Testimony Submitted By: Lisa Winchell
When I think over my life, what resonates with me the most is God’s mercy, amazing love, forgiveness, and constant protection. I have lived two very different lives – the one I led before Christ (20 years ago) and the one I have led in Christ. The first is a testimony of God’s grace and intervention in a life full of bad choices. The second is a testimony of God’s never-ending love as I learned to make Him and His plan the priority in my life.
During my childhood, we moved around a lot. My mother was always looking for that perfect place, and she found it in the West. At the time, I was almost 13 years old and had become aware of the marijuana used by other kids that lived near us. My mother was at work a lot and I was trying to figure out who I was. Since I did not have enough positive role models around me, I didn’t realize the good life was not the partying life. I was smoking pot and cigarettes, drinking, and popping pills by the summer before ninth grade. I became very rebellious and put myself in dangerous situations. Before ninth grade was over, my mother made a very hard decision. She took me to a drug program in Texas and headed back west. Eventually, my mother moved to Texas, too, and left her perfect place in hopes of getting me straight. Unfortunately, I learned more about drugs there than I did about being sober. That was another bad choice on my part, certainly not a reflection of the program itself.
Next, my mother put me in a Christian school. She had become close to the Pastor’s son and began seeking her own relationship with God. A wonderful couple ran the school. Although I was not ready to change, their love and acceptance made an impact on my life. My mother married a godly man and soon he and I were butting heads. I ran away and rented my own efficiency trailer. I was only 16, but a bar down the street hired me. I became quite the drunk. A man next door let me borrow his car while he was out of town. I found all sorts of pills in his home and took them.
One night I was driving around in his car and decided to pick up some young men whose car was broken down at a gas station. They were directing me to where they could find help. As naïve as I was, we ended up in an empty cul-de-sac. One of the guys got out and came around to the driver’s side and smacked me, waking me up to the fact that their intentions were not good. I am so thankful that my Mom was saved by this time and understood the power of prayer. I was able to convince them to let me get out of the car. Once I was out, I was able to get away. I ran like crazy to the nearest house, which was a block away.
During this time of being on my own, I also tried to commit suicide. I ended up in the hospital getting my stomach pumped and then was committed to the psychiatric ward. I didn’t make any changes there either. My mother ended up driving me to Mississippi to put me in a lockdown girls’ home, a strict independent Baptist home. I remember hearing the door lock behind me. I thought, “What has she done now?” I didn’t get any time with my mom to ask that question – they separated us right away. I looked and saw a girl in a knee-length skirt and dress shirt all neatly buttoned. We were in a bedroom and my suitcase was on the bed. She opened it up and we found a bunch of knee-length skirts and dress shirts. I thought, “My mom has been planning this for a while.” The girl informed me that I needed to take off my tight shorts and halter top, and put on one of the outfits my mother packed for me. It dawned on me that I was going to be there for quite some time. I stayed for 10 months. Praise God! I did graduate high school while I was there and got saved.
When I went home, I got hooked up with some friends – not very good ones. I had turned 18 years old, so my mom couldn’t put me in any more treatment facilities. I thank God she did prior to that. I now see that kept me alive. As an adult though, it was time for the law to take over my parenting. I moved from house to house to hotel room. I was not only using methamphetamine, but also manufacturing and dealing it. I was a junkie. My life was packed with the wrong kind of excitement, the kind that leaves you alone, hurting, scared, in danger, and almost crazy. I have many stories of God’s unfailing love through this time. The Word of God says that the angels are ministering servants sent to those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14). They were busy with me, until I returned to the Lord.
I did time in county jails and prisons on several occasions. I became like Psalm 107 describes – I was so lost, thirsty, reeling around, and looking like death itself. I used to say, “Life turned its back on me.” I knew it was time for something to happen. The law put me back in jail. When I got out this time, I went into a Christian halfway house and came back to the Lord. My life was turning around. I was healing and developing a closer relationship with God. I remember going to a hotel with a friend to see an old drug connection. They were dealing and using, and I was sitting on the bed soaking up the Word of God. I was so hungry for more of Jesus, and I soon realized that my company had to change.
I moved to Florida and spent a year learning how to live life, hold a job, have a bank account, and be responsible. Then one day my lawyer called and told me that I had to turn myself in for an old case. Since I was living in Florida, I had to drive back to Texas and turn myself in. But, I knew God was with me. People were praying for me. One family completely paid off my car so I wouldn’t lose it while I was gone. I made one of the most responsible decisions I ever had to make. I spent another 10 months in jail – the last time I would ever be locked up again.
While I was in jail, I grew in the Lord and ministered to other inmates. I also made a good decision to fill out college applications so I could enroll when I was released from prison. After I got out, I began studying to be a counselor. I enjoyed college and loved my new life. I ran a jail ministry doing counseling and preaching to people in the same place I had been. My life improved even more when I got married at 30 and had my first child a year later. I then opened my own counseling practice and a Christian counseling training program.
Life has not been easy; however, there is no pull to the old lifestyle anymore. The Lord has set me free. I have found that fullness of joy is in God’s presence. Being in His presence is the place I love the most and from that place I can deal with and accomplish anything. Now, I can truly understand how to process and apply the Word of God in my daily life, and I am empowered to help others to do the same. The process of growing up in the Lord has never been dull, and I thank Him so much for never, ever letting go of me.
