Conversations with the Inspiring Brie Black

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brie Black.

So, before we jump into specific questions about what you do, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My story is truly a reflection of God’s grace. I’ve always been told, that I look as if nothing in my life went wrong… like my Pastor would say, “Thank God, I don’t look like what I’ve been through.” I look back at every season, every trial and can honestly say it all served a purpose. My journey started freshman year of college. I was away from home and ready to do anything the world offered. I grew up in a household that was very strict and sheltered. This lifestyle at home in Michigan encouraged me to do whatever I wanted when I moved to Georgia for school.

My life at this time was full of smoking, drinking, sex, and the list goes on. I was everywhere, doing everything. In my heart for the longest I knew what I was doing, I knew about God and still felt as if I was exempt from living a Christ-honoring lifestyle. I also went through so many friendships. I never had a consistent group of women I could depend on and do life with. It was always drama, lies, backstabbing or gossip going on. I grew to become so depressed, insecure and confused about who I was in life. I can vividly remember many times, getting anxiety attacks from being in social groups, not getting an internship or not understanding a concept in class. My value was in my classes/opportunities, friend’s opinions of me, and men. Daily, filling myself with voids that would only temporarily do the fix. In 2015, I had lost my dad, my best friend. I didn’t realize at the time I was grieving. That all of these things I involved myself in, were ways to fill up the emptiness inside. I longed to be seen, heard, loved and valued by all the wrong things.

By spring 2017, I was depressed and truly felt useless in life. I had no clear vision of who I was or what I wanted to be. I didn’t get the internship that I worked so hard for, and my GPA was the lowest I’ve ever seen it. Out of desperation, I cried out for something… I prayed and asked God to take over. I remember, my roommate asking me to go to this party that same night and I said no. That night I pulled out a devotional my mom bought me when I first moved out to GA, and my Bible. I had never opened either of the books. I cried, wept, journaled and asked God to forgive me.

From that point on I started to completely live for Jesus. I began daily, to pray, worship and read my Bible. God was taking me through the wilderness season, as I like to call it, to develop a genuine relationship with Him. Months of healing, pruning, and understanding my identity as a woman of God. He filled the void of brokenness, insecurities and the need to people please. I am not perfect, and He is still working on me. But I thank Him daily I’m nowhere near who I use to be. This Brianna currently is secure, bold, confident, strong, embodying the fruits of the spirit and loves on herself more than ever. And I didn’t know all the pain, brokenness and the mess that I went through would later turn into a message to help encourage others. Today, I’ve chosen to be an ambassador for Christ, and He is using me through encouragement and sisterhood to bring people to Him.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Wow, it definitely wasn’t easy overall. I’ve been through challenges every single season of my life once I started to actively pursue Christ. What comes with a calling on your life, and what comes with doing Kingdom work are burdens, trials, and undesirable circumstances. Tons of detours, and pain but it’s learning that despite what I go through it’s in His plans and it’s for my good.

I’ve really been learning throughout all of my previous seasons that God is still sovereign. Over anything that we go through, He has allowed (Job in the Bible is a great example of this), He knows about it and He is bigger than it all. He is bigger than the stress, He is bigger than the finances, He is bigger than voids. Whatever it is that I may have gone through in a particular season, He has allowed me to rest on the simple fact that He is bigger. I want to encourage younger women, and honestly, anyone to recognize the power of God, and to know that we live for Him. That everything in our life that happens, has nothing to do with us but it’s all for the glory of God. I encourage you to rest on His truths of who He says you are (Ephesians 1 & 2), abide in Christ by having constant communication with Him through prayer, guard your Spirit from worldly things that may tempt you to go back to an ex, to a certain memory, etc. (secular music, parties, media that doesn’t glorify Christ see James 4:8) and get around community… people who are Christ-like and have the same type of desire to be on fire for God. Any new spiritual journey, will not be easy. It says in the Bible that we are to suffer as Christ has suffered (2 Timonthy 3:12, 1 Peter 5:8-9, John 15:19, Acts 14:22, 2 Corinthians 1:5, Job 36:15 and Romans 8:18). So if there’s no suffering honey, or there aren’t any challenges… you should be worried! Take delight in it. Also, challenges could be a way of correction. It says that a Father lovingly corrects (Hebrews 12:6) His children.

He brings things to us, so we can get through it. Nothing is ever just because, God is intentional about the details, the detours, the in-betweens in our life. He could be trying to prune you, teach you something about your character or show you what it means to be a true warrior for God. Everything is accounted for in your purpose and calling. So sister or brother, embrace the roadblocks… it’s apart of being a Christian (Christ- IAN I am nothing). Be reminded it’s not about YOU, but the next sister or brother who needs encouragement. God brought this mountain to YOU because He knows YOU can move it!

Also, I encourage every sister to chase Christ. Whatever it is your pursing, maybe it’s your career, a man or your friends… follow Jesus and everything else will follow, if it’s in His will for you. I know what it’s like to make a man your everything or go hard for a certain internship, please know that what God has for, you will not have to chase down or force. It will come! What’s for you, will only make it’s way to YOU. No man, no rejection can stop what God has for your life.

What should we know about 31 & Rubies? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a woman of God just simply doing Kingdom work. God has given me a ministry to create sisterhood, provide resources and encourage all through Christ. He has first put on my heart to create 31 & Rubies, a platform for women to obtain the resources to help them on their journey with Christ. Women of the Word is a group chat for women to fellowship with other Christ-like women. I also send morning or evening devotionals. Women I know personally now just through the chat have created life long relationships with some of the sisters in the chat. It’s so amazing to hear the stories of friendships being built intentionally through a group chat! And For the Kingdom, are daily messages full of encouragement, scriptures, and declarations. It’s a way to help jump start your day with Christ.

Everything that I do operates in the Spirit, so ultimately, I aim to make Christ known through these platforms.

I believe Christians can still have fun, and still listen to great music but all through honoring Christ. So, if someone asks me for a rap playlist, I would send one that is just as good as the secular rap they’re listening to but it glorifies God. The goal of 31 & Rubies is to provide what a sister needs, whether it be singleness, wilderness season, pursuing celibacy… I will aid in helping that sister obtain the right resources. That could be a music playlist, blog posts, scriptures, events all catering to specifically what that sister is going through.

I am truly excited for this upcoming year (2020), so many things are in store for 31R! Events, a new app, some gear and more! I want to make sure there is no excuse for the woman pursuing Christ to grow in her relationship with God! I get questions all the time about making time for God, or wanting to pursue a God-honoring life, but not knowing what that looks like. I want to make sure that others have all that they need to truly enjoy this journey with Christ!

One thing that I’ve noticed that people have been experiencing through my ministries is the genuineness. I really have a burden to want to help! I know what it feels like to want more of God but not know the first step in seeking Him. Life should not be done alone! I do the research, and take the time out to make sure I’m providing the quality resources to help someone else in any season.

To join anything or learn more about the ministries, send me a direct message on Instagram!

Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
I’m truly inspired by seeing everyday women fill their lives with Christ. It often changes, depending on the current season I’m in. I may see someone on Instagram posting about evangelizing and it sparks something in me to spread the Gospel in a new, fresh way.

A few women of God I’m currently inspired by are Priscilla Shirer (@PriscillaShirer), Sarah Jakes Roberts (@SarahJakesRoberts), Heather Lindsey (@Heatherllove), Sopha Rush (@sopharush), Juanita Bynum (@IamDrJuanitaBynum) and Sherelle Marie (@_sherellemarie). All of these women have encouraged me in some way. Whether it be interceding for others, understanding warfare or day-to-day things I can do to stay committed to Christ!

Constantly I am encouraged by my mother’s faith. Growing up, I was raised in the church. I would be at every Sunday service and every Wednesday Bible study… we prayed daily, talked a lot about the Fruits of the Spirit and my mother embodied what it means to be a woman of modesty.

One thing I picked up from the women who inspire me daily, is that they have a WHY. Figure out your why in doing what you do daily so that when burnout rises, you can stay rooted in what you hope for. Every month, I create a Season Board, it consists of the word for that season, images or goals I hope to accomplish, or things I plan to grow in/heal from and scriptures for daily encouragement. Keep them in your phone or journal to look back and see how much you’ve changed! Thank you so much for this opportunity, I’m immensely grateful! So much love for Voyage ATL!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allthingsbrie/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/allthingsbrie
• Other: To Join For the Kingdom Text Messages: www.remind.com/join/wearehis

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