Rooted with Rachel

Have you ever been given a responsibility that you dread? Maybe you signed up for something in haste and now you are regretting every minute of it. But what about those things that are forced upon us? The child with special needs we did not ask for. The loss of a job that we did not seek. A relationship that crumbled and we can’t figure out why. These are the burdens that stretch our capacity to c...

It’s really difficult to surrender in the silence. We battle with our intrusive thoughts about ourselves, others and God. We fight for control because everything seems out of control. Maybe right now you are experiencing this. You feel like your situation is impossible and there is no way out. You are afraid to surrender everything and everyone to God, because, honestly, you are afraid what he wil...

Have you ever had so much faith that something was going to happen, so much surety, but yet you had no idea HOW God was going to accomplish it, you just had unwavering faith that it would happen? These moments are probably rare in your life just like they are in mine. The opposite is often true in times of silence. Instead of surety, we are left feeling shaken, unsure of anything. We flounder and...

Have you ever experienced the smile of God? If you have, you know that feeling of God’s approval resting on your heart. A peace that settles deep in your soul that he is pleased with you, not because of anything you’ve done, but because of what Christ has done. The smile of God means living in his favor, grace and approving presence. Today, we see a simple young girl who experiences the smile of G...

We live in a world that is a little bit like a fishbowl, there are eyes on everyone at all times. With social media being center stage, our lives can become so public that we forget what it’s like to live life in the hidden. Elizabeth found solace even in her seclusion. God had answered their prayer for a child in a miraculous way, but Elizabeth chose to stay hidden during the first few months of...

Sometimes in the silence, we forget how to hope, we can get a little cynical. Yesterday, we witnessed the four hundred years of silence being shattered with an answer to prayer from Malachi’s prophecy of hope and a personal answer to Zechariah and Elizabeth’s prayer for a child. Today’s sound to listen for carries a warning. The sound of skepticism has the potential to shatter our faith. The four...

Something amazing happens when we’ve been waiting for so long in silence and that silence is suddenly broken with an answer to prayer or even the tiniest glimpse of hope from God. Yesterday we got a peek into the first words that broke the four hundred years of silence. Just four simple words: “Do not be afraid!” . Can you imagine the shock and fear Zechariah must have felt after hearing no word f...

Suffering is hard enough, but suffering in silence is perhaps the worst place to be. When prayer is hard, when the heavens feel closed off from us, we need people around us interceding for us in prayer. But before we can even enjoy this privilege of intercession by the community of saints, we need to invite people into our pain. Remember: Luke 1:10-13 We have two examples of supplication or prayer...

I think one of the hardest parts about waiting, is the silence. It can last for so long, tempting us to give up. We quit trying. The people of God had waited four hundred long years. No word from God. No prophet. No hope. Just the sound of silence. It’s in these moments that we feel like maybe God has forgotten. He’s forgotten to be faithful. Maybe he doesn’t work anymore. Our prayers seem to go u...

Every good story starts with the past. Who is the main character? Where did they grow up? What was their family tree like? Today’s reading walks us through the pages of history, tracing the Messiah’s family tree down to the very beginning of time. Although Jesus’ conception was purely of the Holy Spirit and a miracle, there are two genealogies regarding the Messiah following Mary and Joseph (his a...

We all find ourselves in seasons of waiting. Sometimes the waiting is small and insignificant like waiting for a red light to turn green or waiting on a hot cup of coffee at your local coffee shop. Then there are the times when the waiting is serious and it’s heavy. Waiting on a medical diagnosis, waiting for a child, waiting on a job, waiting for a husband, waiting for a prodigal to come home, or...

Coming at you raw today on Rooted with Rachel! Here’s the book I mentioned: The Heart of Jesus: How He Really Feels About You by Dane Ortlund Purchase here: https://a.co/d/gDC5c4l Follow along on my Substack or on Instagram @rachelbochat: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rootedwithrachel.substack.com

Have you ever experienced a period of time where God is teaching you so much about himself and yourself? It’s like you’re drinking from a fire hydrant. You want to share but you’re not sure yet how to articulate it. I have felt that way recently. I am finally at the place where I am ready to share some of what God has been teaching me about battling worry in the hopes that it would help you as wel...

Welcome to Rooted with Rachel. As a Christian life coach, I am here to help you walk in confidence, clarity, and God’s purpose for your life. Today we’re talking about something so simple, but so powerful—it’s the words we speak and the words we hear. They can either breathe life or drain it. And as followers of Jesus, we have a choice every single day in which ones we allow to shape us. This is a...

Lately, I have found myself in a cycle of rehearsing negative narratives in my heart and mind. It has taken me to a place where I did not want to go. I knew something had to be done or I would be stuck here forever. Maybe you resonate with this. Perhaps you too have found yourself spiraling into the negative on autopilot and you don’t know how to break the cycle. Or maybe you are clueless as to wh...

Have you ever looked at a sunrise and you couldn’t help but think about God—the Creator of every sunrise? Or stood before the vast ocean and your mind goes directly to how he holds back those waves and sets their boundaries, saying, “You may come this far, and no further”? Creation is speaking to us constantly. Psalm 19 tells us, “The heavens declare the glory of God.” But so often, we miss the sa...

How would you describe the state of your soul right now? Is it calm and quiet? Weary and restless? Anxious and worried? When our souls feel disturbed and turbulent, we usually try and ease are anxious souls with food, drink or other empty remedies. None of these can calm and quiet our anxious souls. Very rarely do we ask ourselves WHY are we feeling this way, what is at the root of our fractured s...

Are you finding it difficult to think of reasons to praise God right now? Maybe you're going through a trial or grieving a loss, and you just can’t seem to find your footing. How can we praise when our souls feel empty and cold? It’s so easy for our view of God to become skewed in a world that paints an inaccurate picture of him—one that doesn’t align with what Scripture says. That’s why it’s so i...

I cannot begin to tell you how timely this psalm has been for me!! I pray God has used it in your life as well. Today is our final day in Psalm 121. We will look at the last two verses and then I will share with you how this psalm has helped shape my prayers not only for myself, but for my family and for others as well. As we look at verses 7-8, we are left with four powerful truths that help shap...

May is a month of transitions — graduations, children moving from elementary to middle school or from middle school to high school, people relocating, and many life changes. How do you weather these transitions when everything feels uncertain or constantly changing? Last week, we explored God as our Vigilant Protector and saw how He keeps us in a deeply personal way. Today, we will focus on God as...

When your world feels dark and silent, do you ever wonder if God is still paying attention? Do you ever feel like you are unseen in your pain? Because help is deferred, you conclude that God is disinterested in your life — or worse, he has forgotten you. I think we would all say we have had these thoughts. Our hearts know better, but sometimes when the pressures are so great and the rescue is dela...

Do you ever feel like you just need a change of pace? Maybe your time spent with God and his word seem fruitless or hurried and you feel the need to slow down. You long for something that will be more meditative, more contemplative. We live in a world that is in fast motion. We get information at our fingertips constantly through social media and the news; so many things are bearing down on us. Ou...

Have you ever thought about how many times you may have missed a breakthrough because you gave up too soon? You gave up on yourself. You gave up on God. You gave up on someone else. What does it really look like to brave a breakthrough? That’s the topic of today’s episode. Today we are talking about breakthroughs. Not just the “I had a good day at work” kind of breakthrough. I’m talking about the...

The Easter outfits are all put away. The Easter baskets are empty and the candy is almost gone (or maybe it’s already completely gone!) The food has all been consumed. The high point of the Christian calendar has come and gone. How do we live in the reality of the resurrection on Easter Monday? Today, I have been reflecting on the word “remember.” I think back on all the happenings that would’ve t...

Welcome to Rachel’s Vault These videos are treasures from the journey — raw, real, and rich with purpose. Pulled from the archives of This Perfected Life, each video captures moments of growth, encouragement, faith, and transformation. Whether you're here for inspiration, practical wisdom, or a reminder of God's hand in the process, you're in the right place. I thought it would be fun to resurrect...