There are battles in this life we never would’ve chosen – the kind that make us wonder how in the world we’re going to take one more step. Rachel Wojo knows something about those kinds of battles. Her journey has held heartbreak and loss that she never could’ve imagined, and yet, right there in the hardest places, she has discovered this: we were never meant to fight our battles alone. It’s a joy to welcome Rachel to the farm’s table today…

Guest Post by Rachel Wojo

You can’t begin to imagine what a profound pleasure it was to sit down to talk with Rachel Wojo  in the belltower of our 1896 old stone church — this is really a NOT TO BE MISSED CONVERSATION….  Don’t miss our powerful video convo below…

I vividly remember the day when I finally pieced together the puzzle and learned about my little girl Taylor’s terminal diagnosis of MPS, a rare genetic disorder. The realization hit me hard, and I felt like everything was crashing down around me.

I had never experienced such an emotional roller coaster before.

For a few moments, I wrestled with the question of whether God was near.

Have you ever heard of choosing a life verse?

It’s a concept where you select a Bible verse that resonates deeply with you and serves as a guiding principle. It’s sort of like an all-encompassing word to live by. I love many Bible verses, but instead of choosing a life verse, my life verse chose me.

It wasn’t just a verse I liked; it was a verse that grew deeply personal and guided me through life’s battles, a verse that I lived and breathed. 

When Taylor was only four years old, her Sunday school teacher prompted her to memorize a verse. This verse, “The battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:47), became a guiding light for Taylor and our family as we navigated her journey. Taylor’s memorization of this verse stitched it to her earthly journey and how our family would walk alongside her. 

From the renowned David and Goliath story, the portion Taylor memorized resonated with me for years: “The battle is the Lord’s.” This verse was a constant reminder that our struggles are not ours alone to bear, but we can entrust them to the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. 

Taylor’s journey taught me that the key to victory in life’s battles is surrendering all things to God daily. This surrender is not a sign of weakness but a powerful choice that leads to a more fulfilling and peaceful life. It’s a beacon of hope and a beautiful path to a brighter future. There is no better way to live. There is no other way to live. 

“…our struggles are not ours alone to bear, but we can entrust them to the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.“

After Taylor left this world for Heaven, on occasion, someone would say to me, “I’m so sorry that your daughter lost her battle with MPS.” I would formally smile and thank them. 

But contrary to what some may say, Taylor didn’t lose her battle.

She emerged victorious.

Jesus won the war.

Taylor is a warrior. I can only imagine the beauty, wholeness, and joy she now experiences in Heaven. 

While the hole in my heart won’t fully heal until I meet her in our heavenly home, I’m grateful that her battle is over and the sweet victory in Jesus is hers. She’s now in a place of eternal joy and peace, where pain and suffering are no more. 

Have you ever been blindsided by circumstances that shook you to your core? Life’s tsunamis come in many forms. Cancer tries to rewrite your future in an instant. A phone call attempts to divide your life into before and after. Whatever it was, it left you feeling completely overwhelmed and on the verge of giving up. In such moments, it’s easy to feel paralyzed by circumstances larger than life.

But I’ve found comfort in the words of the psalmist, who, amid his struggles, called out to God urgently: “Lord, save me!”

“Our cries do not fall on deaf ears, and our struggles do not go unnoticed.“

That exclamation point at the end of his cry captures the intensity of his plea. The situation may have seemed impossible, but the psalmist knew it wasn’t beyond God’s reach. The intensity of his cry reflected the rush of blood to his heart.

In Psalm 116, the psalmist expresses his deep gratitude for the Lord’s response to his cry. The strength he found in knowing that God heard him led him to promise, “I will call on him as long as I live” (verse 1).

We can find hope and strength in knowing we are not alone in our struggles.

God’s love and compassion are always available to us, giving us the courage to face even the most overwhelming situations. Our cries do not fall on deaf ears, and our struggles do not go unnoticed.

Friend, you can cry out to God when life’s battles overwhelm you.

“No battle is too overwhelming for God.”

He is right there with you, no matter how daunting your circumstances may feel. No battle is too overwhelming for God. When you cry out, “Lord, save me!” He hears and responds with compassion. 

Lord, the feeling of being overwhelmed is all too familiar to me. I need You, Jesus. Circumstances have overtaken me; this situation has zapped my energy. My strength is gone. God, I cry out to You; You are the only One who can refresh my spirit, soul, mind, and body. Your Word promises that You hear me. Saturate my soul with the renewing grace only You can provide. Though the battle is enormous, I know You are greater. You have not forgotten me, and You never will. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

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A Deeply Life-Giving Conversation: Belltower Stories

How do you pray when your heart is breaking? Ann Voskamp and Rachel Wojo discuss Rachel’s new book, Praying Through Life’s Battles. Come join us in BellTower Stories, up in the 1896 bell tower our little Village Table church, as “the bells are the voice of the church, with tones that touch and search.” (Longfellow)

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