Today I want you to meet my sweet, funny, amazing 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. 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.
- Find out more about Rachel on her blog.
- Download Rachel’s FREEBIE 12 Bible Verses for When You Feel Like Giving Up
Connecting in Community: I’ve been reading your comments and praying for each of you by name. And I’m working on a way for us to connect next week via conference call – Lord willing!! I’m hoping it will be a way I can share my thoughts and answer questions you all are sharing and asking about here. For today, I’d love to know….
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? Let’s connect here and talk about it. {If you are reading this via email, click here to return to my blog to share your heart.}
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Rachel,
Thank you for being real and sharing with us. I struggle with running toward God in hard times but through faith I am learning to run to Him and trust. Thank you for affirming this is the only path. God bless you and your family.
genia
Rachel…as I read your story my heart was both aching for your struggles but filled with joy for your faith trust and perseverance. 5 years ago after a difficult pregnancy (with a pre diagnosis of a neuro muscular disorder and the option given to my daughter to abort…with a profound and resolute NO) my daughter Tara gave birth to my grandson Andrew. We were told he would not live 3 days. I told them that they had no idea who I was…a woman of great faith and how I believed that God had his own plans for Andrew. I told them after they brought Tara an autopsy release that if they didn’t embrace God’s plan then let me know right now so I could get him the **** out of there! Needless to say God did have plans for Andrew and today, although diagnosed with an extremely rare genetic disorder, Pena Shokeir phenotype IV, with no documented research of any child surviving past 3 months of age, and no voluntary movement except for his head and eyes, slight hand and foot, trached and vented, Andrew is in my class at school since age 3. Andrew uses a variety of augmentative communication devices, is cognitively age appropriate and recently trialed an eye gaze computer for which he has been approved. I am very proud of him and Tara. I am in awe of the Lord and His many blessings upon our family. I praise and thank Him with my love honor faith and trust! I share this whole story both as a release for myself and to let you know from someone who knows that you and your family will be remembered in my prayers. I am a Special Educator teaching and caring for medically fragile students with extremely rare syndromes or disorders. This school year was challenging for me as we had to let go of Jayla and Eddie as they were called home by Jesus! The Lord blessed us with their presence in our class for 3 years. They showed us God’s love every single day! Thank you for sharing your story of faith!
Rachel,
Thanks for sharing your story…. We may have met, not sure. I was at She Speaks last summer! I was born with CP, my parents are divorced, my mom has been fighting cancer. She is my primary caregiver. Through her illness as ,much as I wish God would heal her, I have come to lean how to trust God’s heart, even when I don’t understand his ways. I related to your story! Renee wrote about battling depression, and I am just wondering if their is actually a point of total deliverance from depression or it something Christ helps a person have grace for like a thorn in the flesh? Anyone can answer with your own journey of course. Thanks!
Hello Renee & Rachel,
I was led to Rachel website one night when I was growing very weary in my season. I shared my story with Rachel and before she could send me a reply her blog kept me encouraged through all the many scriptures on the site with her words of encouragement. I am enjoying this bible study and if you have not checked out Rachel’s site please do so and follow her on Pinterest as well. (just to cover your bases of being blessed)
Love and Blessings to you both.
Retha Morgan
I am encouraged by your story Rachel of having a husband who helps to bring the restoration back. I went a bible camp last july and felt god was saying i didn’t have to fear of losing a husband but that I was gaining a husband. Yesterday we had a mediation meeting re. finances and I was very calm about the whole thing.
Then I get this phone call from him for 2 hours which seemed so positive and both of us being open etc. Was all in a tis thinking about it, that I ended up feeling down and just sang any words i could which gave God praise. Worshiping God is definately releasing and empowering, only thing i feel like i have to keep doing it, as soon i had my head turning everything over again later on!
I really want to make things work and feel like its my last chance to make things work but am stuck and its hard bringing up all the emotions back up and lack of sleep. I need LOTS of prayer. It breaks my heart when i find so many people seperated, divorced and hurting that I hope I can find complete healing which God has already begun and be able to reach out to others.
Oh Renee, thank you for sharing Rachel’s story. Knowing her in real life and online is a true gift, as her faith and authenticity speak of God’s faithfulness and overflows His love.
Thanks, too, for your message a Kingdom Hearts. God radically worked in my life that day, opening up my heart to another level of surrender and surprising me with a truly unexpected blessing as result in the week that followed. I especially was impacted by your transparency and humbly reminded how my “big dream” must include daily time with God as a non-negotiable. Thank you!
Rachel,
Thanks for sharing your story with us! You are an amazing testament of God’s urgings to STAND! I am drawing so much strength from your story! Thank you for the encouragement to PRESS! I’m praying for you and your family! God is a Healer!
Thank you Rachael for sharing this amazing story of one woman’s journey. Yes, faith is a daily decision. Often difficult when we don’t understand the “why” of life’s earthly slings and arrows. May our Father continue to give you the strength and faith to continue on thru all. Blessings to you and your family. Renee, my beautiful sister…STANDING STRONG with you, girlfriend. Thanks for being the woman God made you to be! You are such an inspiration and light!
Thank you Rachael for sharing your story. Also thanks for the verses. I turn to this verse, when I need God’s strength.
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus…..
God Bless You and your family..
I like that verse to Anna thanks for reminding me.
I just have to say, doing this study and being a part of this blog, hearing others’ hearts when sometimes all I can hear and feel and think of is my own heart ‘stuck’ in my own private little world …. I have a renewed respect and appreciation for the phrase “sisters in Christ.” I love the closeness and ‘realness’ shared here ‘in this room’ (as I’ve come to call it). I truly appreciate you sisters! Praying for you … and I thank you in advance for praying for me in my own little struggles of life, realizing, my gosh, we ALL really do have them. God is reminding me that He has not left me orphaned. Thank you for sharing your hearts, ladies.
I have felt like quitting this past week, and when I read I want to weep. I am amazed at the emotions this study it stirring within me. But…. I am keeping on. I am also doing another study for the small group I am in. Then to top it off, the ministry where I work… we meet weekly for devotions and prayer, and this week it was my turn to share. God keeps putting me into studies that are REALLY stretching me right now. Finances are tight as my husband is developing a new career (long story) and ministry finances are tight and I never know if I will get a full paycheck or not. My so called security is shook to the core… and God keeps reminding me over and over again that He IS with me. i just seem to have the trouble of getting from my head into the rest of me. This last week, during a devotional time, the words I read earlier in this study came back in a personal way…. it went from your comment, Renee, of believing in Him to believing Him….as a general statement to ME (go figure). God spoke directly to ME… saying ” I know you believe IN me but do you believe ME? Do you trust Me? ” I almost broke down and cried … but there when the wall again…back up. I didn’t want to blow my cool or look foolish. But I have found myself sharing how God spoke to me. My husband and I have had long talks and I KNOW God is doing a mighty work in me. Thanks Renee for being part of that journey.
Kristi, I know what you mean about the sentence in the book “I know you believe in me but do you believe me?” It stops me in my tracks every time I think about it, and I realize how much I doubt what God says when I apply His word to my life. Together, we will overcome….
I don’t know about everyone else, but for me when life gives more than I feel I can handle, I feel like I’m on a searching frenzy. Searching for answers, searching for advice, searching for solutions, searching for anything that will bring me a sense of calm in the midst of chaos! During one of these times I was searching, an overwhelming peace hit me like I ran into a mountainside and all I heard was “be still and KNOW that I am God!” Ever since, I repeat those words when I feel like I can’t handle what lies ahead! I remember that there is NOTHING bigger ahead of me than the God behind me! He has a plan for each of us and I am clinging to that promise! Hugs to all!
Thank you Rachel for sharing your story. It is very powerful and I enjoyed reading it. I have had many times in my life wanted to give up but I keep on going. I have made a copy of the verses and I have read and reread them over and over. They are all great and very true. I will try to have faith and not give up and the Lord will be with me as I journey down the path he has chosen for me. Thanks for all the help in guiding me and helping me to follow the right path of the Lord.
“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.”
THIS!!! Oh THIS! I’ve kind of been in the well I have faith except I think my faith got as flabby as well lol well me 😀
I read this and it was like a thunderbolt that and the verse to memorize this week.
I have no job since January and I am the sole support. I have cried why and oh why and imagined far to many terrible outcomes.
But God will make a way I need to choose to trust him every second and run after his plans.
Thank you so much for sharing it meant a lot to me.
Thank you for sharing your story. I am struggling with Chapter 4. I,too, believed I had healed from sexual abuse as a child but I realize I have hidden most of it. I became a Christian 9 years ago this month. I am 48 years old so you see that I’ve lived many years in anger, disappointment and isolation. I have remarried ,a wonderful Christian whose wife left him after years of affairs. They have 3 daughters who are grown and I have 3 sons. My baby is 16. The ex wife can not let go of the life she realizes she threw away. She uses her daughters love and loyalty to keep “attached” to the entire family she walked away from 10 years ago. My husband is not there for me the way I need him to be and once again I am angry, so angry and disappointed and lonely. It is difficult for me to believe that God really does have a plan when all I seem to experience is the pain. I so needed this study and will continue reading and praying that I will have an “ah-ha” moment that any of this pain will make sense.
Rachel, thank you for sharing your story!!! I loved your quote about the importance of trusting God here on Earth. It truly is just as important as trusting Him for our eternity. The one thing that stuck out to me the most was that God provided you a Godly, Christian man after your divorce. This gives me hope. I’m 31 and I’ve never been married. I’ve dated several guys but none of them have been the kind of man that I would want to commit to in a marriage relationship. At times I get frustrated and disheartened and wonder if God is ever going to provide in this area. I desire to be married and have a family so much!!! Your story has given me hope for this area. My hope and prayer is that God will provide a Godly husband for me soon!
Thank you Rachel for sharing. Your story has really touched my heart as it is similar to mine in many ways. I e been a Christian for nearly 30 years, married a lovely Christian man. We have three children who were all born premature by emergency C-Section all with various issues we have to deal with on a daily basis. My husband has also doubted his calling. He comes from a violent family background (he also has Asperger’s syndrome) but will not face the issues, instead pushing them deep down in his heart. Although he has not cheated on me physically be has emotionally through pornography and dating websites. Currently he wants nothing to do with church and although wont stop me going makes me feel guilty when the kids and I do go. I feel totally lost with the dream we had together has been dead and buried now for six months. Only in the last couple of months has my mind been clear enough again to focus on again on God. Thanks for sharing Rachel. I can only trust God has a plan for our future I can not see
Love the statement she makes “But through His Word, God has taught me that faith is not only a one-time decision; it’s an everyday decision.” Her story encouraged me. Every day is a struggle! Some days are better and brighter than others. It helps to know that others are going through the same thing. With God nothing is impossible. Thank you for sharing!
I have had a challenging morning with one of my daughters. There seems to be nothing in this world that I can say to teach her the right way or encourage her to embrace forgiveness for others. She is a “pay-back” girl who just won’t believe that she is talented and gifted from God. She will not allow him to write her path, but insists on writing her own. All of this is packed into one small 10 year old little body, who has a heart of gold, when she allows it to show. I am at a loss for words of wisdom, for patience and for understanding. I pray everyday that the Lord give me what I need to get through to her and everyday, I feel for the most part that I have fallen short. It brings me down in my confidence as a mom, and in my ability to do what I believe the Lord has in mind for me; working with youth and mental health issues. I am not educated in anyway for that career, it is just the calling on my heart that I am exploring as my now 4 year old will be starting school full time in September and after being at home for 13 years, I need to explore the return to work. It is a scary path for me, my own doubts and abilities. I am hoping this chapter and timeline, will open doors that I have hidden and will erase the doubts by building my confidence; “ For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope, and a future.” Jer 29:11
Thank-you Renee for your openness and your sharing, thank-you for choosing each of your friends to share their stories with such perfect timing. You are all VERY BRAVE women to be able to open up and present your weaknesses, to strengthen yourselves as well as the rest of us. I pray someday, my story is also used to encourage and enhance the lives of those I encounter, as well as heal my own. May the Lord continue to reach deep within each of us, filling the gaps that we have looked to others to fill. Help each of us to learn to fully trust in Jesus to be all that we need to survive this world.
I have had a challenging morning with one of my daughters. There seems to be nothing in this world that I can say to teach her the right way or encourage her to embrace forgiveness for others. She is a “pay-back” girl who just won’t believe that she is talented and gifted from God. She will not allow him to write her path, but insists on writing her own. All of this is packed into one small 10 year old little body, who has a heart of gold, when she allows it to show. I am at a loss for words of wisdom, for patience and for understanding. I pray everyday that the Lord give me what I need to get through to her and everyday, I feel for the most part that I have fallen short. It brings me down in my confidence as a mom, and in my ability to do what I believe the Lord has in mind for me; working with youth and mental health issues. I am not educated in anyway for that career, it is just the calling on my heart that I am exploring as my now 4 year old will be starting school full time in September and after being at home for 13 years, I need to explore the return to work. It is a scary path for me, my own doubts and abilities. I am hoping this chapter and timeline, will open doors that I have hidden and will erase the doubts by building my confidence; “ For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope, and a future.” Jer 29:11
Thank-you Renee for your openness and your sharing, thank-you for choosing each of your friends to share their stories with such perfect timing. You are all VERY BRAVE women to be able to open up and present your weaknesses, to strengthen yourselves as well as the rest of us. I pray someday, my story is also used to encourage and enhance the lives of those I encounter, as well as heal my own. May the Lord continue to reach deep within each of us, filling the gaps that we have looked to others to fill. Help each of us to learn to fully trust in Jesus to be all that we need to survive this world.