Notes from this week's podcast: Transformed Tuesday with Brittney Bussey

Jo: Life has circumstances and circumstances that can be storms in our lives. 

How can we draw close to God through circumstances in our lives -- her journey of how she has surrendered to God and allowed these circumstances to draw her closer to God. 

(Jo asks Brittney to introduce herself.) 

Brittney: I'm married, mother of four. I grew up in the church. I've been active in the church, and I'm raising our children to be the same way. I stay at home with them. 

Jo: Growing up in the church, how did that prepare you for marriage and motherhood?

Brittney: Knowing that it was all designed by God -- He created our family and glorify Him in that. 

Jo: What does [glorify God] mean to you? And what does that look like in your home now? 

Brittney: How I raise the children every day -- getting up, getting them ready for school, we pray together; we talk about our day; we put on the armor of God every morning to prepare for the day -- that no matter what we go through during that day, everything we do and how we act is to point others back to Jesus and to be a light for Jesus. 

Jo: In your upbringing in your church, did that prepare you for motherhood? for some of the crises that you have walked through and having children and having a family?

Brittney: Yes, but you don't really know exactly what you're going to go through until you're going through it. 

Jo: What have been some moments of crisis in your family, in your life, in your circumstances that's drawn you closer to God or got to know God more through His Word? 

Brittney: In 2021, we were pregnant with our fourth child. And, at 16 weeks, we were told that she was very sick and would likely not survive birth. During the next four weeks, I bargained with God. I begged God to heal her. I prayed constantly for her to be healed because I knew, no matter what the doctor said, God could do so much more and could heal her. And, He answered our prayer and He healed her but it was not the way I wanted Him to answer the prayer. When she was 20 weeks, we found out she didn't have a heartbeat and that I had to deliver her. And it was hard, and I was sad and angry and mad and I questioned everything. But God did heal her because she is no in heaven, fully healed and made perfect but my head was not there right away.

And God showed up for me. Thankfully, I stayed in the Word and stayed praying -- mad inside -- and talked to God and asked Him: Why did You let this happen to me? Why me? Why did you take my baby? Why did you let my baby die? He reminded me that His Son died too. I told Him: It wasn't the same. He wasn't a mother. He didn't understand how I felt. He reminded me that He created mothers. He made me a mother. And, in that moment, I knew He was right. I had a peace about me that I still had three children (to get up and) to disciple them. Even though it was still sad, I knew I had to get up and keep being there for my other children and that's the way I can glorify God in my family. 

Jo: How do you know that God was talking to you? helping you work through that?

Brittney: I knew it was God because it was an immediate peace that came over me.

Jo: You had a relationship with God and could identify His peace. It sounds like He met you at your point of need.

How did God wipe away that anger, and feeling of apprehension?

You worked God into that. And God worked you through that.

Brittney: I asked Him all the time: Why me? I thought I did something wrong, must have sinned. I was reminded of John 9. The disciples asked Jesus: Why is he blind? Did he sin? Did his parents sin? Why was he born this way? Jesus said: No one sinned. He was born this way so that God's work would be shown in his life. 

So, I knew there was a reason. God's work would be shown through this somehow. 

The first day I got out with the children after all this had happened, I took them to school. (As) I pulled out of my driveway, there was this big wooden cross, covered in lights, outside my front door and I just stared at it for the longest time. This is the first thing I'm seeing -- a picture of the cross. And I knew God was with me. 

Jo: Isn't that so like God to show up in strange ways? But you immediately recognized God's presence was right there. Through the cross, the suffering -- Him giving His life -- you could identify exactly the message that was being conveyed. 

Brittney: I didn't want to look at anybody. I didn't want anybody to look at me. I had been so angry. But as I saw that cross, in that moment, I knew I was cared for. 

Jo: Were there other people that came along? Or was this mostly you and God? to get you to this moment of peace

Brittney: There were other people. I had family and friends. There was one moment. In the two days when I found out that she no longer had a heartbeat to when I had to go deliver her. My children all had Christmas parties at school and I knew I wasn't going to be there for them. So I had a short period of time to go and get their candy ready for school. I went to Walmart. I circled the candy section. I don't think I was in my right mind. I was so broken. And, Kenny came and just prayed for me in the middle of Walmart. He was there. He prayed for me and it was right when I needed it the most. 

Jo: When we see a friend or someone walking through a crisis, how do we minister? And, it's so easy for us to avoid it. 

If God says go and pray with that person, stop and pray with them. 

That is profound. We, as Christians, need to be more bold. We don't ever know how deep the hurt is. 

Brittney: I still remember it, after all these years. 

Jo: I'm interested in knowing: Has there ever been a time since then that God used that remembrance for you to step out and pray for someone else? 

Brittney: Yes. Always go pray, if God is putting it on your heart to pray for someone, go pray... because you never know how much it's going to mean to them. Don't worry about what they think. 

Brittney: You can't worry about what people think. You and God are what matter. 

Jo: I think we're living in a season where God's getting us more bold, getting us more desperate in witnessing to people. 

What were the next things that you moved through, to move through this crisis so you drew closer to God and that home could become normal? 

Brittney: He did bless me with three other children. And I stayed in the Word. I continued to pray. I've talked about it with my children. They know. They're aware. Every day, we strive to bring God glory. He's blessed me with so much. God is always providing for us. There's a purpose. There's a reason. God has a plan. And, if I don't continue to follow Him and raise my family following Him. Then we're not going to fulfill His purpose. And we need to show others who Christ is. 

Jo: How are some ways that they are seeing God through all of this? 

Brittney: One day, I sat down in the kitchen and I told my oldest: if you see Mommy cry, I'm a little sad but it's ok. And, I told them: Walker's in Heaven. They get so excited when I talk about one day they'll get to go see their sister in Heaven. 

Every so often they talk about Baby Walker and say she's with Jesus. They know that Heaven's real; God's real. God healed her. And she's where she needs to be.

Jo: As the Word says: If we follow Christ, we believe and receive Christ into our heart. And how are you teaching that part to your children now?

Brittney: Before we leave the house, we put on the full armor of God. And I tell them there's a spiritual war that they can't see. We pray together every morning and every night. I keep them in the Scripture and we talk together and read the Bible. Everyday, on the way to school as we're praying. I remind them that they might be the only form of Jesus that someone sees that day -- being different because they have Jesus.

Jo: You're doing the simple things and you're doing them over and over and over again. Sometimes we lose hope when we don't see a lot of results. But don't move from these simple things.

Brittney: Stay consistent and put God first.

Jo: But it's because you believe God.

Brittney: There is a reason and a purpose why this happened. I don't fully understand it, other than I know God picked me to go through this so that one day, now or later, I'm going to be able to help someone else or what I went through will help someone else. 

God didn't just do it to do it. That's not God. 

Jo: God's already helped you -- drawn you closer to Him. 

Was there any specific Scriptures that meant more to you during that time? 

Brittney: (2 Kings 20:5) I knew He heard me: God, I'm here, and I'm crying. He sees me and He did heal me. Hearing it from Him meant so much more: I will heal you.

Jo: You knew where to run. Pushing through all of it, you ran there, and God met you there. How are you better because of this?

Brittney: I realize how blessed I am and how much God has done for me and I'm thankful that He chose me. He chose me to be the mother to the children I have. He chose me to be the one to carry out this plan He has. And everyday I'm getting closer to God the more I learn and study His Word.

Jo: You're not holding back the goodness of God -- telling other people about the goodness of God, rather than harboring anger, holding it against God. You're allowing God to use it.

What would you say to someone who is in a crisis right now? They are questioning God.

Brittney: It's ok to question God. It's ok to ask why. Just because He's not answering you right now doesn't mean He's not going to because God's timing is not always our timing. Everyone is going to go through a storm or trial. And you have to stay in the Word. If you don't, Satan's going to take away your joy.

Jo: How has this increased your love relationship with you and God?

Brittney: I am so aware of all He's done for me. Going through what I went through, clinging to Him. He's a Friend. He's our Father. He wants nothing but the best for us. I just want to keep getting to know Him more.

Jo: How are you more committed to be less of the world and more about God today than you were?

Brittney: Social media - it is so easy to get caught up in it. I want [my family] to know they can come home -- our home is a safe place where they are loved no matter what.

Jo: God wants to use them as someone was used in your life in the middle of your crisis. How would you encourage that person?  

Brittney: Please don't be afraid. If you feel the Holy Spirit tugging you in the slightest way to encourage someone or pray for someone, do it please.

Jo: That's how God gets the glory. He really has done a marvelous thing in your life and in your home. Thank you for sharing.

Brittney: Thank you!  

Scripture for further study: John 9:1-3, 2 Kings 20:5