Hope Speaker

05/15/2026

Join us virtually on May 22 ❣️💜💙

https://realizefoundation.org/booklaunch

There are conversations people are afraid to have..

About pain.
About struggle.
About what’s really going on underneath.

But those are often the exact conversations that save lives.

Scars to Stars™ was built on one belief:
👉 Conversation is prevention.

On May 22nd, we’re creating a space where those conversations can begin.

No pressure.
No expectations.

Just real people, real stories, and real connection.

👉 Join us (Link in comments)

05/13/2026

Christian widows are different.❤️‍🔥

Not because we have it all figured out, or hurt less. But because when everything in this world gets stripped away from us, Christ remains.

That changes everything.

One of the hardest parts of widowhood is that suffering suddenly becomes personal. Tragedy is no longer just something that happens in the world. It’s YOUR husband. YOUR empty bed. YOUR children grieving. YOUR world.

And if this life is all there is… then honestly? Widowhood would feel, and perhaps be, hopeless.

Sister… your pain is real, and also, pain is not your identity.

✝️Christian widows are not hopeless!

We are Kingdom widows.
Women of valor.
Warrior brides of Christ.

This week’s Blog is just a few minutes to help bring your heart deeper into grieving WITH Christ versus grieving WITHOUT hope.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, numb, fearful, or like your life ended when his did… I really want you to read this one. Be blessed! 💗

www.hopespeaker.com/post/hope-for-christian-widows-after-loss-hope-speaker

With you,
Rachel

05/12/2026

We grieve with HOPE, and that's a very different experience from grieving without it (I've done both💔).

I moved off the hopeless path and back into gritty hope by anchoring myself on my rock (Christ), instead of staying chained to anguish and calling it "love."

Don't get me wrong- all grief can be painful. But the same storm beating down has a different impact on a house built on the rock, than a house built on sand.

I kept returning to my foundation. ✝️

"Brothers and sisters [in Christ], we do not want you to be uninformed about those who [preceded you] in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have [passed on before us]... [We will be together again]. Therefore encourage one another with these words."
-1 Thess. 4:13-14, 17-18

Stay tuned for more encouragement about this in tomorrow's Hope Speaker Blog.💜

And in the meantime, find another post there to give you some hope today. ❤️‍🔥

www.hopespeaker.com/blog

With you,
Rachel

05/11/2026

CELEBRATION TIME❣️🔥💙🎈

Today I elevate my husband with gratitude, because let me tell you, combining our lives hasn't been easy😅:

Marrying a widow
Blending families
Moving states
Changing jobs...

But you know what I honor most about Mike?

He did all of this, he lives his life, following where the Lord directs him. With his eyes on Jesus above all people and all things.

He steps into what is uncomfortable, he fights through what is hard, and he walks in purpose WITH the Lord.

Happy Birthday, my Love. 🎉🎂🎁🥳

I know life together has been a lot of self sacrifice for us, and I look forward to seasons of respite and rest with you, too! 😌

❤️‍🔥 Rachel

PS- If you have an encouragement for Mike on his Birthday, feel free to drop it below (or shoot him a text). 💙

05/11/2026

A Widowed Mother's Day Blessing. ✝️✨

I know it feels like your children need more than "just a mom," (they need their dad who is gone), and that you aren't doing a very good job solo.

Widowhood Mother's Day can feel like that.

But I'm here to remind you that you are doing an incredible job. That the Lord will walk with them, and He will walk you through this, too. 💕

"...He gently leads those that have young." -Isaiah 40:11

This is a hard season- and here you are, showing up, mothering with love, doing your best each day.

"Well done, good and faithful servant! ...Come and share [in my] happiness!" -Matthew 25:23

Happy Mother's Day, sister. This day is for you. ❤️‍🔥

Rachel

05/08/2026

Post-traumatic growth doesn't mean the absence of suffering; it often develops in the struggle.

So if you feel like you've been reduced to a puddle🫠 in your darkness 🕳️, you are right where you need to be: the in-between of your transformation. 🐛➡️🦋

Do not be hopeless- your growth is happening within the distress of hardship.

And, it won't always be this way! ❤️‍🔥

With you in this season of widowhood. God won't waste any of our pain! ✝️

Rachel

05/06/2026

"You might think that after navigating and experiencing love the first time, we might be more certain and confident about the idea and process of doing it again as widows.

But actually, the opposite is often true.

Love after the death of a spouse often brings more confusion than clarity. Widows have a lot of fear, questions, guilt and uncertainty (around dating and let's be honest- about ourselves)."

This week in the Hope Speaker Blog, we are talking about love after loss for Christian widows.

In the midst of all the unknowns, let's anchor ourselves in real, deep, LOVE- and bring it to a couple practical applications in the realm of dating, remarriage (or NOT) after being widowed.

I've poured my heart into this one. May it richly bless you! 💜✝️

https://www.hopespeaker.com/post/love-after-loss-a-biblical-guide-for-christian-widows-hope-speaker

With you,
Rachel

05/05/2026

Every 42 seconds, we lose someone to su***de.

Someone’s partner. Someone’s friend. Someone’s person.

With time, most people will be impacted for it to be one of their "people."

That’s why we do this work.

On May 22nd, we’re not just launching a book…
We’re opening a space for real stories, real conversations, and real connection.

Because silence and darkness are dangerous, and stories can save lives.

I'm honored to share my story and knowledge as a su***de widow and attempt survivor, as a contributing author.

👉 Works you consider joining us for the Scars to Stars™ Book #5 Virtual Launch?

📅 May 22 | 6–7:30 PM MST

If this even slightly resonates… come!
And if someone comes to mind—send this to them.

With you,
Rachel

05/04/2026

Would you get behind a widow in need? I have a few right now waiting for this support, who do not have the funds to access coaching and the evidence-based grief recovery I offer.

100% of your contribution covers these services for widows.

Please consider joining this mission, and getting behind these beautiful souls- who don't need any more barriers to their healing than they already face.

"Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for... widows in their distress..." -James 1:27

Go to:

www.HopeSpeaker.com/Scholarship

Thank you for partnering with me,
Rachel

05/03/2026

Pause the scroll a sec to honor my widow sisters (check out my stories)! 🤲❤️‍🔥

Today is National Widows Day 💔❤️‍🩹❤️ and it is a day for awareness, support, and honoring of those who have lost their partner.

Stay tuned in the coming days- I'll share a practical way you can support the healing and recovery of the widowed.

To my sisters in the trenches who want to be included in my stories:

-Send me your photo and any sentiment/verse you want me to include today (May 3) into tomorrow.

With you,
Rachel