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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Commenting late… (I’m behind in my reading).
This sentence from Rachel struck me:
“I wanted God to spill out His plan for my life in one day.”
That is so what i’ve been doing! Thanks for this realization. One day at a time – surrender!
Thank you to all the Ladies who posted their thoughts, and to Renee and Rachel for your inspiring stories. I became a Christian just 10 months ago and I’m 52. I purchased A Confident Heart when it came out in July, but it wasn’t until yesterday after I was drawn to read these post that I started to actually read the book. I spent 4 1/2 hours reading and answering questions…it was amazing. Then when I woke up this morning, I was back in fear; so now I am going to start on Chapter 4. Fear runs me and ruins me, and what I got from all of your writings is that I must have God in my heart all the time, not just in the morning or at bedtime. Thank you so much for opening my heart and my mind.
Blessings to you, dear Laurie!
Trusting in God on a daily basis is the only way to be strengthen and grow our faith in Him.
Thanks for sharing such a heart warming and thought provoking story.
As I read through your blog posts in response to this week’s reading, I am reminded of Jeremiah 33:3
Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).
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I have gone through many storms in my life, and am presently in the middle of one now. I am just now realizing that in these times, I must turn to God. I had grown so accustomed to turning to my friends, family etc for support, that I neglected to turn to God. I compared my walk with God to others’ appearance of relationship with Him and found that I just didn’t measure up. I had doubts about my own ability to be used by God, and to allow Him to love me. I couldn’t conceive of that kind of love, the kind that allows storms to happen to be brought closer to Him until recently. This is a battle I am still fighting, because for me, these realizations come when it seems no one else is there.
Reading this book for a second time with such a group of women has helped me to realize that I had turned away from God and began to focus on others’ thoughts of me, and how I measured in response to those thoughts and perceptions. When I have those doubts, I must turn TO God, rather than AWAY from His prescence. The enemy would like nothing more than to isolate me and sift me as wheat using thoughts that he himself planted in my mind to trap me. As Renee Swope stated, I have to strive and work daily to turn my focus to God, change my focus. I have to work that much harder to focus my thoughts on Him and His purpose for my life. For me, that means deleting negative thoughts, things and yes, people. This is a journey, but I am more than willing to walk it out.
I would love to read your book. I attended a retreat this weekend and the power of prayer has touched me. I know God hears and has plans for us all. I want to grow in my prayers.
Amazing story and the book looks like it will be a good read too. I pray the Lord continues to give you strength and years with your daughter. Lord Bless
Loved reading Rachel’s story. It blessed me so much!
God’s plans are perfect for those He has called His own. He created each of us – fearfully & wonderfully! I am touched by your story – I cannot fathom your immense pain, discouragement, fear, loss – but I can tell you that you’ve blessed my heart by sharing. You’ve also helped me to remember to be ever so thankful for the health and blessings of my loved ones and myself! God bless you sister!
Thank you Rachel for sharing your story of faith and hope. It really touched where my need is today. God Bless.
Your story is so encouraging.
What a great testimony. I also have a daughter with mental disabilities. We are now in the teen years and facing new challenges, esp. socially. It is so hard sometimes seeing her struggle, but I also know that God is in control. He has made her just the way she is and for a specific purpose and reason. I daily trust God for His will to be done in her life. (not always easy) One thing I know for sure… she loves Jesus. That blesses my heart more than anything! 🙂
Wow, what an amazing story. I’d love to win and read your new book. Blessings to you.
Such an amazing story of how God can turn things around for those that choose to follow after Him!! This Sunday our Pastor preached on closing/locking one door before opening/unlocking another door. If we have too many doors open at one time that gives the enemy a way to steal from us. We have to lock the door to the enemy so he doesn’t have any open doors to sneak in to attack us. That’s what this story brought to me as I read it. God bless you and your family!!
Even through the midst of our troubles, He is there. All we have to do is trust Him for today, as you have done. You do have an inspiring message and I’m thankful that you have shared with us! Bless you and your beautiful family!
When my husband fell ill in 2007, he was so sick….couldn’t hardly walk on his own. He eventually was diagnosed with double lymphoma (and is now in remission), but I have an entry written in my journal that I wanted The Lord to heal him, but I also didn’t want the ‘closeness’ I felt with The Lord to go away. We went forward with 5 difficult years, looking back it is evident that He carried us through. On theother side it is easy to see how we were carried, but when we are in the middle of the storm, sometimes all we can do is cling on to Him for survival. Rachel, thank you for sharing your story. What a blessing! Through these testimonies of God’s faithfulness we all can be encouraged:)
Thank you for sharing such an inspirational story. It blessed and convicted me…in my pity party moments, I used to think I’d be better off today if only I’d been raised in a Christian home. Or if I’d had thisnthingor that person… hearing your story reminds me that no matter where we are, God is there. Thank you for writing about taking daily steps of faith. Thank you for reminding me that God sees us and will restore us. You have such a beautiful family and I pray you stay encouraged! God Bless You!!!
WOW…thank you so much for sharing your story. It has encouraged me so much and I read your story in just the right time. Today out of all days, I felt so alone, raising my two girls and then thinking back in 2009, I was also confronted with Divorce and then the death of my mother. I thank God for allowing this story to cross my path. Thank you so much and blessings to you and your family!
Hi sweet friends, I’ve been popping in and out this weekend, reading and praying a ton. So thankful that God carved out time for you to come and read Rachel’s powerful story of God’s grace and strength in the storms of life – past, present and future.
I had hoped to be more interactive with notes, but I ended up getting really sick. Finally went to the Dr yesterday and I have bronchitis. BUT it’s been so neat to see you all sharing and interacting with Rachel. That has meant the world to me – thank you for loving on her and Rachel – thank YOU for being such a sweet ambassador of His love and truth. So thankful to have this chance to minister with you!!
Hey there! Thanks for having me; my privilege for sure. Praying for you to feel better STAT!