Testimony Tuesday with Stephanie Hepburn

[guestpost]Stephanie is the Program Manager of Haven of Hope – Fruitdale. Her book, Inside Sane, takes a deeper look at the evil chains of addiction, and how God miraculously set her free.[/guestpost]

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My name is Stephanie Hepburn. I’m 28 years old. I have an amazing husband and a beautiful little girl named Reagan. My life today has been completely restored by God’s amazing Grace!

I’ve been with Mission of Hope for three years. I came to this ministry broken, bruised, and chained to an addiction that had consumed my life starting at a very young age.

At thirteen, I started to experiment with marijuana and shortly after with crystal meth. I partied, used drugs, and skipped school. I would drink until I blacked out. Even before I started using drugs, I self-mutilated my body. I felt empty, alone, and lost. I had experienced some things in my life that had caused great emotional pain. And I can remember not wanting to feel! So, I got high. At first, it seemed fun, but this only took me deeper. At Eighteen, I started using prescription pain medication; Lortab and Xanax. That very same year, I started shooting Oxycontin.

My life had spiraled out of control This (oxycontin) became the instant relief I felt I was searching for to relieve my inner turmoil, to forget who I was, and who I was becoming. There was no limit for me. I wasn’t satisfied unless I was literally unconscious; unable to hold my head up.

Around nineteen or twenty, I got pregnant and had an abortion. I remember pulling up to the clinic and warring with myself about the decision I was about to make. People were outside protesting. I sat in the car for almost an hour. I finally went in. That decision broke my heart. But I just got more high.

By twenty-one, I was pregnant again. I found out while I was in jail. I went to treatment. Probably stayed clean for two weeks after I got out. Started using again, and I used my whole pregnancy. I couldn’t go through with the pain of another abortion. When I had my daughter, I was strung out with no feelings. I can remember feeling dead. I never got to hold her. I left the hospital without my child that was adopted by a family member. Today, she is almost seven years old.

My addiction to opiates eventually led to heroin, and it completely destroyed my life. I hurt so many people that loved me. I was a shell of myself. Lost and broken. In a deep pit with no hope of ever being anything other than Junkie!

But God! Christ came down from glory to save a sinner like me. He came for the broken, the lost, the contrite in spirit.

But God! Christ is the only reason I can share this testimony with you today! Amazing Grace! He has restored my life. He has brought me out of the miry clay and set my feet on the solid rock.

He has given me an amazing husband, Justin Hepburn, and a precious little girl. The family I hurt, stole from, cussed and embarrassed, He has restored to its rightful place.

Jesus is Lord of my life!

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

    because the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor;

    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,

    and the day of vengeance of our God;

    to comfort all who mourn;

to grant to those who mourn in Zion—

    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;

that they may be called oaks of righteousness,

    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

~ Isaiah 61:1-3 ESV

I have been released from bondage and exile to full free service to the Lord.

I will forever sing his praises! He has given me beauty for ashes! The God of the Universe sent His only Son to die nailed to a cross with a crown of thorns pressed into his head! Christ, Holy without sin, shed His Blood for a sinner like me. He paid it all! When I asked Christ into my heart and repented of my sin, His Holy Spirit came and now lives in me! I am made new!

[shareable]Christ is the only reason I can share this testimony with you today! ~ Stephanie Hepburn[/shareable]

Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, Rejoice. ~ Philippians 4:4 KJV