Where was God, when a little girl was being trafficked by the mother who should have kept her safe?
On the Live Like It’s True podcast, I’m sitting down with Sana Latrease to talk about her story of God’s faithfulness, even in the middle of her childhood trauma. This isn’t the story Sana would have written, but it’s the story God wrote for her.
I shared part of Sana’s story in my Bible study on the life of Sarah, Shaped by God’s Promises. Whether you’re here because you’re studying through this books with me, or you’re here as a regular listener, I hope you’ll be inspired by Sana’s story of God’s faithfulness.
Guest: Sana Latrease
Bible Passage: Sarah’s Story in Genesis 12-21
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Mentioned Resources:
- Purchase on Amazon: Shaped by God’s Promises: Lessons from Sarah on Fear and Faith
- Learn More about my new study: Shaped by God’s Promises
Music: Cade Popkin
Sana Latrease
In addition to her advocacy work, Sana is a sought-after transformational speaker and author sharing her personal story of surviving early childhood sexual abuse and growing up in the foster care system.
Sana is the author of Everyone Will Know It was God and has been featured in The 700 Club, the Jennifer Hudson Show and named one of the 100 Women of Color by June Archer & Eleven28 Entertainment in 2019.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Sana is a devoted wife of 17 years to her husband Joshua, and a proud mother to their two children, Jamir and Janai. She is also a doting grandmother to her grandson, Syer.
Sana’s Story
Sana shares her story here. We’ll talk about the story of her son’s accident next time.
At the age of 4 I was child sex trafficked by my mother and grandmother. I was then placed into the foster care system where I was yet again sexually abused by a respite care family. I was later adopted at the age of 8 but as I got older my trauma began to show. I dropped out of school at the age of 16, became a teen mother at the age of 18, was the victim of a home invasion at the age of 19.
Needless to say, the Lord had plans for me and every struggle was a stepping stone toward me living out my purpose. I was planted not buried.
In 2018 I founded a nonprofit organization. In 2021 after searching for 10 years, I found my birth fathers family. I was finally feeling complete, but then in June of 2021 my son was in a tragic accident that tested my faith more than ever. I sat by his bedside choosing to trust God’s promise over the diagnosis of the doctors.
He spent 43 days in a come, endured 14 major surgeries within the first 30 days and had a traumatic brain injury. I leaned into his voice and allowed him to use my mouth to direct the doctors. I saw miracle after miracle during that time and my faith in God brought my son home.
Watch a clip from Sana’s story here:
Next Time
I told Sana at this point of the conversation, she’s already lived quite a story. But you’ll want to come back and listen to part two as I talk with Sana about the story of her son’s car accident in, “From Tragedy to Testimony: One Mom’s Story of Faith.” It’s an amazing story of tenacity and resilient faith and I know it’s going to inspire your own faith.
Quotes from Sana
“Most people thought that I was buried, but I wasn’t; I was planted.” —Sana Latrease
“While this may not have been the story I would have written for myself, it’s the story it’s the story God chose to write for me and I’m grateful for it.” —Sana Latrease
Connect with Sana:
Website
The Sarah Series
Welcome to the Sarah series. In these early episodes, I’m talking with four women whose stories were highlighted in my new Bible study, Shaped by God’s Promises: Lessons from Sarah on Fear and Faith. I’ll be weaving thoughts about Sarah’s story, found in Genesis 12-21, into my conversations with these modern day women of faith:
- Heather Cofer
- Gaby Puente
- Sana Latrease
- Jill Savage
Then in our later episodes, we’ll follow our more typical pattern and I’ll discuss various Bible passages where Sarah’s story is told with an amazing lineup of Bible teachers, including Courtney Doctor, Ann Swindell and Carol Kent.
Whether you’re here because you’re studying through Shaped by God’s Promises, or you’re here as a regular listener, I hope you’ll be inspired by these conversations about fear and faith.
What Are You Waiting on God For?
Some of God’s promises are for now, and others are for later. So, how do you know which promises to cling to—especially when you’re in a long stretch of waiting on God?
My free “Pray God’s Promises” prayer guide, will help you pray the promises found directly in the Bible. It’s designed to help you sort out which promises are for here and now, and which ones are for later. Praying God’s promises found in your Bible is one of the ways God shapes you by his promises. Ready to get started?
