Tag: fearfullymade

It is Time to Bloom

It is Time to Bloom

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 2 Comments
Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

Bloom where your planted. But what happens when you look around and you’re the last one? You’ve watched others around you get what you’ve so desperately prayed for. God is saying just hang on. There is beauty for your ashes. Even if it takes you a little longer to bloom. Even if you may be the last one. He has not forgotten you.

I have felt God impress to me to just “trust.” Even in the wait or should I say especially in the wait…TRUST. The last several months have been hard. Like me, you may not want to be in the season that you’re in. Maybe you thought God would change your situation by now? Well I get it! But as I walked into my yard the other day I saw this single magnolia bloom left. I was enthralled with its beauty. It stood out even more to me because it was the last one left. In that moment God encouraged me that I was like that last bloom left.

Despite being “late” in its blooming it was all the more beautiful. I took notice and it was easily found. No longer was it hidden amongst the rest. When the time has come God will position you to be found. When you bloom everything around you will present you on display. No delays. No distractions. God will open the doors. Floodgates will open up and an outpouring will flow forth. All the other flowers had blown away, yet this one endured. It reminded me of my circumstances and how we tend to try to rush things. I may feel like things may be delayed, but God is saying “NO!” They are right on time. All things are made perfect in HIS timing. Emphasis on His timing and not mine.

This beautiful bloom reminded me that in Gods perfect time everything prayed for will come to pass. You will bloom when the time has come. Not too early. Not too late. Everything will fall into place. Gods timing is always perfect. Be encouraged that though things may not be happening as quickly as you’d like they are still happening!

Bloom where you’re planted and expect to see God move in BIG ways. Don’t let the outside forces around you dictate if it’s your time or not. Don’t let the enemy whisper lies that you’re too late or God has forgotten you. Seek God in all you do and He will make a way for you to Bloom. Trust that every promise He has placed on your heart will come to pass.

Remember You are Fearfully Made ❤

xoxo Taylor Nicole

Illuminate the Dark

Illuminate the Dark

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

God illuminates the dark. When you seek God and His word He will always show you the way. Sometimes I think we get so caught up in the way we think things “should be” we miss what God is actually trying to do. I know I do it. But as we seek His word it becomes a lamp to our feet. It gives us the clarity and direction that we long for.

Truthfully, I’ve been feeling really discouraged and frustrated lately waiting for God to give me direction. I’m waiting for Him to just tell me what to do already. But I think I’ve been spending too much time trying to “fix” myself and my situation instead of allowing God complete control. I want certain things to come to pass but I am so fixated on the how. I forget that the way to get Gods direction is through His word. We need to be seeking Gods word for Him to reveal our path.

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed or discouraged but I take a step back and think “what is God showing me?” The direction is in the details. Most of the time God doesn’t make a clear cut choice for us. We have free will and we have the freedom to choose. But that’s why being in the word is so important. Without the direction and conviction it gives us we will always be lead astray.

There has been so many times I thought I was right. But the more you pursue God the more He reveals the areas that need work. Just like now. My control is definitely an issue. I am always in such a rush, I mean I think we all are. Constantly striving for the next thing. But I need to remind myself God isn’t pressured by time like we are. As I write this I feel an ease and am reminded that Gods got me.

The thing is your life doesn’t start when these desires or goals finally happen. I mean they can essentially mean nothing without God behind it. My hearts desire is to be married. I know I have mentioned this several times – but it is still something I am waiting on. My faith in it can waver day to day but I know what God promised. My struggle is just allowing God the control and not questioning the when or why. I know God always illuminates and reveals things when they are meant to be.

We may think we’re ready for something, but there are always things that we don’t see or know. We may feel like we’ve been waiting forever, but there is always a reason God has kept you hidden. At the exact moment the time is right He will reveal you. That job, that big move, that person you’ve been waiting for – God will lift the veil from you and you will be found.

The more you seek God the more He beings to reveal in your heart as well as the circumstances around you. Maybe God is growing you right now? Desiring to bring healing and restoration. Or maybe He is protecting you. Trust me, I know it’s hard! But I also know following God and His prompting is so much sweeter than when I try to control everything without Him. God knows what is best. Even in the waiting (no matter how hard it gets) choose to trust Him. Because your Abba loves you. He desires to bless you and give you the desires of your heart.

Remember You are Fearfully Made ❤

xoxo Taylor Nicole

Dry Wells Dry Up

Dry Wells Dry Up

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

So, I came across this post I made from over two years ago. The words jumped off the screen and pierced my heart…further convicting me. Insightful. Real. Raw. These words spoke to a part of me I think we all have. I had written these words at the lowest point in my life. It so clearly made me realize how much I heard God in my season of pain. In the darkness He illuminated my brokenness allowing me to see my desperate need for Him. He embraced me with His loving presence and revealed to me His heart. In turn this opened my eyes to my heart and where I was standing.

I feel often times we are living to fill a void. We forget to check ourselves and what our motives are. Enticed by this world and the instant gratification it offers. We accept love through likes, follows, and material things. We allow this world to tell us what we are worth. We become too lazy to seek the lasting love through our Fathers words. We all too quickly allow the distractions of this world to lead us to this place again. This place we never wanted to be. This instant attraction and love affair with social media or the things we encounter in day to day life has left us empty and desperate. We begin to lose ourselves and become unsure of our true worth and identity. What this world has to offer cannot sustain or satisfy this thirst we have. We were created by God for God. We have a longing in our hearts which can only be filled by Him. Colossians 1:16 “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” A dry well cannot provide water for those who thirst. This world cannot tell you who you are. The ever changing standards will give you whiplash. You will get lost in the shuffle and soon after forget who God created you to be.

If you seek God and His word to fulfill you, then you will never thirst. You won’t need that instant gratification you seek. You will have a deep wellspring overflowing and His word will satisfy your heart. You will not be deceived for you will know you are fully loved. Trust Jesus with your heart and allow Him to move. You are His precious jewel the desire of His heart. Stop seeking to be filled from these dry places. The Lord spoke to me and said “Stagnant water dries up and goes nowhere.” Do not be stagnant. Do not seek fulfillment in these dead things keeping you stuck. Anything that we seek above or before God serves as a dry well. Though it may seem that we get the validation we desire it is short lived. Leaving us wanting more. Soon these things we base our worth and value off of will fade away. Likes, followers, and material things this world values will all disappear. So, do not seek these dry wells to tell you who you are. For just as quickly as they came they will soon dry up. Instead seek the word of God and never thirst again. John 4:14 “but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Remember You are Fearfully Made ❤

xoxo Taylor Nicole

In the Darkness

In the Darkness

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment
“If I say “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” Psalm 139: 11-16

In darkness He formed you and shaped you. Just as He shaped you in the darkness of your mothers womb He is shaping you now. In your darkest moments. In your deepest despair.

God uses the darkness to shine His light. What is contrasting of light? Darkness. Without darkness His glory wouldn’t be as grand. Without darkness our need for the light wouldn’t be as clear. Darkness – our trials, pain, and suffering stirs up a desire in us for light – the truth, peace, and presence of God. Without our sorrow, pain, and tears we wouldn’t know the true joy of being in the Fathers arms.

When I’ve been in my deepest and darkest moments God swooped in to pick up the pieces. He shows up and reminds you who you are but also how amazing He is. How great His love is for you. Never once has He left you even in your darkest hours. The brokenness you feel – the darkness you endure. All causes you to shine more brightly. His power is made perfect in our weakness and we become a living testimony. Showing the pure love, grace, and mercy of God.

There is beauty in your brokenness. Your light begins to shine through every crack left through the pain of your past. God uses these cracks to fill you up with more of Him – mending you and making you better than before. You will be a bright light in the darkness. You are a force to be reckoned with and darkness will flee. The enemy will shrink back. God will use you to shine His love in the darkness.

Remember You are Fearfully Made

xoxo Taylor Nicole

All I’m Standing On

All I’m Standing On

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment
Truth I’m Standing On
Leanna Crawford

Scared, oh I thought I knew scared
Now I’m so filled with fear
I can barely move
Doubts, I’ve had my share of doubts
But never more than right now
I’m wondering where are You
I’m on the edge of fall apart
But somehow Your promises
Find my troubled heart
This is the truth I’m standing on
Even when all my strength is gone
You are faithful forever
And I know You’ll never
Let me fall
Right now I’m choosing to believe
Someday soon I’ll look back and see
All the pain had a purpose
Your plan was perfect all along
This is the truth I’m standing on

Nothing encompasses the last 8 months of my life like this song. The other day I was driving in my car and the end of this song came on. Of course by the time I got home I forgot the lyrics that I heard. But I googled and googled and finally found it! I immediately felt like it was a gift from God because He knew it was exactly what I needed. I sat down on my bed and began to pray and pressed play. I burst into tears instantly.

Overwhelmed with emotions. This song is me. It is my life for the last 8 months. After my breakup I thought I’d never be the same. Yet God is continually making me better healing me more and more every day. I realized listening to this song that the journey isn’t about getting what you want. One day we’ll see every heartbreak served a purpose. His plan is perfect and every struggle and mistake was leading me back to Him. Even now I am so grateful for every trial. God is continually opening my eyes more and more to the purpose in my pain. Looking back He will always show you the “why?” Looking back you will see the purpose and preparation God was working in you. God has plans bigger than ours. We just need to trust Him.

Even if the journey takes a detour through pain. In those moments they draw us closer to God. When I went through my breakup I thought I lost myself. My identity was so attached to someone who just walked away. I didn’t realize at the time the gift God gave me. Calling me to come back to Him. I didn’t lose myself. God helped me find my way back to who I am. You see the journey isn’t about everything going perfectly the way we plan. It’s through the twists and turns – the trials where we truly find ourselves.

You may think you lost the one thing that made you “you.” But turn to God and I guarantee He’ll remind you who you truly are. There’s purpose in our pain. God will always keep His word and do what He has promised.

Remember You are Fearfully Made ❤

xoxo Taylor Nicole

You are Seen

You are Seen

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

In my deepest fears I’m alone. I’m abandoned. Forgotten. Cast aside. Many times this fear has become my reality. Tonight as I write I feel this pressing word from God “you are seen.” There’s this urgency I feel to write about His love for us because I’ve felt so alone. I’ve felt hidden away from the love of God. Isolated in darkness.

The truth is you are seen. You are loved. Even when we feel our lowest God is right there. When I feel unloved I want to hide myself away. Isolating in my pain. We become fearful our flaws make us unlovable. But not to God. Not to your Abba. He looks at us and sees perfection. He sees the flaws but still calls us worthy – fearfully and wonderfully made. We are truly and deeply known. Seen for who we are and He loves us. There is no greater feeling than that. Knowing that you are truly known and deeply loved to your core.

I constantly need to remind myself of the fact that I am seen. I am loved. When you are your most broken God sees beauty. He sees what we don’t see in ourselves. He sees the heart. Shortly after my breakup God gave me a vision. I was in a garden with Him and He came up to me as I knelt on the ground crying. He lifted my face toward Him and as I looked at Him he told me “You are so beautiful. You are so loved.” In my most broken hour God showed up and reminded me who I am to Him. How God sees me. The thing is there will always be things that people don’t like about you – they won’t “see” you. Not everyone is going to see the real you and like you. And that’s okay because God sees you and He loves you. God doesn’t see us the way others do – He doesn’t see our brokenness and disregard us like trash. He picks up the broken pieces because He sees the beauty in them.

What we might think is a flaw God finds the most special and unique thing about us. There is purpose in our pain. I am still trying to remind myself of that. I still feel the pain of my breakup but I know God has greater things in store. Brokenness leads to our beauty for ashes. God doesn’t delight in our sorrow and suffering. But these trials produce endurance. Something which I am so grateful for. They give us revelation and wisdom. Often times my biggest pain produces my biggest revelation. I think that’s something most find true. We need the trials to draw us near to God. Drawing us closer to the Father gives us the clarity to see our situation – ourselves through His eyes. I find that I don’t realize how far I’ve drifted from Him until I’m placed in these situations.

Pain will come. Loneliness will knock at your hearts door. But God will always uses our brokenness. He uses the painful, broken, messy stuff and He seeps in all the cracks. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” – Psalm 147:3. He turns our brokenness into one of a kind beauty. When you feel most alone seek God and you will find that you aren’t alone. In fact you are completely seen. Pursued on purpose by your Heavenly Father.

Remember You are Fearfully Made ❤

xoxo Taylor Nicole

Tell Me You Love Me

Tell Me You Love Me

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Jeremiah 31:3 “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”

Tell me you love me. There’s this weight to the words “I love you.” It wasn’t until last night that I realized the true power of those words. I think a lot of times we throw them out so casually they’ve lost their true meaning and power. I know I’ve said them a million times to people that really didn’t ever mean much to me. And then it’s like how do we know if we really mean it? How do others know and can they truly trust our intentions?

I was thinking of all the times I said “I love you” without truly meaning it. And gosh, it’s so easy to say when you’re caught up in the moment. The feeling. The lies. Because emotions lie. Satan often uses them to distract and entangle us. And as I am now single I thought about my future husband. I struggle with the concept of dating or not to date. I easily fall and get swept up in my emotions and easily say “I love you.” As I thought I just realized I don’t want to be one of those people. Someone who says those words with no meaning behind it.

I am so grateful the Holy Spirit gave me this simple revelation of the weight of those words. As I wait for my husband now I do it with intention and I’m no longer giving into old patterns or distractions like I used to. And I thought of the “old me” how I would say “I love you” because I wanted to feel loved. I’ve been tempted when those feelings and butterflies come fluttering in to say those words, but this last time I thought of my future husband. How would he feel knowing I said those words to some random guy I barely knew. Or how would he feel knowing that after my last breakup I waited to say those words to him because he was so special.

Maybe you don’t or haven’t thrown out those words often like I have but I’m just realizing the weight that they hold. And that might sound silly to you but I think it’s important to remind ourselves of the power that they hold. God loves us with unfailing kindness. He is constantly pursuing us. And I am so grateful that He pursues my heart and reveals truth to me at just the right times that I need it ❤

Remember You are Fearfully Made

xoxo Taylor Nicole

I Choose Trust

I Choose Trust

by Taylor Nicole ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

“So bring on the waves. I’m loved by the one who anchors me. No fear of the grave I walk with the King of victory.” – Red Rocks Worship – I Will Trust

These lyrics and this song fills me with so much joy! As I sing along my heart means every single word. And it just makes this freedom and joy I feel even more apparent. There have been times, as I’m sure you know, as we walk with God that we are mouthing the words but not really living in the fruit of them. That was me.

I tried my hardest to do what was “right” but was still pursuing my own will. I wanted what I wanted. All God had promised to me just in my own way. I compromised and I convinced myself that God could work His way in an unbelievers heart that had no desire for that. I gave my heart and soul in a relationship with someone for 3 years who stripped away every part of who I was. My self worth diminished and the person in the mirror wasn’t me. I said I trusted God – and I did but I was so blinded by fear. Satan had his grips in me and he was trying to steal my purpose and all God called me to be. But God moved. God made a way.

Isn’t it funny how the trials we endure seem to feel like the end of what we thought the dream was. We hold so tightly to the things God is removing thinking that it was His promise, only to get to the other side and realize it was a counterfeit all along. Yeah, I got dumped. Hard core. I thought this was going to be my husband “the promise” but God revealed this mans true character. God revealed his character as well as my own and I needed to find my way back to God. It’s funny how sin has a way of making us desperate. Desperate for the desires of your heart and when you’re desperate you compromise. You are so desperate you are willing to do things your way over Gods way. You lose everything that makes you who you are because you’re operating outside of what God created you to be. Satan wants you to lose sight of your purpose and who you’re called to be. But God has different plans.

Through my breakup God saved me and I felt Him with me through it all like never before. I honestly didn’t know heartbreak could hurt so bad or that you could cry that hard. But God was with me and He carried me through it all. I’ve had heartbreak and hurt before but nothing like this. But there’s something I realize every time and it’s how much stronger that I come out. Through every trial I grow so much closer to God and through it He draws closer to me. Listening to this song I mentioned earlier I can’t help but smile. When I worship I have this undeniable joy like never before. And yes, I am still waiting on promises God gave me but I trust Him. I trust Him like never before because I’ve been through the darkest valleys and He was with me. There’s something freeing about knowing God is right there to catch you when you fall. I know even if it’s bad and my heart gets ripped out God is right there. God is restoring! He is rebuilding! He is healing! And I am stronger! I am better for it all and He has better in store. I came to God broken and lost. Every ounce of my self worth had been wiped away. But I humbled myself before God and I surrendered my heart. A powerful thing happens when you give God full reign of your heart. You can experience full healing.

I am finally feeling more like myself again. God swooped in and repaired my heart and brought joy. The more you begin to find who you are in God the more joy you begin to experience. God has continually given me Ephesians 3:20 – He is doing exceedingly abundantly above and beyond all I could imagine or ask! So I know He will bring His promises. I wait excited in expectation trusting Him because I’ve tried things my way and God has shown me the fruit of my decisions. So now I joyfully praise “bring on the waves” because “I’m loved by the one who anchors me” I know God is with me through the good and the bad. And He is using it all for my good and His glory. The king of kings is with me and for me. He has carried me when I couldn’t stand on my own and He will do it again! So I will continue to sing joyfully even in the waiting! Submit your heart to God and He will bring healing and joy like you’ve never known.

Remember You are Fearfully Made ❤

xoxo 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