Find the Strength to Take the Next Step (review)
“Joy has nothing to do with the position of your body and everything to do with the posture of your heart.” —Rachel Wojo, One More Step
'Joy has nothing to do w/ the position of your body...everything to do w/ the posture of your heart.' —Rachel Wojo Share on X
Stuck
Deep, dark sorrow met me as a twenty-something. In the loss of my baby’s life, I refused to believe there was any hope left. So I remained frozen in my grief.
Weary and disillusioned, I couldn’t take the next step, the one leading to hope and freedom. I could only wallow in what had been and what was no more.
I remained stuck in the quicksand of thinking life would be easy and all sweetness. When it wasn’t, I didn’t know where to turn to find the strength to move through the hard and bitter.
Thinking I could walk this journey in my own strength nearly cost me everything. But by the grace of God, He delivered me with His strength.
We try to do life on our own, but through God's grace and by His strength, God delivers us. Share on X
You Can Take the Next Step
You’ve likely walked or are walking your own difficult path. Maybe you’re struggling right now to just put one foot in front of the other.
God has the strength you lack. And by His mercy and grace He wants to give it to you. Yet it can be a process for us to let go and let God carry us.
Rachel Wojnarowski (Wojo for short), knows what it means to be stuck, to be too weak to move on. She knows what it’s like to want to curl up in a corner and let the world pass her by.
You see my sweet friend has dealt with many extremely difficult circumstances in her life. From a divorce to her mother’s death to watching her precious daughter be robbed of her abilities by a terminal disease, Rachel has lived hard.
She is living hard!
Grace and Beauty
But she’s discovered grace and beauty in the midst of the confusing and ugly. She’s learned what it takes to walk in the storms and not be blown away by them.
She’s learned how to find beauty in the midst of winter and to discover joy in the midst of pain. In the midst of the hard, she’s learned how to take that next step when you don’t think you can go on.
And she shares what she’s learned in her touching and encouraging book, One More Step: Finding Strength When You Feel Like Giving Up.
One More Step
In One More Step, Rachel uncovers the hurtful thoughts, the lies that seep into our hearts and minds and rob us of hope. The inerrant beliefs that prevent us from taking the next step when dealing with the difficult things of life.
Through incredibly open and vulnerable stories of her own personal struggles, she gives us permission to ache, to grieve and process. But Rachel refuses to allow us to stay stuck in that grief.
With insights she gleaned from trying to survive some of the fiercest storms herself, she identifies the reasons that tempt us to give up. She offers us a gentle hand to hold while showing us where to find the courage to keep going.
Grab Hope
One More Step guides us to discover a foundation of hope and provides practical application for resting in that hope in the middle of the worst storms.
Each chapter culminates with a list of relevant scriptures (“Pillars of Truth to Lean On”) and a practical exercise, a “Stepping Stone,” to help propel us forward. The companion journal, “Stepping Stones Journal,” corresponds to each chapter exercise.
Joy and peace are possible in whatever situation we find ourselves. In “One More Step,” Rachel helps us find them.
She assures us that God “walks with us, infusing his strength into our steps one by one….”
Don’t give in to hopelessness and remain stuck, because…
“Whatever your next step is, God will give you the strength for it.”
Don't remain stuck: 'Whatever your next step is, God will give you the strength for it.' @RachelWojo #OneMoreStep Share on X
“Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears.” Psalm 39:12
Reflections: Have you ever found yourself stuck, too weary to take the next step? What helped?
I’m so excited to be giving away a signed copy of Rachel’s book, One More Step : Finding Strength When You Feel Like Giving Up, as well as the companion journal “Stepping Stones Journal” to one winner! Just follow the Rafflecopter instructions. Re-enter everyday this week for more chances to win!
You don’t want to miss the wisdom and insight Rachel shares. Enter to win and then click on the book title or image to purchase a copy to give away to a friend or family member who is struggling.
More than 4 years of counting and I’ve surpassed 4,500 gifts in Ann Voskamp’s Joy Dare! What a blessing! Here are numbers #4,789–4,809. Read my entire list by clicking here.
- Sweet treat from my guy to brighten a tough day; Cold remedy: Turkey frame soup with dumplings and raspberry pie for dessert; Old family recipes
- Persistent, caring doctor willing to help figure out a girl who has limited communication; Seeing Mom and Dad for the first time since Thanksgiving on Skype; Our parents’ health
- A supportive phone conversation with my boss; Getting a jump on spring by throwing the football around with Joey; An early night to recoup
- Seeing progress in my work trainees; Another afternoon/evening of chaperoning jazz: so good! Porch lights on, welcoming us home
- My dad’s health; Gracious host for my interview for his upcoming online summit; An evening out with Dave for an early birthday celebration
- Positive resolution to a drawn-out situation; Taking a long hike with two of my favorite guys; Climbing among tall, craggy rock outcroppings
- All the wonderful birthday wishes: I appreciate them all; Birthday walk with my home crew; God’s faithfulness all these years
*There are affiliate links in this post.
By His Grace,
Julie
16 Comments
Leave a Comment
Hello, I'm Julie, an imperfect wife and mother of four. Life in this broken world is not always easy. Yet, joy can be found in each day through the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I find it's easy for our day's blessings to get lost in its happenings. But God's "mercies never end" (Lamentations 3:22) and His "grace is sufficient" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
May the posts and pages on this site offer you a measure of peace and encouragement.
Search the Blog
Categories
Maintain Godly Focus!
Are you struggling to maintain godly focus in the mess of each day's living? Do you too easily find yourself worrying about circumstances instead of trusting in God's promises? If you answered yes, why not download my ebook. It's filled with 25 power verses with space for personal reflection to help you maintain godly focus, no matter what situations arise.
(Privacy policy: Don't worry, your information is safe you can unsubscribe at any time.)
The book sounds very helpful
It has very practical applications, Dawnielle. Thank you for entering and for your comment.
I would love to win this book and journal!
It is an inspiring read, Elizabeth. Rachel has an amazing heart.
I have a friend who lost her son in an automobile accident. She has turned her back on God. I would love to give her this book.
How tragic, Renee, on both fronts! Rachel definitely has a heart for the hurting. Her book will minister. Another book I recommend wholeheartedly is Michele Cushatt’s book “Undone: Making Peace with an Unexpected Life.” Any of Joni Earickson Tada’s resources would also be encouraging for your friend.
Thank you for the recommendations. I will look for them. God bless you as you seek to glorify God in all you do.
Thank you for giving us the chance to win! Awesome!
You’re welcome, Rebecca. I’m thankful so many are interested in finding help and healing.
I would love win book and I have one it very helpful to me and would love give to my deaf friend who going through dialysis since her doctor mistake give her wrong medicine and cause damage her kidney. And she had go thru dialysis rest of her life and very upset that she had go thru by their mistake
What a sad mistake, J.! You’re a sweet friend to be thinking of how to serve her. Blessings.
i would love to win this book.. i think all christian struggle at some point and i think this book and journal would be nice to read to see how others deal with things
So true, Geneva! The Lord never promised it’d be easy.
I would like to win this book, not for me but my niece who is drowning in depression. If I were to win, I would by my own book and do this with her as a study!
What a wonderful aunt you are, Carrie! Prayers for your niece.
[…] There’s still time to enter my giveaway of my friend Rachel Wojo’s book, One More Step : Finding Strength When You Feel Like Giving Up. Find the entry widget at this post: “Find the Strength to Take the Next Step (review and giveaway)”. […]