Join Us for Weekly Inbox Encouragement + Access to a Full Library of Free Faith-Building Tools

Sign me up!

Kristi Woods

Encouraging Women to Walk Deeper with God

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Speaking
  • Shop
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • Blog
    • Spiritual Growth
    • Mentoring
    • Emotional Health
    • Faith Resources
    • Faith Holidays
  • Bible Studies
  • Nonfiction
  • Fiction
  • Free Christian Resources

#YourStory: Lanette Haskins

February 7, 2017 by Kristi 31 Comments

 

A Life Restored

by Lanette Haskins

They overcame him because of the Lamb’s blood, and because of the word of their testimony.

Rev. 12:11a WEB

We all have a story to tell — the good, the bad, the ugly and sometimes the really ugly. The good things are easy to share, it’s the other stuff that we hesitate to reveal. There are those parts of our stories that we would rather be left untold (and of course some details should be left out) but the truth is when we’re willing to share our stories, we encourage others that they’re not alone in their suffering and that gives them hope.

And that’s what I want to do — give others HOPE.

That’s why I write, not to share the ugly parts of my story but to share how God was able to take what was ugly and transform it into something beautiful…

When I was 10 years old I discovered that I had been adopted by the man I called dad. In that moment my life was forever changed as the enemy of my soul planted lies that I would believe for many years to come.

Because I wasn’t planned, I thought that God didn’t have a plan for me. I believed that I was a mistake — a life never meant to be lived. I never felt pretty enough, thin enough, smart enough, talented enough, or good enough and circumstances continually led me to believe that I had no value. I even believed that I deserved whatever happened — like when the “nice guy” who offered me a ride home from a party pulled into a field, locked the doors, and then stole from me the only thing of value that I had to offer.

And so I began searching for love and acceptance that I would never find in any man, only more confirmation of what I had believed all along and the more I gave myself away the more I believed the lies.

Bad choices have a way of multiplying rapidly when you shut God out and that was certainly true in my case. Bad choice after bad choice resulted in a teenage pregnancy, a late-term abortion, and shame and guilt that would hold me prisoner for the majority of my life.

Maybe you’ve made choices that have caused you deep pain and regret. Maybe the shame and guilt have been more than you can bear and maybe you believe that you deserve to be punished. Maybe you’ve been a prisoner to your past. Can I tell you something? Jesus will not leave you there. Just like the parable of the one lost sheep in Luke 15:1-7. He will come to find you. He will carry you home. And He will rejoice in your return.

He will rejoice in your return. ~ @LanetteHaskins Click To Tweet

His grace found me. I was lost and He came looking for me. He carried me home and rejoiced over me — I was enough. Enough for Him to choose me. Enough for Him to die for me. I was drowning in the ocean of it, nothing I had ever done could compare to His grace. It was more than enough to cover my sin and make me clean. His blood poured out for me. I was a new creation, not an improvement of who I used to be but NEW. And friend, He wants to do the same for you.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2 Corinthians 5:17 New Living Translation (NLT)

I no longer live according to the lies I once believed. I live according to the HOPE I have in Jesus.

My past is no longer a painful reminder of shame and guilt but a platform to lead others out of darkness and captivity into truth and freedom through Christ.

We can’t change our past but we can give it to God and trust Him to change our hearts.

My story is really God’s story of redemption and restoration through Jesus. It’s a story of His Beauty for my ashes. I share my story to give others hope and to give Him glory.

Remember, “the power of our stories is tremendous, but left untold, they are useless.”

God has a purpose and a plan for each and every one of us, so share your story, give others hope, lead them to Jesus.

About ~

Lanette Haskins is a writer, speaker, ministry leader and an artist. She is passionate about leading others out of the shame of their past by sharing her own story of Christ’s redeeming love. Lanette is a wife, mom and grammy living in West Michigan. She blogs at Your Grace Found Me, and can be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Linking with other Jesus writers here: #raralinkup, #testimonytuesday, #heartencouragementThursday, #chasingcommunity, & #thoughtprovokingThursday.
KristiWoods.net sign-up form
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print

Related

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Hope, Love

Do you struggle with Rejection?

Subscribe below to receive the 3-day devotional Removing the Sting of Rejection in your inbox for FREE. Use this devotional to build your spiritual muscles to counter the sting of rejection.

Comments

  1. Betsy de Cruz says

    February 7, 2017 at 5:48 am

    Your story is beautiful, Lanette. Thanks so much for sharing. I love the idea that even when we weren’t planned, God had a plan for us. <3

    Reply
    • Lanette Haskins says

      February 7, 2017 at 6:03 am

      Thank you Betsy! Yes, He is a good Father and we are loved by Him. When we realize that truth our whole world changes!

      Reply
  2. Carlie says

    February 7, 2017 at 6:32 am

    Thanks so much for sharing your ‘filled to the brim and overflowing with hope’ story, Lanette! There’s so much encouragement in it, I’m pinning to read again. Have a blessed day.

    Reply
    • Lanette Haskins says

      February 7, 2017 at 6:40 am

      Thank YOU for your encouraging words Carlie! Praying you have a blessed day too!!

      Reply
  3. KellyRBaker says

    February 7, 2017 at 6:59 am

    Nice to meet you, Lanette. Thank you for sharing your story here (and thank you, Kristi). Praise God that He makes all things new!

    Reply
    • Lanette Haskins says

      February 7, 2017 at 8:40 am

      Nice to meet you Kelly! Thank you and yes, praise God!

      Reply
  4. Candace Smith says

    February 7, 2017 at 7:59 am

    Wow thank you for sharing! I almost was crying!!Very Beautiful and very inspiring ????

    Reply
    • Lanette Haskins says

      February 7, 2017 at 8:40 am

      Thank you Candy! ❤

      Reply
  5. Joanne Viola says

    February 7, 2017 at 8:34 am

    Such a beautiful & hope filled post, Lanette. I am so grateful our God redeems and restores our lives. May your words bless many today. You have blessed me!

    Reply
    • Lanette Haskins says

      February 7, 2017 at 8:42 am

      Thank you Joanne! I’m so grateful too and you have blessed me as well!!

      Reply
  6. Lesley says

    February 7, 2017 at 12:41 pm

    Thank you for sharing your story. I love how God seeks and finds us in the middle of the brokenness and how he can use our stories for good and to help others.

    Reply
    • Lanette Haskins says

      February 7, 2017 at 1:15 pm

      Thanks Lesley, me too!! ????

      Reply
  7. Linda Stoll says

    February 7, 2017 at 1:47 pm

    thank you for sharing hope, love, acceptance, and grace here today, Lanette. a truly beautiful offering …

    Reply
    • Lanette Haskins says

      February 7, 2017 at 3:24 pm

      Thank you so much Linda. His grace is amazing ❤

      Reply
  8. Lisa Appelo says

    February 7, 2017 at 5:01 pm

    Lanette, these words you wrote resonated today: “We can’t change our past but we can give it to God and trust Him to change our hearts.” Hallelujah! I’m so sorry for your pain, but so grateful for how God revealed Himself to you in it.

    Reply
    • Lanette Haskins says

      February 7, 2017 at 5:11 pm

      Thank you Lisa! It has certainly been a process but He is so good and faithful and patient! ❤

      Reply
  9. Lux G. says

    February 7, 2017 at 9:30 pm

    Reading this makes me remember what an awesome, forgiving, loving God we have.
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Lanette Haskins says

      February 8, 2017 at 6:57 am

      Yes we do and His mercies are new every morning! Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Lux G. says

        February 12, 2017 at 11:08 pm

        So true! Happy Valentine’s Day! Keep spreading love and hope.

        Reply
  10. Liz Rigby says

    February 8, 2017 at 12:49 pm

    I love that He comes looking for us….when God comes looking, you know He’ll find you! No matter what deep dark hole we’ve been tossed in. Such a beautiful story <3

    Reply
    • Lanette Haskins says

      February 8, 2017 at 1:38 pm

      I love that too!! Thanks Liz ????

      Reply
  11. Julie says

    February 8, 2017 at 4:10 pm

    Thank you for sharing! Although our stories are painful, they give hope and encouragement to others. Your story gave great hope to my story!
    Blessings to you!

    Reply
    • Lanette Haskins says

      February 9, 2017 at 5:34 am

      Thank you Julie! When we share our stories it gives purpose to our pain. ❤

      Reply
  12. Michele Morin says

    February 9, 2017 at 8:54 am

    Oh, Lanette, this is such a hopeful story, and I will remember your words about God having a plan for us regardless of whether we were planned in our entrance to this world.

    Reply
    • Lanette Haskins says

      February 9, 2017 at 12:43 pm

      Thank you Michele, that’s my hope, that others would believe that He has a plan for them. ❤

      Reply
  13. Brenda says

    February 9, 2017 at 11:48 am

    Lanette, what a testimony you have. And, what a gift that you’re allowing it to be a testament to God’s grace and restoration rather than keeping it to yourself and rendering it “useless.” May God continue to bless your ministry of HOPE. ((Hug)) Thanks for sharing Lanette and Kristi, and thanks for sharing with #ChasingCommunity today. ((hug))

    Reply
    • Lanette Haskins says

      February 9, 2017 at 12:46 pm

      “Ministry of Hope” I love that Brenda! That’s confirmation of a dream I had years ago! I guess I’ll be writing about that too! ❤
      Hugs to you!

      Reply
  14. Crystal Storms says

    February 9, 2017 at 3:45 pm

    “We can’t change our past but we can give it to God and trust Him to change our hearts.” – Amen, Lanette. In His hands our past is redeemed and our hearts are healed. Thank you for sharing your story for His glory.

    Reply
    • Lanette Haskins says

      February 10, 2017 at 5:40 am

      Thank you Crystal! There are so many people out there who are desperate for HOPE, I just want to lead them to Jesus. ❤

      Reply
  15. Lisa notes says

    February 10, 2017 at 4:27 pm

    Thank you for your honesty to share this part of your story with us. I appreciate your courage. This is so true and life-giving: “His grace found me. I was lost and He came looking for me.” Amen!

    Reply
    • Lanette Haskins says

      February 10, 2017 at 7:12 pm

      Thank you for your kind words Lisa! ❤

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I accept the Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome

Headshot of Kristi Woods, woman with shoulder-length brown hair with coral-colored shirt
Welcome!

I’m Kristi. I write stories: God’s, yours, & a few pretend people. (Christian romance and Christian nonfiction)

Find encouraging stories or links to them at this site, as well as faith-building tools like Bible studies and more for people like you and me. (Sometimes my characters use them, too!)

So grab a seat, prop up your feet, and please feel welcome.

Oh, in case you’re interested, here’s my story.

 

Subscribe Here

KristiWoods.net sign-up form

YES, PLEASE!
Email me updates & offer access to a WHOLE LIBRARY of free faith-building downloads, stories, and more.

Now Available

Book cover for The Many Lives of Veronica

picture of printable scripture cards from Psalms - for sale in the Kristi Woods Etsy Studio

Digital Bible Study cover picturing sand grains for Shake Off Discouragement

Thumbnail of 12 Scripture Cards, verses from Psalms, printable and available in the Kristi Woods Etsy Studio

Products for sale (Digital Bible studies, bible verse cards) on graphic for Kristi Woods Etsy story - Shop Christian products

Picture of free 30-day Psalms reading challenge with Christian blog post title

Notepad, pen, glasses, and drink on a white surface with the title of this Christian podcast

A 6-Episode Podcast to Help Supercharge Your Faith

Speaking Events

 

Popular Posts

Introducing post 5 Ways to Grow Your Faith

Christian Blog Post title




 

 

This site uses affiliate links. Click here to read the full disclosure and here to read a note about our affiliates.

Topics

Anxiety Bible Bible Memory Verses Bible study Blogs Books Christian Marriage Christian Parenting Christian Podcasts Christmas Courage in the Bible Discouragement in the Bible Easter Faith Fear in the Bible Forgive Free Resources Friendship God Gratitude Guest Post Healing Hope Identity in Christ Love Outreach Prayer Salvation Scripture Testimonies Thanksgiving Trust

Pin with Me!


For Sharing

Kristi Woods

Copyright © 2022 Kristi Woods | Site by MRM | Privacy & Disclosure