A heart-to-heart conversation about motherly loss, faith renewal, and finding God in grief’s darkest moments
In this soul-stirring episode of the Untangling Prayer podcast, Rachel Wojo welcomes Chelsea Ohlemiller for an intimate conversation that feels less like an interview and more like eavesdropping on two friends sharing their deepest griefs and greatest hopes.
Chelsea, author of “Now That She’s Gone,” opens her heart about losing her mother—”the most faithful person” she knew—and the spiritual wilderness she wandered through afterward. “The saddest part,” she confesses, “is that I felt like in losing her, I lost my faith too.” Yet seven years later, her prayer life has become “more profound and prolific” than before—a testament to faith reborn through fire.
Rachel shares her own staggering losses—her mother at just 27, her daughter after a 22-year battle with terminal illness, and both her father and father-in-law within months of each other. Through these valleys, both women discovered a raw, honest way of praying that doesn’t polish pain before presenting it to God.
Their conversation invites you to:
- Release the shame of questioning God in grief
- Embrace grief as companion rather than enemy—”It’s like a shadow that follows you… built from incredible love”
- Find meaningful support by simply showing up consistently for grieving friends
- Pray through fear instead of allowing it to dictate your future
If you’ve ever stood at a graveside wondering where God went, this episode whispers: “You are not alone. Your broken prayers still reach heaven.”
The conversation closes with Chelsea’s tender prayer for “grieving hearts wherever they are,” a benediction that feels like a gentle hand holding yours in the darkness.
RESOURCES
Chelsea’s book, Now That She’s Gone: A collection of hope reflections for anyone who has lost a mother
Rachel’s book, Desperate Prayers: Embracing the Power of Prayer in Life’s Darkest Moments
