called us to be “perfect” He’s called us to be real. He allows circumstances or situations to occur to let His glory and light shine through us. Without all our brokenness we wouldn’t have a reason to rely on God. Just because you are broken doesn’t mean you’re too broken for God.

“So love me or hate me, I’m not going anywhere. Leave me or take me, You still bear my signature. Know me or not, seen or forgot. I’m not walking out on you.” God will NEVER walk out on you! Period. That’s the amazing thing! Even when we don’t know how to act. When we are scared we aren’t enough. God will never leave. Stop comparing God to your earthly father or whoever hurt you in the past. Because the truth is that they are human. Humans make mistakes but God is a supernatural God! He died for you and He desires to have a close and intimate relationship with you. He is your Abba. He is never going to walk out on you.

It’s okay if you don’t know what to do. Sometimes I feel too broken for God to use. But then I remember 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 ” My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power rest on me.” God doesn’t desire perfection. He desires your pursuit. It’s okay you still don’t know how to to be His – all that matters is that you ARE His.

Ps…You are Fearfully Made

xoxo Taylor Nicole

F.E.A.R

F.E.A.R

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Fear. This multifaceted shape shifter. It’s this thing that we can’t see, yet it hinders us from all our dreams and desires. It’s different for everyone and takes on multiple forms. Fear was definitely NOT what I intended on writing about for my first post. But last night I was reading over something I felt like I wanted to speak about. Until I was flipping through an old journal and it hit me! This is the perfect thing to talk about! Fear.

I mentioned how I always felt led to start a blog but I ignored God out of fear. As I was flipping through this old journal last night I came across this message I wrote to myself over 2 years ago. I wrote “Start the blog – Step out in Faith!” At the time I had several people telling me to start a blog. Further affirming the Lords plans…yet I let fear take over. Now, almost 3 years later I’m finally doing it.

You see Fear is really F-alse, E-vidence, A-pearing, R-eal. The first time I heard that I was like “Dannnnggg! That’s some truth!” Because it is! Anytime you are trying to move forward in purpose and those lies start rolling in, that’s when the enemy is getting scared. The first place he will attack is your mind. Especially when you are stepping out in faith and purpose. Satan will try to cripple you with fear to keep you stuck in where you’re at.

I continued to read this message in my journal and I realized I am living in that bubble of fear. Anytime we allow the enemy or others to steal our passions, purpose, desires away from us we are allowing Satan to win. He does NOT want you to walk in the fullness of what God has for you. He sure as heck doesn’t want you stepping out in faith! I read the rest of my message reading my words back to myself “Am I going to be crippled by fear that what I have to share is insignificant? OR will I do it anyway? Will I step out and walk by faith?”

I am stepping out in faith to share. Encourage. Inspire. I want you to know that it is never to late to over come that fear! Do not let the lies of the enemy cripple you in where you’re at. We all have had people mistreat us or speak false truth over us. Don’t let those things define you! Ask yourself what does my heavenly Father say? What is it that I want to do? What am I feeling led to do? Do not let the accusations of the enemy keep you from where you want to be. Do not let that false evidence stop you! Step out and faith and watch as God carries you from glory to glory. Even if you fail God will be right there to catch you.

And remember… YOU are FEARFULLY MADE

xoxo Taylor

Get to Know Me

Get to Know Me

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 2 Comments

Hey Gorgeous! My name is Taylor Nicole. Welcome to Fearfully Made by Gods Design. I really wanted to create a positive community for women. My desire is to share the Lord along with different trials I have encountered. As well as the wisdom and revelation the Lord has given me.

Fearfully Made is designed to create a space where all women feel encouraged, loved, and pursued by Gods word. I pray that not only do you find community on here but also that the Lord speaks to your heart. I am in my 20’s but very mature for my age! So get ready to dive deep into the Lord with me!

I am also very passionate about fitness, nutrition, fashion, and beauty! My main purpose is to encourage women through God’s word. But we will definitely be diving into those other topics! I have been obsessed with makeup and fashion since I was three years old. I am also aspiring to be an esthetician and I have a degree in psychology. I did pursue a degree in health promotion and wellness for awhile, since I am gluten free and dairy free. That definitely sparked my interest in health and wellness! So, I will be sharing lots of yummy recipes! Because of my food allergies and natural life style, I will be sharing my natural beauty tips and tricks as well! I am so excited to share all I have learned with y’all!

For years I felt the Lord wanting me to pursue blogging…but I was scared. Scared to take that leap of faith. Scared that I wouldn’t be good enough. But I realized it isn’t about being enough. I feel like even if I can make a small impact on someone it is worth it. God has placed so many desires in my heart to help others. Thank you for taking this leap of faith with me and diving into this new journey together!

Remember YOU ARE SO FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY MADE!

xoxo – Taylor Nicole