Rachel Schelb
Interview with
Rachel Schelb
My name is Rachel Schelb and I am passionate about helping others find ways to love well on purpose and be intentional. I especially love encouraging people to love their grieving friends and loved ones well! When I'm not speaking, writing or hosting my Love Well On Purpose podcast, I'm hanging with my husband and 2 kids, kayaking or simply drinking Diet Dr. Pepper.
I grew up going to church, and trusted Jesus for salvation at 8 years old. Little did I know that my life would change dramatically not long after. After being a "daddy's girl" for 8 years, my dad was hit by a car and suffered personality and mood changes that drastically impacted our relationship. This was particularly hard since my mom was unmedicated but dealing with Bipolar Disorder. Life was chaotic and trauma-filled. Things escalated when I was in middle school.
I remember being at a student ministry event with my church. Mentally I was at the place where I was willing to end my life if it meant I could get to heaven where there was no tears or abuse. I didn't want to end my life, but I wanted relief. There was a skit at the event that rocked me. It was through this skit that I realized that the trials we go through are allowed by God to bring refining to us and glory to him if we are willing. That night I got on my knees and told God I surrendered. If this was the life he had for me, I wanted to figure out how to honor and bring glory to Him in the midst.
I adopted 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 as my life verse and began to draw closer to God through topical Bible study and prayer journaling. Life has not been easy and there have been many grief journeys, but God has redeemed every situation. I'm sure of God's faithfulness, grace, and unconditional love because of the ways I've experienced it in such real and tangible ways.
" Life has not been easy and there have been many grief journeys, but God has redeemed every situation"
Prayer! Every morning I wake up at 6am and take 10-30 minutes (depending on how long my kiddos wait to wake up lol!) and read in Bible for a few minutes and then write out my prayers. I write them out because I get distracted easily so it helps me stay on task. Also, it enables me to look back and see how God has heard and responded to my prayers. In the difficult times where it seems like God is silent, I can look back on answered prayers and see the consistency of God.
What goals do you have set out for this year?
This year I’m finishing my book which is written for anyone who wants to know how to better love their friends and loved ones who are on a grief journey. I want to build a stronger community online and offer hope and encouragement to others so that we can be the hands and feet of Jesus by loving well on purpose.
Name a moment where you saw God’s faithfulness:
There’s so many situations I could share of God’s faithfulness! My life is one of total beauty from ashes as Isaiah 61:3 speaks of! Seeing my parent’s super unhealthy marriage I decided I never wanted to get married. If I did, it would be after I had a career and was older. I was afraid of repeating the cycles of my parents. I begged God to help me break those cycles. As I was finishing my last semester of college, I met my now husband. He is incredible, godly and has been the first person to show me true unconditional love. Our marriage is forever a remind of God’s faithfulness. He heard my concerns and fears and he provided me everything that I wasn’t sure possible! I thought I didn’t want to married; God knew I was afraid of being hurt in marriage. He is faithful to hear us as well as provide us what is best for us!
If you're a fellow advocate for mental health, can you explain why?
There is so much stigma around mental health. Because so much of mental struggles can be masked and hidden to some extent, it can be easy for people to dismiss the severity! As a kid, when I spoke about issues at home I was told I just needed to honor my parents. If people had listened to the truth of my words, my mom may have gotten help much sooner than 6 years ago. We have to normalize therapy, taking medicine and seeking help in addition to praying and seeking God’s intervention.
What is the greatest piece of advice given to you?“Forgiveness doesn’t require two people.” I don’t know if I ever heard it directly like that, but I heard that concept from my former pastor Dr. Adrian Rogers. Restoration involves both people coming together and things being fixed. However, we can extend forgiveness without the other party ever apologizing or seeking restoration. Withholding forgiveness only hurts me; forgiving can begin the healing. It’s not easy, but worth it!
