Today I want you to meet my sweet, funny, amazing cyber-friend, Rachel Wojnarowski. Her story is one of God’s redeeming grace and the choice she’s made to chase after His plans and hold onto His hope — with all that she has in her.
I grew up in a wonderful Christian home with fabulous Christian parents. We were faithful to church and I graduated from Christian school. I went on to Christian college and completed the circle by teaching in a Christian school. My future husband was a “preacher boy” and when we married, the plan was that he would take a youth pastor position wherever God led. Only after we married, he had serious doubts about his calling and stopped attending church all together.
After two years of marriage, a precious daughter was born to us via emergency c-section. She experienced oxygen deprivation and required resuscitation, but she lived. Three years after Taylor’s birth, I discovered that her father had been having an affair essentially four of the five years we were married. In spite of that great protective environment I’d always known, and being faithful to God’s house, sin had erupted my “perfect” life and my marriage to this man didn’t withstand. Bad choices were made by both parties and we divorced.
In spite of all the pain and loss of the “perfect” life, God brought a solid Christian man into my life and He has given us a wonderful story of grace and redemption. But in the midst of Matt and I falling in love, my dearest mom fell severely ill, diagnosed with a rare type of anemia. Two months later the diagnosis was changed to leukemia and she lived just six short months after that. Mom was the strongest, most faithful Christian I’ve ever personally known; she was my best friend.
During my divorce and my mom’s death, the discovery process for Taylor’s developmental delays became more intense. Doctors often blamed the delays on her lack of oxygen at birth. But in my heart, I knew there was more to her issues. Nine months after my mom’s death, the diagnosis for Taylor came through: MPSIIIB, a rare, genetic metabolic disorder which causes gradual neurological degeneration. The average life span is 10-15 years and there is no cure, or even a treatment.
Upon receiving Taylor’s diagnosis, my walk with the Lord became intense. I did just what Renee talked about this week in chapter four. I asked all the why’s and the how’s. I wanted God to spill out His plan for my life in one day.
But through His Word, God has taught me that faith is not only a one-time decision; it’s an everyday decision.
Trusting His plan for your everyday life is equally as important as trusting Him for your eternal life.
While God has richly blessed Matt and me with a beautiful family and more blessings than we can count, Taylor’s disease has not changed. Every day is by faith, that God would have His will for her life and ours.
Each day we claim His promises and make the choice to run towards His plan.
Rachel, your story has changed me. The first time you shared it in an email, I got Holy goosebumps up my spine, down my arms and into my toes! Your journey of choosing hope through your past and into the present brought tears to my eyes. I’m inspired by your faith and your surrendered life. To be broken daily, like bread, held up (like loaves and fishes) as an offering of God’s of love and mercy. You my friend are beautiful – inside and out.
And here are some behind-the-scenes “only Jesus knew” details: I didn’t know Rachel’s story. When God prompted me to ask her to be a guest I wasn’t sure what part of my book she’d write about. But HE did! How precious is our Jesus? He knew we needed to hear her story and be strengthened by the way she has chosen courage and one-day-at-a-time steps of faith. The way she is choosing to walk out hope gives us all a picture of what it looks like to live the message of chapter 4 with Jesus. Thank you, Rachel!!
Connecting in Community & Today’s Giveaway: What is God speaking to your heart through Rachel’s story? Also, is there anything from the questions He’s given us for the end of Chapter 4 you’d want to share? I’d love for us to connect here and talk about it.
Rachel has just released a new Ebook, The Scent of Prayer and she is giving away 5 copies to 5 of you randomly drawn on Monday from the comments left below today’s post. Just click “share your thoughts” and do just that.
About Rachel: Rachel is originally a small town country girl who converted to a suburban mother of seven by way of life happening. She and her husband, Matt, enjoy caring for their busy family, whose ages span 9 months to 21 years and includes a special needs daughter. Rachel leads community ladies’ Bible studies in central Ohio and serves as an event planner and speaker for special needs parenting groups. She is a member of the Ohio Writers’ Guild and the National MPS Society; and loves to inspire others through her blog by sharing faith, family, and fun. Wife, mom, reader, writer, speaker and dreamer, you can find Rachel on Twitter and Facebook.
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Thank you for the encouragement your post has brought me today. I needed to regain my hope in that even though we are broken, God has a perfect plan for us in His perfect timing.
Rachel,
Love your story! Thanks for sharing! Love these two lines:
But through His Word, God has taught me that faith is not only a one-time decision; it’s an everyday decision.
Trusting His plan for your everyday life is equally as important as trusting Him for your eternal life.
Huge turning point in my Jesus journey when I realized that believing in Jesus was a 24/7 choice and not just at my point of conversion.
Thanks for the reminder!
Chapter 4 has been a difficult journey back to a very painful childhood. As an adult I can look back and see some of God’s plans for me and where I am now. There is still a lot of work to be done yo be truly confident and securely in His arms. I look forward to the journey and new chapters they will bring as we turn each page if your book and are lifted up my stories such as Rachel’s. Thank you
Praying for you Julie. Praying for God to flood you with His peace as you process your past. Praying for Him to also fill you with His courage and boldness as you turn each page and process each memory. And praying that God will reveal Himself to you in new and exciting ways as you make this journey through “A Confident Heart”.
Thanks for sharing your story. I’ve been dealing with some things in my life this week that I have really tried to way me down. Reading your story encouraged me to press in and most of all, maintain a heart of gratitude. God bless you and your family
Thanks for having the courage to share. I often have viewed technology as a distraction. But now I view it as a tool to heal,uplift, and deliver. Ladies…keep the faith. We may be miles away but just a prayer away.
Peace and Every Good.
Broken. We are always striving to prove ourselves and our plan perfect to God and yet HE already knnows we are Broken and He has a better way than perfect!! I am so thankful that you have learned that and I can walk in the same path–daily trusting His way step by step.
Thank you for sharing this incredible story with us. It is so encouraging!!! I needed the reminder to trust HIS plan for my everyday life.
Wow!! What an amazing testimony!! Thanks for the reminder that faith is an everyday decision. That is so true, just when we think it can’t get any worse, or we can’t handle anything else, through faith He gives us the strength!!
Thanks for sharing Rachel. This has Helped understand many of the things happening in my life right now, although different but Faith is a key, believing and trusting God no matter what.
Rachels’s story brought tears to my eyes. Tears of sadness for what she’s had to endure, and tears of joy for her faith and strength exhibited throughout her experiences. I’m so glad God led you to ask her to share – He really does know what’s best at just the right times.
Your story is so inspiring and encouraging. Realizing that faith is an everyday decision is life changing. It requires action on our part and not just sitting back waiting for God to do His thing. I love the imagery of running towards His plan. I know He has a plan for me, I just haven’t figured out what it is yet. But if I run towards Him everyday instead of waiting for His plan to drop in my lap maybe i’ll find out sooner rather than later.
Thank you for sharing your story.
Rachel
Thank you so much for sharing. I cannot imagine the level of trust in God you have developed because of Taylor alone, on top of everything else. Until I read your story i haven’t shared the pain of betrayal or the shame i felt of having that betrayal happen not with just one, but two marriages over a 30 yr period. As i lay here recovering from a severe back fracture from a horse accident two weeks ago i too have been going back over everthing asking hard questions God has shown me lots about myself and growth and strength this has caused. And right now your statement that sometimes it takes more faith to trust for my daily walk then for salvation resonates in me. I am in ernest expectation of His miraculous healing, whether instant or as I go. I pray God bless you and your family with every gift of the Father
What an amazing story. I have always believed that when difficult moments happen we have a “fight or flight” instinct that also pertains to our relationship with God. I had a broken engagement when I was in my early 20s, it was awful. Even though I was the one that ended it, and it was what I wanted, what I didn’t want was the aftermath. Lines were drawn, awful things were said that can never be taken back or forgotten. Members of my family left me, siding with my ex. Painful does not even begin to describe the feeling. I doubted God during all of this. Why would He put me through this pain? Why would He want me to suffer through this? My husband was friends with my ex, and our first three years of our marriage were rocky and I always thought it was some form of punishment for leaving God and ending my past relationship. It was really the opposite, it was God’s way of reminding me that I had to fight, not flee. I could not make this work on my own, no matter how much I thought I could. I needed His help and His strength to guide me.
Rachel, thank you for sharing your heart. You are living proof of a loving God. “For he knows the plans he has for you, to give you hope and a future.” We just have to rest in Him, be patient, and know that He is God!
Rachel,
You have a beautiful family. Thank you for sharing your story. You have taken a negative experience and turned it into a positive by your reaction to it. God Bless you and your Family.
Renee,
You continue to amaze me with the stories you are led by God to share with others. What sets you apart is that you have real experiences to share from your own perspective and you link us to other women who also have real experiences so it feels like you know the desires and challenges of each woman’s heart.
God Bless You.
Rachel~Thank you for writing with such honesty and clarity. Your words, “faith is not only a one-time decision; it’s an everyday decision” really hit home for me. I am using “copy” and “paste” to place them in my “To Read Everyday” file. Thank you so much!
It is the everyday decisions of recommitment and turning to God that I need to remember.
Thank you again!
helen
me too, Friend!
PRAISING GOD FOR TEACHING ME WHAT A COMPLAINER I AM !!!!!! YESTERDAY WAS A HORRIBLE DAY. I CHOSE TO MAKE IT THAT WAY. I DIDN’T FEEL GOOD AND I LET HUBBY KNOW THAT. I WANTED TO DO THE GARDEN AND HE WANTED TO CUT GRASS. THINGS LET TO ANGRY WORDS. I KEEP PRAYING FOR GOD TO HELP ME BUT ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THEN WORDS . I STAYED MAD AND MISERABLE GRASS GOT CUT .I STAYED MAD . GOD FORGAVE ME. BUT READING RACHEL ‘S WORDS SURE MADE ME FEEL LIKE A HEEL. I KNOW GOD FORGAVE ME BUT I PLAYED OUT THE SCENE. I PRAY FOR RACHEL AND HER FAMILY. I WAS BLESSED READING HER STORY. GOD BLESS YOUAND YOURS KAY
I have miscarried twice the 1st was as early as 3 weeks 2 months ago I had my 2nd which was 3 days before my second trimester. My husband and I were devastated and had daily argument and fights. My husband a non-christian and I learned about our mistakes and decided to start all over again moving out of state just he and I away from our families it is hard for me because I am very close with my family have never been away from them but it is all Gods plan for our lives I have gotten closer to God and my husband I now know that all I need in my life is God. My husband and I have faith that our God will bless us with a children soon! I want to thank you both for sharing your stories with us and pray that our Lord continues to bless your beautiful families.
Wow! What a story! It reminds me that I must trust God daily not just when I need Him!
Renee, I loved your comment on the video message about not letting the pain, hurt, and disappointments of yesterday creep into my todays which can eventually affect your tomorrows. I am inserting my lack of faith into that statement. If I let my lack of faith yesterday creep into my today, then it can begin to embed itself into my tomorrow.
Wow. What another wonderful story of a woman who was broken, but still clung to her faith. My husband and I have been married almost 16 years, and during the past 3 years have been separated, through counseling, and reconciled, living like loving roomates instead of husband and wife. There have been so many circumstancial evidences pointing to him being unfaithful, but he insists he is not. I still struggle to try and trust him and my struggle is what keeps us apart in our marriage. I try to forgive him daily, but it is so hard not knowing for sure. Thanks so much for all the encouraging stories.