Welcome to the God's Goodness podcast where our mission is to encourage and highlight God's
Goodness and modern-day miracles.
We are your hosts, Josh and Shelley Hankins.
Today we have with us a special guest.
You might know her from our church, South Hills Assembly.
She's on our worship team and she is an amazing singer and an amazing woman of God and the
Holy Spirit wanted me to invite her on, maybe share a little bit about her story and so
she prayed about it and the Holy Spirit has given her what to share and you'll know her
as Latasha Chamba and I just hope that you're blessed by her testimony and we'll ask her
to open us with an opening prayer.
Thank you for coming.
Yes, thank you so much for having me.
Heavenly Father, we just thank you so much for who you are, for your greatness, your goodness,
your mercy, your grace, Lord.
Father, we just thank you for who you are.
Without you, we would be nothing more.
And Lord, today we just thank you for Shelley and Josh being obedient and spreading your
message through their podcast, Lord God.
And Lord, we just thank you, Lord, that your Holy Spirit just flows today, Lord, in the
words that are spoken or the words that you would have me to speak today.
And Father, I just thank you, Lord, for those that have reached us, Lord God, that they
would see you, Lord.
They would see your love, your grace, your tenderness, your forgiveness and your faithfulness
to us, Lord God.
We just praise and thank you, Lord God, for your will being done today and each and every
day, Lord.
In Jesus' name, we pray.
Amen.
Thank you for that.
So where would you like to start, Latasha?
Well, I will go back to when I first met Christ.
I was in second grade, yes, and I was at an evening service in the church I grew up in,
and it was just myself and my mom there in the service.
And so once the preaching was done, I was just sitting there and I tapped my mom.
I was like, I want that.
And I didn't know how to describe what that was, but I was just like, I knew I wanted it.
I just felt an urge in my heart.
And so she kind of asked me, you want to be baptized?
And I was like, whatever it is, I want that.
Whatever it takes.
Yeah.
And so I was sitting on the front pew, I remember, and a little girl had come up next to me and
she ended up being my childhood best friend.
And so she was talking to me and introducing herself, and I told her the same thing, like
I want that.
Are you going to go up?
They were doing the auto call.
So she was just trying to kind of talk about where I went to school, things like that.
But it was like I was just so focused and captivated.
Like I need to get there.
And so she also ended up going up in the altar call with me and I received Christ.
And I was so excited.
And my dad and my older brother, they had come to pick myself and my mom up.
And so I started telling them, I went up in church today.
I went up in church.
And I was like, I'm going to get baptized.
And so that was kind of my understanding.
And so eventually my older brother, he also received Christ and we got baptized at the
same time.
How long later was that?
It was just a couple of weeks because they did baptisms, maybe like once a month or
something like that.
So it wasn't a long period of time after that service.
I didn't know if it was years or whatever.
Okay.
Yeah.
And so he's three years older than I was.
So he wasn't that much older.
And that began my journey with Christ.
I continued going to church, of course, Sunday school, things like that.
And just trying to, but I still didn't have a full understanding.
I just know like I took that step where I felt like, okay, I got closer.
And so I continued on and going into going to service and things like that.
But I still was thinking like there was like something else, something more.
And I would tell my friends about Jesus and I would hear like something the pastor would
say in the service and I go home and tell my friends the same thing.
I don't even know if I was making sense, but I was just saying.
Yeah.
It's in a different context and space, it hits a little different.
Yeah.
So like, you know, some of my friends will respond like, you know, like, okay, next.
But some, some were kind of curious, you know, like why I was talking that way.
But yeah, so that was like mainly my childhood as far as I continued on.
I grew up in church.
So I stayed in church out throughout elementary school, middle school, things like that.
I just kind of, I knew there was, there was something, but I just didn't know what, you
know, but I just still continue to go hear the message.
And my dad, he actually didn't come.
He was saved, but he, at that time, he wasn't going to church with us.
And you know, my mom, she kept us, you know, in church and eventually he became a minister
himself.
But there are, you know, things in our home that were going on.
It didn't look like what I understood a Christian want to be.
You know, like I said, I had minimal understanding, but it just still, so like at home, it just
didn't look like what I, my picture in my head, you know, I thought it to be.
But that captivation and that urge just to know Christ was always there.
And so did anyone teach you like what to do to get closer to him or did they encourage
anything besides prayer?
I know they didn't mind growing up.
Yeah.
Like I went to church and you prayed, but then that was it.
Oh, you should read your Bible, but nobody read it with me.
Yeah.
You know, to have me do it.
Yeah.
And so like in my earlier walk at that age, like I said, my mom was taking us to church.
So it was kind of like, that was it, like what I would get in church.
She would always pray with us, but it wasn't until my dad fully came to Christ and fully
start walking with him was when we would have Bible studies at home and, you know, learning
the scriptures more and things like that.
And I think I may have been around about probably middle school or so during that time when he,
when we started having Bible studies at home and so that's when I started to learn more.
He was teaching us as far as like speaking in tongues and things like that.
And so, but that's where I started to get more outside of just Sunday or Wednesday service.
And so as I know, as far as like studying the word that didn't come later on, it was
just more so taken in what I was told.
And so later on, probably out of high school is when I started to want to know how to study
what it meant, what I was being taught, like how do they know this is the truth?
How do they know this is the word of God?
And so I just wanted to understand for myself, you know, like how they came about what they
were teaching.
And so that's that journey there was more so it wasn't exactly taught.
It was more so personal.
And it was more so just me wanting to get a fuller understanding of who Jesus was and
why pastors, whether it was on television, because that was one thing we always did at
home.
There was always pastor on television.
And sometimes it would be Dr. Stanley.
That's the one that stood out.
I can remember the most.
That's all I had.
For sure.
My favorite scene was, I'll leave God and leave all the consequences to him.
Yes.
And so that was kind of, you know, the teaching at home.
But I just like my thought was like, okay, I know they're reading the Bible, but how
do they get this understanding to like teach it to know?
Yeah.
And like I said, like probably I may have been out of high school, but even before that
time, I started to, as I got older, I started to hang with certain friends, of course, and
I didn't stop on a church, but like it just became, I was just going to church, you know,
outside of that there wasn't anything.
So like I kind of strayed, I guess I would say it was more so it became a routine.
I just to go to church on some things.
Emotions.
Yeah, exactly.
So you were going to be yourself going into the just emotions of church because you were
looking for something and couldn't find it or just the appeal of the outside was greater?
I think it was a mixture of both.
The appeal of the outside was greater probably was more so the reason I just started going
through the motions.
And then other than that, I mean, I went to a youth group and so I had a couple of people
around me that were that were my age, but it wasn't always that they were walking with
Christ as well.
It was more so we're going to church because we have to go, you know.
And so I think more so the appeal was there.
And then the how my church was, there were different age groups, but it was kind of like
where the kids are here, you're here, adults are here, you know.
And so I think there was like that little bit of a gap as far as like having someone
to look to as far as like mentorship and understanding to kind of got me in that direction.
And we had our youth leaders, which were really good and things like that.
But it just was like, you know, you stay in a kid's place type, you know, situation.
And so that's where what's kind of at, you know, like, okay.
And then, you know, instead of outside of fluence became more appealing, you know.
And so that's when I started to stray and I was around the wrong, wrong crowds at time,
you know, and it's nothing but the grace of God because of his grace that some things
I didn't get involved in that I saw that was going on around me.
Like I never drank even to this day, I've never smoked or anything or tried drugs or
anything like that.
And I'm thankful even though I grew up surrounded by things like that, you know, it didn't
that's a tiny miracle these days.
Yeah.
Yes.
And so, you know, thankfully it didn't that wasn't a path that I took.
And but like after high school, I was about, I want to say I was 20.
That's when I met my oldest child's father.
And I was working at that time on the school part time.
And I met my oldest child's father.
And so we, you know, got into a relationship and conceived my oldest child.
And at that time, I knew it was wrong to do, but it was like kind of that, like you were
saying Josh, like that appeal to the outside, you know, world.
And a lot of times there will be times where those that I would kind of want to go to, to
look for guidance and things like that.
It wasn't there or it would be a situation where it was like they assume things that
weren't happening.
And so I kind of like closed off like, okay, well, I'm not doing that.
And I'm thinking of this.
And so that's how they approached me.
So I couldn't connect, you know.
And so, and so I had my oldest child, oldest child, and I was 21 when I had him turning
22.
And so I became a single mom.
It was tough.
And I kind of, well, I expected his father to be involved, but he ended up not being
involved in his life.
He was there, you know, off and on for a little bit.
His family though, they were really great as far as like being involved in his life.
But I look ahead about, you know, after, because when my son was four years old, it was about
a week before he turned five, his father's life was taken in his home.
And so, and I was just thinking, if we were still together and we were still involved,
he could have been there as well.
And so, you know, you know, hindsight, I was grateful, you know, even though he wasn't
in his life, you know, I would want him because of a father is important in a child's life.
But I was grateful that it ended up, you know, just think about the scripture that says that
God works all things together for the good for those that love him are called according
to his purpose.
Romans 8, 28.
Yes.
And so I was grateful.
So I thought about that because like at that moment, and before he had lost his life, I
started to turn my life back towards Christ.
And so I was working and I became more focused, you know, especially becoming a mother, I
became more focused on the important things.
Yes.
What really matters.
Exactly.
Things change.
Yes.
And so I was thinking, yes, tremendously, and you know, thinking like I'm living life
not just for myself, but also for this child.
Yeah, another human being.
Yes.
I mean, there's so many hidden blessings in the tragedy.
You know, let's say you weren't home and say he didn't die, right?
Unless he was just wounded and then he saw that he wanted to be part of the son's life.
And what if he didn't mature as a Christian?
What if he didn't become a Christian?
What kind of influence would he have had?
You know, a negative impact.
And so there's so many different factors that God knew and he will view in your child's
life around these things.
And so some things look sad, but you know, what the enemy uses for evil, God uses it
for good.
Yes.
And so I'm glad that you see that there's a blessing and such a horrible thing.
Yes, yes, yes.
Yeah.
And you know, I remember my dad because like I used to not want to bring anyone home because
he would end up preaching to them.
But, and then they would get intimidated too by my dad.
But I'm thankful though, before when we were dating, my dad did get to him and he received
Christ.
And, you know, even though he wasn't walking that life, you know, I'm grateful that, you
know, that moment even happened, you know, because like I said, you know, I, and his
grandmother too, she was someone that prayed for him to receive Christ, but it was God used
my dad to actually, you know, lead him to Christ.
And I don't know what would have ever happened if, you know, we didn't meet or he didn't
interact with my dad, you know, and so, and, but yeah, like even in that, you know, I just
thought about, and like you said, you know, if he did go on, what type of impact he would
have had on my son's life, you know, what direction he would have taken or, you know,
anything like that.
Or, you know, we were together and, you know, my son was just with him, you know, by himself,
you know, and I'm just, I'm thankful.
And I remember when I had found out I had come home from work and there was a story
on the news.
And so my sister, yeah, she had, you know, ran outside when I was walking from the bus
stop and she was asking me like, did you hear what happened to him?
And I was like, no, it was like, you know, what happened?
And then she's 14 years younger than me.
And so she was kind of like a child to me as well, you know, we were really close.
And so we walked inside and like that's how I found out, you know, that he had passed
because it was a news story.
And I just sat in the chair and I was at my mom and dad's picking up my son and I was
thinking like, you know, like, God, why did this happen to me?
And the thing before that happened, I worked for a social service agency.
And so a lot of her clients were single parents and single mothers.
And I would see a lot because of the information we would have to collect from them.
One of the things we had to collect, if the father wasn't in the child's life was either
verification that they were getting child support or a death certificate.
And I would constantly see death certificates and it was just so sad.
And I remember telling my co-worker, I was like, I don't know what I would do if I had
to have my, had to tell my child that their father is gone.
And you know, just in passing, you know, just as we were, you know, processing cases and
things like that.
And I was like, I don't know, I was like, it's just so sad to see how many it was happening
to.
And a lot of times it would be a violent crime.
And I was just like, I couldn't imagine having to tell my child that and it happened to me.
You know, and so, and so when it happened, I, and I just sat in a chair and I just saw
crime.
I was like, God, like, why?
You know, like, what am I going to do?
You know, and even though he wasn't there, it was just like that chance, maybe at some
point, you know, he'll be involved in his life.
Right.
And God knew your heart.
He knew that you didn't want to see that.
He knew that you didn't want to experience that.
Like every time you saw one, he said, please God, not me, you know, and then, and then
it's you.
And so that's another question.
And then he said, God, I'm really having a hard time understanding this.
Yes.
It seems like he was preparing your heart.
Like this might be happening.
You know, this may happen.
It's a possibility.
Yes.
And you say that that has has been how he has worked in my life for different circumstances
because even with that, where I was working at, like I said, I interact with a lot of
single moms like that.
And so years had gone by and I eventually became a supervisor there.
And so one of my staff had a, but let me back up.
So when that happened, when I was crying out to God and he told me, you're going to help
somebody else.
And I was just like, how I need some help, you know, but he told me, you're going to
help somebody else.
And so years had gone by and I would see these, you know, moms in different times, some would
share their stories and things like that.
And, you know, they would come to me and I gave him the supervisor.
One of my staff had a client and she was just like, I rate, you know, and he couldn't calm
her at all.
And so he came and got me and she helped us with her benefits.
And she was just like, I'm not starting over.
You're going to do something.
She just wasn't receiving what he was saying.
And so he came and got me.
And so I sat down with her.
I was telling her, you know, can you, you know, tell me, you know, what's going on?
And so she shared, I can't start all over again.
I missed a day of mine and, you know, and like she was kind of like way past like even
anything that we could do, you know, to follow as they got state guidelines.
And so she was here with me and so explained to her what was going on.
And so she paused for a minute and she was like, I'm sorry, but I just came from my kids,
dad, a court case.
And she was like, it was a murder case.
And I was like, okay.
I was like, are you able to, you know, still go see him because I assumed that he was the
perpetrator and she was like, no, it was, he was the one that was killed.
And she started sharing with me.
It happened in front of her and her kids.
Like they had to step over him to get out.
And it was by someone that she grew up with.
And so they, you know, she was the one to let them in the house thinking that, you know,
everything was okay.
And they told his life.
And she was like, I'm just coming from his court case.
And I didn't mean to come in here like this and yelling and things like that.
And I was like, you know, it's okay.
It's understandable.
And she was like, I'll never see him again.
And so at that moment, the Holy Spirit prompted me to ask her, can I share my story?
And so I share with her what I had gone through and started getting emotional.
We have tissues.
We're prepared for the Holy Spirit to come.
And when he comes on me, it just oozes out tears.
So yeah, we have a fresh supply of tissues.
Thank you.
And so, and I share with her what happened with me, you know, and she was like, looking
at you, I would have never known that was a part of your life.
And I say, yes.
I was like, how, how did you, and she asked me, how did you do it?
And I said, there was nothing that I did.
It was only the grace of God in Jesus.
And there was nothing that, and I told her there was nothing I could do to make it through
a situation like that.
And at that moment, God had shown me like all this was for her.
Wow.
It's just a power of our testimony.
Yes.
And he showed me that even though, you know, even though, like I said, over a course of
time I would work with other mothers, that he showed me it was her.
I had to help because she was on her last, you know, she didn't want to be here.
She didn't know how she was going to raise her kids.
I can't remember how many she had, but she, she just wanted to give up.
And so she said she, and I share with her, I said, I'm married now and I have two other
kids.
And I said, God probably moved in my life.
And it wasn't, it was only because of him, because there was nothing I could have done
to get me to this place.
And so she thanked me for sharing that.
And she was here and she had, you know, been going to church and she stopped.
And the reason she stopped because she was being kind of the same thing, accused of things
that she wasn't on.
And then sometimes she was told that she would never find anyone because she had kids and
things like that.
And she just kind of just lost hope in this.
Her children's father being taken was just like, there was nothing left for her.
And that's what she was feeling that day.
No rushing despair.
Yes.
And I don't know what she would have done, you know, if we didn't, you know, interact,
you know, she was like to that point, like she was just, you know, and.
I mean, but you know what she was going to do.
There's a reason why God orchestrated all that for you to wait years to see this woman
with her story years because he knew what she was going to do.
Yes.
Like without, without a doubt, I know for a fact that you intervened in something that
he did not want to happen.
Yes.
And that she was absolutely thinking of something that you were 100% correct in the mark on
that.
Amen.
Yes.
Yeah.
There's no reason that he would have done that for just a feel good.
Exactly.
He did that.
He did that so that someone could have their life saved and saved properly through Christ
and have their physical life saved to be saved by Christ.
Yes.
Exactly.
And she said there was just recently she had ran into a woman and there was one woman
that would seek her out to encourage her.
And she said she had ran into her recently and she had been asking her when she was going
to come back to church.
And so in that moment she was like, because I met you, I'm going back.
And she said she wants to tell other young ladies who want to be involved with God's
for the money that they have, how they were making it and you know, the nice cars and
things like that to tell them other young ladies that's not the life to live.
And that's not the way to go.
She wanted to share her testimony from that point.
And I just, I thank God for that.
And even at that point I felt, it was like I felt the release like after this there's
something else.
And I didn't know how long after I would be there in that job.
But it was like it all came to a point when I met her and I'm just so, so grateful.
Even though in my life I made mistakes and same.
His purpose and his grace was sufficient.
You know, he was always still there.
You know, and I was, I was here on Sunday.
With a worship team I was talking about how I like to journal.
And so I looked back over the periods of my life, even as I was journaling, I could see
how God's hand was still there.
You know, even like I had like different journals where like one of me write things that God
has spoke to me one, just to vent and get everything out.
You know, things like that.
And your own book of Lamentations.
And your own book of Psalms.
Exactly.
Yeah.
I think, I think that's a wonderful idea for people to do that.
A wonderful idea because it shows God where you are, shows you where your heart is.
It's something you can reflect on to see what you've come out of.
And the things that God has been in your life before.
It's a perfect thing to do.
Yes.
If you want to hear about it, she shared it with the whole congregation and it's online.
So if you go back to what day was that?
What was?
October.
What was it?
No, I'm horrible at dates.
You know that.
18.
13th.
October 13th.
And you can see her story there.
Yes.
And, but yeah.
And so like even during the times that I felt farthest away from him, when I would look
up what I wrote, I realized he was always so close.
You know, he was right there.
And I'm just thankful.
And so like when you were saying before it, as far as like things that he does to prepare
me for something else, that's about to happen.
And so one of the hardest things that I experienced in 2020, I lost my mom and that was hard.
She was my best friend and she went on to be with the Lord, but she was, you know, close
with the Lord and it was kind of like we were prepared for her.
She passed of cancer and we were prepared for her and she wanted to go and, you know,
remember before she had gone, she just like one night just started like worshiping God
and just seeing it like, you know, like as if she had a renewed strength.
And so she was getting ready.
Yes, exactly.
Exactly.
And she said, she was like, I'm going to see Jesus.
And you know, that's cool.
I wanted my heart to hear that.
And so, and I was already losing her, but then in 2022, I lost my son.
Was he the oldest?
And the thing was, one thing I was afraid of and I prayed in Escalus and let me not live
that fear was that he would, you know, follow the path of his dad, even though he didn't
know him well, but I just didn't want him to follow that path and the grace of God,
he didn't, you know, but I never thought I would lose him.
How do you engage?
Yeah.
And so can be easy for any parent to lose a child at any point.
And even though I had a moment though, where God had prepared me and when I look back, I
saw, excuse me, when I look back, I saw it.
I saw that he, he prepared my heart, prepared my mind and that he was providing the comfort
all along, even before it happened.
And you know, and like, like, you know, sometimes like when you think something or, you know,
like see something, you know, like those, it's like the enemy trying to, you know, put fear
and, you know, negativity.
But when I look back, it was God who showed me that he was going to hold him and that
he was going to keep him and he was going to carry him with him.
And when he passed, it was just like, it was a shock.
But I was on my way to, I was visiting a church out in Coriolis and I got the call from his
girlfriend.
And so it was a shock, but there was like a peace.
And like the Saturday before I felt a peace, but I felt like something leave me, not knowing
he was going and I got the, got the call from his girlfriend.
And even in that, the only thing I could do was praise God.
It didn't make sense.
It could, like my first reaction was to give praise.
That's how he says to come to him.
Praise first.
Praise open stores.
Yes.
And that was my first response when she called me and she was on the phone and the detectives
were on the phone and things like that.
And I was like, I still to this day, like it didn't make sense.
Like for my first reaction to my son going was to praise God.
But that's all good.
That was the Holy Spirit taking over the physical vocal cords in that one.
Yes.
I cried and I was just like pleading with him to save him.
But it was just like only thing that came out of me was to praise God.
And I know it's only because his presence and because how he walked with me, no matter
where I was at the age and the choices that I made, you know, and like, oh, sure.
And then suddenly not every choice was the, you know, something that was sinful.
It was just like a path that I chose to take on my own.
And it wasn't necessarily what we're God had me to go.
But he still still showed me grace through it.
And so it was just like he prior to that, he just he would just show me and there was
one time where I was in at home and I was laying in bed and everyone else was asleep
and the lights were out.
And I felt the presence of God and like I've never felt anything like that before.
It was just like even the air that was around me was so perfect.
It was like everything was just in order.
Everything was under obedience.
Nothing was out of place.
Like the it was just like the only way I have to describe it was like it was just like the
particles in the air like gave reverence to him.
And it was just like this, this piece that came over me, but it was just like everything
was just in a lot under his obedience.
It was just like a perfect, perfect piece.
And I've never felt anything like that before.
And it was just everything inside of me, there was just like there was I didn't feel like
I was carrying anything.
No, like there was no negative thought, no hurt, no stress, no worry, like everything
was just like everything just came into order.
And it was like it gave way to this presence.
And I just, I mean, even when I breathed in the air, it was just so it wasn't indescribable.
And I felt the presence of God.
And it was like at that moment, years later down, like another thing in hindsight, God
was preparing me for some tough things that were coming up.
And but he was letting me know he's with me, that he's never leaving me.
He's never forsaken me.
He's always there.
And he showed up like that every single time.
Excuse me, I'm just grateful and just grateful.
Yeah, I'm just grateful for his love, for his tenderness, for his forgiveness, for his
receiving me, I still want to use me for his purpose.
And I'm sorry, I cried it all.
It's okay.
It happens in this room.
We want this to be an honest experience.
And yeah, these are all just tears of sadness.
There's a lot of tears of joy mixed with this.
So this isn't just, this is wonderful.
Just go ahead and continue, like continue to share what Lord's done for you, like to
see you smile after hearing the horrible things that have happened in your life is just phenomenal.
And I really admire your strength.
I love the courage that you have.
I'd love that you have a testimony that when we share it with people, they're going to
learn that leaning into the Lord by praising the Lord is going to bring them healing.
Telling the Lord your problems also brings healing, but one way is faster, right?
One way brings restoration.
And I really love that you're a prime example of what he can do by leaning into him.
Yes, thank you.
Praise God.
And it's important to look back because then you can reflect and see him show up time after
time and you didn't realize it at the time.
But when you look back, you're like, Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh, it is my God's grace that
I didn't die in my twenties.
And my parents are just praising the Lord at this point.
Because when God shows up, everything changes.
Yes, exactly.
Exactly.
And I like how you said he was right next to you and you couldn't see him.
It's like the artistic eye, right?
So when you're drawing something, you're getting fine details in something.
You kind of lose track of what you're doing.
So they have to take a step back and see it for its whole.
And that's when you realize that God is in front of you the entire time.
You're just so close, you could not gather the details until you took a step back and
said, Oh, like you're here for the hug.
You're right here.
Like I'm looking for you.
It feels all dark because you are right here covering my eyes.
Yes.
Amen.
Exactly.
Yeah.
And I'm just excited, you know, as far as where he's been to take me and I'm just in
the mindset.
Wherever he wants me to go, I'll go.
Wherever he wants me to do, I'll do.
He can do a lot with that, that willing attitude.
He can do a lot with that indeed.
Yeah.
For sure.
He can change everything.
If you're willing and then you're obedient to what he says to do, he suggests to do.
Think of all he does in our lives when we don't want to do what he wants us to do.
Imagine how much further it's going to go.
We say, here I am, Lord.
Let's do this.
Yes.
Change everything.
Yes.
This is great.
I'm so glad we had to know you better.
Yes.
And the Holy Spirit prompted me to ask you.
Yes.
Oh, man.
It's so good.
Do you have anything else you wanted to share?
That was a lot to unpack.
Yeah.
Yes, it was.
Yeah.
I'm just, you know, like I said, I'm just grateful.
My heart is open to him.
I thank you for your obedience and, you know, asking me.
And, you know, and I'm just, I'm excited for what more he has in store for both of you
all, what more in store he has for me and my life, even though some things may be scary
and it's like outside of my comfort zone.
I just kind of like let it go and like I'm going.
That's where we grow the most.
Yes.
Outside of the comfort zone.
Yes, exactly.
Our brain wants to keep us safe, but we just got to go with God.
Awesome.
Well, thank you for sharing all of that, Natasha.
That is wonderful.
You, Manny.
Ah, no, no, I'm still very impressed with your resolution to continue to follow Jesus
and lean in, like accidentally fall along the lines.
Like the story of the prodigal son comes to mind where you lived with the father when
you went to church in second grade, right?
But you didn't really know him, like the son that stayed at home, not the one that left,
but the one that stayed at home.
It was like, I work like for you and I'm not getting any of this stuff because you didn't
get it, right?
And you were living in this presence and you didn't get it either.
I think that's so interesting, the dynamic of how that goes and how you just naturally,
without that discipleship that we all desperately need, rivals some of the things in my life
where God had to disciple me himself because nobody else did and how he stepped in your
life and you just always did instinctually the right thing.
Like whose first instinct is to praise God when their child has just been taken from
them?
I'm going to tell you right now that is not my first instinct, not in the slightest.
And so if that comes out of my mouth, I'll know that the presence of God is with me.
I won't know that he is with me because that came out when it shouldn't have.
When my human emotion would have cried out something else that I knew that God was with
me, that he was hugging me, that he was embracing me, that he was anguished with me.
I just love that and I love that you've shared that with us in such a tender, fresh wound
that you feel that God has brought you something more with it, that you were able to share
it with us today and thank you so much for the courage that that took.
Yes, thank you.
Thank you.
Praise God.
Nothing but him, yes.
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Love the prayers.
Those do wonders as well.
So with that, we will talk to you next time.