Discovering God Through Trauma

The wait is over... the moment we have been waiting for has finally arrived. Journey Tales is here and today were going to indulge into the journey of Ms. Briana Harbour, whose story is definitely going to uplift many people. I know for sure it inspired me. Throughout this interview, you will learn many things about Ms. Harbour that she faced from her childhood to her adulthood. As you listen to her story, I ask that you have an open heart and let her journey be a reflection of what can be a positive change for you.

Enough talk let's start the journey.

Q: Could you please introduce yourself to the readers?

A: Hello, my name is Briana Harbour, and I am originally from Detroit, Michigan. I now live in South Carolina. I am so honored and grateful to be a part of Journey Tales, and I thank you for having me. To sum up an introduction of myself, I consider myself to be quite multifaceted. I am a devout Woman of God, evangelist, intercessor, author, poet, student, entrepreneur, creative, philanthropist, and so much more. However, through it all, I am on a mission to lead people to Jesus Christ. The world is broken, and the only remedy/antidote is Jesus.

Thank you for agreeing to being among the first interviewees for this welcoming and inspiring blog. You are a woman of many talents, and I'm eager to learn how these talents assist you on your life's journey.

Q: Could you tell the readers about your childhood?

A: My childhood, well, I actually authored a book about it called Behind The Smile

(Breaking The Chain Before It Breaks You), which will be released on February 10, 2025. In a nutshell, my childhood was more traumatic than enjoyable. Simply said, a broken child laid the groundwork for a broken adult, but Jesus, I'll leave it there.

Q: You mentioned your childhood was traumatic. Could you share more details about that experience, how you overcame it, and how it has guided you and impacted you through adulthood?

A: Growing up without my father, who was incarcerated for the first 17 years of my life and being raised by my grandparents instead of my mother, were difficult experiences that allowed the enemy to plant seeds of unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, hypersexuality, hatred amongst other things within me. The trauma of my childhood seeped into my adulthood causing seasons of depression and opening the door to further traumatic experiences.

However, the Lord Jesus Christ has truly delivered me from so much. I owe Him my life, it's because of Him that I am here today, with a powerful testimony to share. His transformative power has turned my pain into purpose, and I have been saved by His blood. I am a testament to His ability to redeem even the most challenging of circumstances.

Wow, Ms. Harbour! I can't image what you must have gone through as a child without your father.Wondering why all the time, wondering if it was your fault, and always waiting for him to be present. I really apologize for what you had to go through, but I'm confident that both the readers and I would be enlightened to learn more about how you discovered your relationship with God and how it affected you.

Q: Do you mind telling us more about what bought you closer to God and how it has evolved and made you the woman you are today?

A: Of course, so Jesus has been a part of my life for decades, but I had not always obeyed Him or followed His commands as I should have. At 18, I faithfully took myself to church and got baptized and through the years I was an avid churchgoer and would read my Bible from time to time, pray often, yet live a double life. For more than a decade, I did whatever I wanted, taking various sorts of abuse, physically, emotionally, verbally, and financially, while coping with sex, drugs, alcohol, and much more as detailed in my book Behind The Smile. This is not what Jesus intended for me.

I was chasing the love of God subconsciously in the form of mankind but later realized that I was giving my heart for it to constantly be broken, because man nor the things of this world could not do me the way Jesus could/can. I was seeking companionship and not realizing that I was already being sought by God. So, each time I would go to God about my broken heart, I would later go to the store and get bottles of alcohol to drown my sorrows, as I lived my life as a functioning alcoholic. I was in my own way.

Quite often I couldn’t believe His promises, so I would listen or try to fulfill my own. My worldly desires allowed me to have gods in my life by elevating other people and things (idolatry). I was devoted to everything and everyone but Jesus while failing to recognize that He was my only need. In my mind, my will was better than God’s because I could have access to things and people in my own timing and I didn’t have to wait on His.

But, on Sunday, I worshipped, I praised, I cried and also, I would ask for Him to change me, but I always had one foot in the world and on foot with him. The Book of Revelations talks about being a Lukewarm Christian, I was that. I actively sinned and did things that displeased Jesus, but I knew one day He would change me.

At 23 I battled severe and active suicidal ideations for over 6 months. I had several plans and intentions to carry out my death wish but JESUS! There was a time when I found myself on the floor of my bedroom with my gun to my head and finger on the trigger ready to end my life. The main thing the enemy was trying to instill in me was that ending my life would free me from the pain. It’s only by the grace and blood of Jesus that I am here today. The revelation I received from Jesus many years ago was that He was holding me during that painful time while I sat on the floor.

I refrained from acting on those thoughts because of His intervention; it was not my desire, but His will for me to continue living, and I am more than thankful for that. What the devil meant for evil My God turned it around for my good enabling me to share with others that they too can overcome, as I have (“No weapon formed against me shall prosper”). Nine years later, I am here to testify to the goodness/greatness of Jesus.

I didn't know how or when, but I knew that the trauma that had me bound had an expiration date. Well, like I said, what I didn't know was how that change would occur. So, a decade later, I ended up in a homosexual relationship which progressed to marriage. The devil always looks for ways to bind us to sin and if we are not actively utilizing our God given power and authority to make him flee, he ends up manipulating and utilizing our very power for his benefit. The problem is if we don't actively read the Word of God, pray, fast, and seek Jesus's face, we are walking around with cracks in our armor, and this allows the devil to have access to us.

Ok, so I was now in a marriage, and the Holy Spirit would not allow me to have peace with it. I tried, but my spirit and heart were broken, because I knew I was living in error. That the relationship I was in was not pleasing to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and it broke me down, depression came, and I couldn't sleep, it was on my mind all the time. I tried to be happy and content with love, but the Holy Spirit would not let me be. (Thank you, Jesus, I serve a God that would NOT leave me alone).

The dissolving of my marriage was the breakthrough for me and Jesus. This time, I'm no longer of the world, I'm no longer doing what I want to do, but what He wants, I'm no longer being lukewarm, but living a life through and with Jesus Christ. I have made a firm decision to choose Him and live for Him every single day, not just on Sundays. From Monday through Sunday, I give Him my utmost effort and devotion, with both feet firmly planted in Him. I strive to exemplify a holy life for Him, for that is what He has called me to do, and He is worthy of my obedience. When I fall short, I am quick to repent. At this stage in my life, I live in a constant state of surrender and repentance as I follow Jesus. 

Being holy does not mean being flawless but rather living according to God's commands. Through this, I’ve become righteous, sanctified, and set apart as I walk uprightly with Jesus. As the Lord has transformed me, there are many things I now refrain from, as I must obey the standard He has set, while there are also many things I now do daily for Him. My mission is to help others see and live out this standard, which is Jesus.

Since rededicating my life to Jesus, we have grown much closer, and He has shared many things with me such as the call to make disciples for Him. Everything I do now is for the Kingdom of God, so I am His ambassador, tasked with helping people cross over from darkness into the light of Christ.

Jesus is my everything, He is my true love. He is my best friend, provider, strength, counselor, teacher, role model, confidant, comfort, safety net, rock, salvation, husband, father, mother, doctor, protector, peace and so much more. He has so many roles and duties in my life it's hard to truly name all. I'm grateful for Him, and to know that I belong to Him.

Q: Alright Ms. Harbour what advice would you give your younger self?

A: I would advise my younger self to build a relationship with Jesus Christ while young. You know my grandmother, my father's mother, God rest her soul she took me to church as often as I would see her. She planted the greatest seed and trained me up in the Lord.

(" Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it") Proverbs 22:6 KJV

She taught me how to pray when I was a child, however, being a child, and being around different lifestyles and atmospheres, those seeds were not being watered in my daily routine and interactions with my other family members, so I never used what I learned with my grandmother consistently, not until I became an adult. I would also tell my younger self to be consistent with prayer, talk to Jesus about everything and build your faith.

I would also say to my younger self to dwell in the Love of God and not man. The love I felt that I was missing from my parents, was actually the love of God. Finally, I would advise speaking up for myself because my voice matters, and I matter.

Before we continue on I want to start by saying that I'm glad you brought up the significance of your voice. It is important for the readers that you are aware of the significance of what you have to say is important. Readers you heard it from Ms. Harbour herself .

"YOU AND YOUR VOICE MATTERS"

Q: What advice would you offer to our readers.

A: I encourage everyone to choose Jesus Christ because He has already chosen you. Additionally, read the Word of God (the Bible) to discover who Jesus is to you and for you. This will help you learn about Him and experience the joy of the Lord. It's also important to attend a church that teaches only the Word of God. Learning about Jesus enables you to recognize Him as your true love, which helps you grow in your affection for Him.

When you pursue Him and seek His heart, He transforms you, instilling a deep desire to know Him better. When you surrender your burdens to Jesus, He frees you from captivity. In return, He takes away your pain and fills you with hope, transformation, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. For those who may or may not have experienced trauma, please hear me clearly: you cannot navigate life alone. You need Jesus. The various vices you may turn to in an attempt to alleviate your pain are only temporary fixes that can lead to further problems.

However, Jesus Christ offers a permanent solution to life's adversities; you just have to give Him a chance. Pray to Him and share what hurts you so that He can heal you. What you keep hidden cannot be healed. Although Jesus already knows your struggles, He wants to hear from you and understand how you would like His help. This is an important step on your journey toward freedom.

Because who the son sets free is free indeed. (John 8:36)

There is always a part that belongs to God and a part that belongs to you. A relationship with Jesus can truly change your life for the better; I speak from experience. First, you must surrender your life to Him and trust His plan. Let go of your own will and accept His. Change can be painful, but remaining the same can be even more painful. You need to allow God to have His way in your life.

If you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please do not delay. No one knows the day or hour when He will return to gather those who bear His name. Additionally, you do not know when you will take your last breath. To ensure that you are with Jesus when that time comes, please recite the following aloud so that you can become a new creation in Christ.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe that you died for me and that God raised you from the dead for me. I ask that you come into my life. I admit that I am a sinner, and Jesus I ask that you forgive me of my sins. Help me to live as you need me to. I surrender my life to you, today and every day. In Jesus Christ name, I pray, Amen.

Scripture: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

My favorite motto is one of my own: “What good is the story if you never share it”. 

 Followed by:

“From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. "Luke 12:48b AMP

"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross , and follow me." Luke 9:23 KJV

“The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me”‭‭Psalm‬ ‭138‬:‭8‬a KJV

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭45‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!! "Luke 1:45 NIV

Thank you, Ms. Harbour, for being a part of Journey Tales. I am grateful for you sharing your story with the readers and me. I hope it has influenced at least one person, if not many.

You kept it RAW and REAL, and I love that. This what Journey Tales is all about letting the readers learn about the real you and not hiding it. You've faced many battles, but you didn't let you battles defeat you overcame and WON...

Thank you once again

See you all next time on Journey Tales