Issue 1| 2023

Graced for Success
THE STORY OF LATOYA WILLIAMS
In the early 2000s, I began a long journey of
redirection. It started with one step, then a series of
steps until finally, I arrived in a spacious place where
today, I am passionately living out my God-given
purpose and helping others do the same (Psalm 18:19).
God’s love and grace rescued me from the powers of
darkness that had held me captive since my youth
(Colossians 1:13).
Did I deserve His kindness? No. I had
rebelled early in life and trampled His
gifts, especially the gift of loving parents.
After eighth grade, I ran away from home
and dropped out of school. I wanted to do
things my way.
My parents tried desperately to get me
back on track, but I ignored them. My
only focus was making money. I imagined
it would give me the freedom to do
whatever I wanted. So I found a place to
live with a relative and got a job at the local
Burger King.
Every morning I rode my bike to a place
that tells its customers to “have it your
way.” Well, having it my way might have
been desirable for a hamburger, but not
in life. I needed God’s way, but it would take
years of hardship for me to figure that out.
Selfish desires, irrational decisions, and
a lack of direction carried me into dark
places where I experienced much physical,
emotional, and mental pain. It still hurts
to revisit that time of my life.
By 17, I was pregnant with my first child.
I had an on-and-off relationship with the
baby’s father and gave birth to two more
children with him in the next couple of
years. As often happens to baby mamas,
the father gave no support.
I did my best under the circumstances,
but the weight of raising and providing
for three children was a lot to carry.
Not to mention I was far too emotionally
im mature to care for them properly.
How thankful I am for immediate family
members and community programs that
provided support.
One day, a case worker knocked on my
door and told me about a program that assisted
parents with young children. This
program would allow me to attend a local
community college and obtain my GED
PHOTO BY GERI SIMPKINS PHOTOGRAPHY
16 Issue 01 / 2023 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM