We all have a story. Some parts we’re comfortable sharing, and some parts we’d rather keep to ourselves, especially the messy parts that require us to face our past and confront hard truths about ourselves that we’d rather avoid. It takes a tremendous amount of courage to share the hard parts of our stories, but when we surrender our hearts to Jesus and entrust our stories to Him, He can empower us to overcome our past and can use our past to give others the inspiration and hope they need to move forward. That’s why I am so honored to share with you the story of my new friend, Latasha Ferguson. She has committed her life to helping women overcome adversities in their lives so that they can become the women God created them to be (read more about her in the bio below this post).
In the interview below, Latasha graciously shares how God redeemed the brokenness she experienced as a teenage mother and created a beautiful masterpiece that reflects His goodness and grace. Her story is a testament to the fact that the Lord is a Keeper, even when we stray from His path. It is my prayer that her story leaves you encouraged and inspired to surrender the brokenness of your past to Jesus so that He can propel you forward into the good future He has planned for you.
Latasha’s Teenage Pregnancy Story
(My interview questions are shown in bold, and Latasha’s responses to each question are shown in italics.)
Please share your teenage pregnancy story.
I became pregnant with my first daughter at 17 years old. I was a senior in high school. This was very unexpected for me and for my family. I was in a relationship that my parents did not agree with for several years. I was a very strong-willed child, and I was running away from God’s pulling and calling on my life. I grew up in the church. I was a preacher’s kid. I knew of God, but looking back, I now know that I did not have a relationship with Him. My heart was distant. Now I know I was looking to fill a void only God could fill. I was very involved in school, including being President of a couple of different clubs. I was also involved in public speaking competitions. My dream was to move away from home and attend Spelman College, major in business, and travel the world.
I graduated high school and attended community college while living at home with my parents. Then a few months away from my 20th birthday, I had my second daughter. There I was, 19 with two children. This was far from the vision I had for my life. I had no idea how I was going to take care of two kids, go to college, and work to take care of all three of us. This was a very dark and challenging season for me.
As your life moved in a direction you had not planned because of these pregnancies, what emotions and fears did you experience, and how did you cope with those emotions and fears?
Guilt, shame, and regret loomed over me like a thick black cloud. I was constantly afraid of the present and the future. I had no idea how I was going to make it through that season of my life. I did not cope with my feelings in a healthy way. I fell deeper into binge eating. I grew distant from God for a short time. I remember falling asleep sitting up on my couch. I was so tired and had cried myself to sleep. The pain and loneliness was beyond what I can put into words. When I would feel at my absolute lowest, God would press on someone’s heart to call me or drop by with encouraging words. My community and church family helped tremendously.
What struggles and obstacles did you encounter during your journey, and how did you overcome them?
Two main struggles were handling things financially and having to make peace with the fact that I would be parenting alone. Their father chose not to be involved in their lives. I was very bitter about it for a long time. However, I had constantly felt God requiring me to look inward and do what I call the hard work of heart work. Yes, he had made his decision, but I did not have to allow that to dictate my feelings and how I lived my life. I had to trust that God had already prepared me with everything I needed within me and my community to help raise these girls to be who God desired them to be.
The second biggest obstacle was my financial situation. I was working a minimum wage job and on public assistance. Sometimes I would have $20 left over after paying the bills, and other times, I would not have enough to pay my bills. It was very stressful. God was calling me to trust Him, to have radical faith. God provided through a variety of means right when I needed it. That was definitely a faith-building season. I had to learn to see God as my sole provider. He was my source and everything else (job, public assistance, help from others) were resources.
Please share more about your support system and the role they played in helping you through this part of your journey.
I was very blessed to have a strong and large support system. Even though my parents and I were at odds for a long time, they prayed and rallied around me at my greatest times of need. I would not be where I am without their prayers and support. They saw the potential in me when I just could not. My sister was also a huge support. She came and lived with me for a little while to help me out when I was working days and going to school at night and on the weekends. Also, my church family was like an extended family. Everyone was always willing to give advice, hugs, uplifting words of encouragement, hand-me-downs, and gifts. My community was everything.
I married my husband when my girls were 5 and 7 years old. God provided someone who was well beyond my expectations. He loved my girls as his own, and we have been able to build a family together. He encouraged me to go back and get my master’s degree. There was nothing he didn’t do with me: laundry, changing dirty diapers, dinner, cleaning, etc. He has been my biggest support system since we’ve been married. He pushes me to not settle and to push past fear and doubt. He has seen me working through some pretty ugly parts of my heart (and he didn’t run away—Praise the Lord!).
I imagine not everyone was supportive or encouraging towards you during this time. What were some hurtful things said to you during this journey, and how did you move past those words?
I was told directly or indirectly a few different times that I would not finish high school, college, get married, be successful, etc. because I was a single mom of two kids. I had to be very intentional about friendships and who I allowed to speak into my life. This meant being by myself a lot. I had to learn to lean into God and allow His Spirit to heal those parts of my heart that were wounded by the words of others. I also began speaking His word over my life. I would write reminders on sticky notes and put them around my desk and home to remind me of who God says I am.
You hinted at this earlier, but please share more about your heart towards the Lord and your relationship with Him through all of this.
I was angry and distant at the start of this journey. God was so very patient with me. He consistently and constantly woo-ed me, chased after me. I would refuse to pray sometimes because I was so full of unforgiveness and bitterness. I would still feel His grace and loving arms through songs that would pop up on the radio, things I would see on tv, encouragement from others. I could not help but to fall in love with Him. He became my everything— my friend, father, and confidant— Jehovah. My church family wrapped its arms around me and helped support me through all of it.
At what point did you realize there was some “heart work” that needed to be done to change the trajectory of your life? How long did it take for you to come to a point of surrender, and what did surrender look like for you?
The realization came while lying in a pile of dirt after a physical altercation with the biological father of my older children. I had built up anger, rage, and unforgiveness that had festered over years of being in an unhealthy relationship. On this particular day, all of it came out and in a way that was very uncharacteristic of me. As I was lying in the dirt, I heard a voice ask, “Are you finally done?” After being yelled at to leave the premises of the public place where it all went down (like a reality tv episode), I got in my car and cried harder than I ever had in my life. Then the voice asked again, “Are you finally done?” At that point, I had to make a choice. I chose to go in a different direction because I knew that if I would have remained then I would have withered away spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. That was the beginning of my surrender journey. Surrender has never been pretty for me. It has always been messy and, at times, very dramatic. I am learning not to get to that point anymore. I am able to better discern God’s voice. However, I still make mistakes and still like to do things my way. It’s a daily decision to let go and let God have His way.
“Our imperfections, our pitfalls, and our past do not have the power to diminish our purpose.”
Latasha Ferguson
Since that time, what has helped you to stay committed to a heart posture of surrender?
The key for me has been my quiet time with God very early in the morning. This is my time to pour out everything. I read the Word, journal, and sit quietly so I can hear what He has to say. This time with Him grounds me. It doesn’t take much, sometimes, to get me spun up or in a state of worry. I know (and everyone around me knows) when I don’t have that time. I am also very conscious of the conversations I am in and the things I listen to. All of those impact my mind and can help me stay in a posture of surrender or can puff up my flesh.
How have you seen God’s hand at work through your journey, and how has this experience impacted your life’s mission?
My past didn’t destroy me. It made me who I am today, and it helped me to develop the relationship I have now with God. For that, I am beyond grateful. I know firsthand that our imperfections, our pitfalls, and our past do not have the power to diminish our purpose. It is my mission to help other women realize that God can rewrite their stories. He took every single broken piece of my life and created a beautiful tapestry— a masterpiece. When I thought I would have to settle for mediocrity, that I deserved nothing more than scraps, He proved me wrong, and His grace opened up doors and opportunities beyond my wildest imagination. God specializes in impossibilities. Nothing fires me up more than to hear someone say that their life is over because of a mistake they made or because their past is messy.
What final encouragement or wisdom would you offer to a woman who has a similar story or who may be experiencing this with her daughter?
My favorite scripture is Romans 8:28: “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (CSB) I would highly recommend therapy. The combination of my relationship with God, community, and therapy has transformed my life. The sooner we let go of what we thought should have happened and lean into what is happening and what has the power to make moving forward happen — the more free we will be. Forgiveness is a choice we make each and every day. We must forgive ourselves and forgive others.
CLOSING COMMENTS
This concludes my interview with Latasha. I would like to thank her for the boldness and vulnerability with which she shared her teenage pregnancy story. I appreciate that she was honest about the messiness of surrender and the hard work of heart work. I hope you receive freedom from the wisdom and insight she shared. Her encouragement does not stop here! I strongly encourage you to connect with Latasha via any of the ways shown in her bio below. Her podcast has been a tremendous blessing to me and challenges yet inspires me to live authentically for Christ. I am confident that you will be made better by connecting with her.
Remember sister, the Lord will keep you through the messy parts of your story, and He will make your brokenness beautiful, if you let Him.
About Latasha Ferguson
Latasha is a speaker, writer, podcaster, and heart work coach. She is passionate about empowering others to do the heart work so they can overcome, own their story, and live authentically.
She is also a passionate educator who has spent the past 17 years serving in the roles of teacher, assistant principal, principal, and now director of instruction.
Wife to her best-friend and mom to four beautiful girls. Latasha loves to run, read, spend time at the beach, and travel in search of great food that hugs her belly.
Website: www.latashaferguson.com
Instagram: Instagram.com/latashamferguson
Podcast: Overcome to Become Podcast
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