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Lauren Gaskill

Encouraging women to live in faith and joy

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FJ 03: Sarah Koontz: Finding Joy in Life's Limitations

March 9, 2016 • 27 Comments

Friends, you are in for a special treat today because my guest for Finding Joy Episode 3 is the beautiful and talented Sarah Koontz.

sarah koontz finding joy episode 3

In the course of a few weeks since recording this podcast, Sarah and I have become great friends — the kind of friends who spend more than an hour talking on the phone together — and I cannot tell you how much I cherish and love this woman! Today’s conversation certainly isn’t as long as some of our more recent talks, but it’s just as life-giving, as Sarah shares her story of seeking joy, health and contentment in the valleys of life.

Finding Joy is a podcast dedicated to bringing you encouragement and inspiration in all of life’s moments — the good, bad and everything in-between.

When she isn’t tending to her garden, family or friends, Sarah writes and inspires people to embrace the story God has inscribed on their hearts at GroundedAndSurrounded.com and SarahKoontz.com.

In this episode, Sarah and I talk about:

  • Her battle with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.
  • How the valleys of life can add richness and wisdom to our lives, while changing our perception and finding joy in limitations.
  • How a sacred retreat can help us recharge from the busyness of this world.
  • How a small, simple life can be full of contentment and purpose.

Sarah encourages us all to embrace valley living and whatever limitations we may have. “We may not love it, but we can embrace it and ask God to teach us how to see the beauty in it,” she says.

P.S. Sarah launched a brand new healthy living e-course last week called “10 Secrets Your Yoga Pants Don’t Want You to Know About Healthy Living.” The purpose of the free e-course is to empower you to transform the way you think about healthy lifestyles and equip you to make small changes that will pay off in the long-run. Be sure to check it out!

How to Listen to the Finding Joy Podcast

You can listen to the podcast here on this blog, or by subscribing to the podcast through iTunes.

Subscribe to the iTunes podcast HERE.

Review this Podcast

By rating this podcast or writing a short review, you can help others find the Finding Joy podcast more easily! Click here to head over to iTunes and rate Finding Joy.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sarah Koontz says

    March 9, 2016 at 8:32 am

    Lauren! You are such a sweetheart. I am so grateful that you and I were able to connect through your podcast, and I pray that our conversation brings hope to many. God is so faithful, even in the valleys of life, isn’t he?

    You are right, I’m afraid that this interview is going to be one of our shortest conversations on record. I am astounded by how much you and I have in common, and excited to embrace sisterhood living with you.

    Reply
    • Lauren Gaskill says

      March 9, 2016 at 2:11 pm

      Bless your heart, dear Sarah! I’m totally OK with this being one of our shortest conversations. Looking forward to embracing sisterhood living with you, too! <3

      Reply
  2. Michele Morin says

    March 9, 2016 at 2:06 pm

    I have also enjoyed Sarah’s ministry through her blog!

    Reply
    • Lauren Gaskill says

      March 9, 2016 at 2:11 pm

      Sarah is such a light to so many of us! Gotta love her! Thanks for tuning in, Michele. 🙂

      Reply
    • Sarah Koontz says

      March 9, 2016 at 3:46 pm

      You are always a blessing, Michelle.

      Reply
  3. Meg Gemelli says

    March 10, 2016 at 5:50 am

    This is so well done ladies! Wonderful work. I’m so thankful you’re shining a light on this topic. Women’s health is near and dear to my heart. I’ve counseled so many incredible women who struggle to care for themselves, and in turn, don’t have the physical or emotional strength to care for others to the extent they’d like! Keep it up! Keep it up! Keep it UP! So happy to be visiting from Holley Gerth’s place today:) I look forward to what God has in store for these ministries.

    Reply
    • Lauren Gaskill says

      March 10, 2016 at 10:24 am

      Hi Meg! Thanks so much for tuning in. I had a blast chatting with Sarah and I am also excited to see where the Lord take these ministries. Thank you for your kind words and support, sister! <3

      Reply
    • Sarah Koontz says

      March 10, 2016 at 9:21 pm

      Thank you for your kind and encouraging words, Meg. And for the important work you do also!

      Reply
  4. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says

    March 10, 2016 at 10:44 am

    Another great podcast, Lauren! I struggle with my own health due to ovarian problems, so this podcast definitely resonated with me! Sarah was very inspirational! Keep up the great work, dear! XO

    Reply
    • Lauren Gaskill says

      March 10, 2016 at 10:52 am

      Thanks so much, Cheyanne. I am so sorry to hear about your ovarian problems. Is there anything I can specifically be praying for? <3 Feel free to message me anytime, dear friend! XOXO

      Reply
  5. Lyli @ 3dlessons4life.com says

    March 10, 2016 at 1:50 pm

    Lauren and Sarah — What a treat to find you today through Suzie Eller’s linkup!

    Laruen — I love the theme of your podcast.

    Sarah — I love your attitude. Thanks for sharing your story with us. I was so encouraged. I don’t have FM, but your words ministered to me deeply regarding my mindset about my health journey.

    Blessings

    Reply
    • Lauren Gaskill says

      March 10, 2016 at 4:54 pm

      You are too sweet! Thank you, Lyli. Have a blessed rest of your week!

      Reply
    • Sarah Koontz says

      March 10, 2016 at 9:24 pm

      Lyli, I am so glad to know that my story encouraged you. What a beautiful opportunity we all have to support one another and encourage the beautiful women in our own lives to embrace their healthy. My attitude is a work in progress, but I have definitely come a long way since I started on this journey nearly 15 years ago. Blessings to you.

      Reply
  6. Rebekah says

    March 10, 2016 at 2:10 pm

    Well done, ladies! There are a couple things Sarah said that I really needed to hear and I would like to write them down. I don’t see the transcript or notes that I thought were mentioned. Am I missing it?

    (Also, I’d love to see a 30 second rewind button, so I can listen again to something that really hit home or write down a meaningful quote! :))

    Reply
    • Lauren Gaskill says

      March 10, 2016 at 4:53 pm

      Hi Rebekah! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! I don’t have a show transcript, just show notes within the blog post. Sorry for any confusion I may have caused. Also, you can subsrcibe to the podcast on iTunes for easier listening/rewinding. (This episode is not up on iTunes yet because sometimes it takes awhile for them to approve them and put them up.) Thanks again for tuning in, and I look forward to getting to know you better! 🙂

      Reply
    • Sarah Koontz says

      March 10, 2016 at 9:26 pm

      Rebekah, drop me an e-mail at sarah.koontz@groundedandsurrounded.com and I will send you a copy of my notes!

      Reply
  7. Betsy de Cruz says

    March 10, 2016 at 4:43 pm

    I love hearing your voices, today! Sarah, thanks for your encouraging testimony. I didn’t know about your health problems. This gives me so much encouragement and hope.

    Reply
    • Lauren Gaskill says

      March 10, 2016 at 4:49 pm

      Thanks for listening, Betsy! I’ve replayed Sarah and my conversation about four times now, and every time I take away something new and more encouraging. I am glad this episode touched your heart, too! <3

      Reply
    • Sarah Koontz says

      March 10, 2016 at 9:22 pm

      Betsy, that is why I was so grateful for the opportunity to share my story with Lauren. It’s not something I have written about in detail, yet it has shaped me into the person I am today. Thank you for tuning in.

      Reply
  8. andrea says

    March 10, 2016 at 6:17 pm

    God just wants to draw us closer to Him every day 🙂

    Reply
  9. Jen says

    March 11, 2016 at 2:41 pm

    I love what you ladies have done with the podcast! 🙂 A few years ago, I broke my tailbone and was incapacitated for a few months. It was so very difficult not to be able to care for my family and have to just lay in bed. But I learned so many things about God’s love for me during that time. Even when I had absolutely nothing to give back to him, He loved me still.
    Jen @ Being Confident of This

    Reply
  10. Tiffiney says

    March 11, 2016 at 3:59 pm

    Hey Lauren!

    Thanks for featuring Sarah for your podcast. Sarah is my (cyberspace) bud! And I so appreciate her and have been blessed through the writing ministry of her blog. I’m looking forward to digging into this podcast. Lord help me to joyfully accept my limitations! :o)

    Blessings to you both!
    Tiffiney

    Reply
  11. Horace@pleasingtothePotter.com says

    March 12, 2016 at 5:38 am

    Well done ladies! Truly enjoyed this podcast! Regardless of the plans that we have for our lives, God has a plan to achieve His will. Sometimes we won’t always understand but have to trust. I’ve learned how pain can help in achieving His purpose for our lives. Thanks again for doing this podcast. I will definitely be sharing. Have a blessed weekend!

    Reply
    • Lauren Gaskill says

      March 13, 2016 at 9:29 pm

      Amen Horace! Thank you so much for listening and sharing. Have a blessed week!

      Reply
  12. Leigh Ellen says

    March 12, 2016 at 6:34 pm

    Lauren,
    This podcast is filled with so much hope and encouragement for others whether they suffer from chronic illness or not! Listening to Sarah puts many things into perspective. Thank you for interviewing her! .

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Finding Joy in Our Limitations ~ Sarah Koontz says:
    March 9, 2016 at 8:49 am

    […] We talked about the messy work of finding joy in our limitations, and I pray you are encouraged by our conversation. […]

    Reply
  2. Journey to Health with Vasculitis – Jamie Holloway – Pacific Northwest Author | Jamie Chases Butterflies says:
    March 10, 2016 at 3:47 pm

    […] it. Not hating themselves for it. Just accepting and appreciating the process. Then second, a pod cast that I listen to From Lauren Gaskill. This time it was Karen Koontz who was talking about her […]

    Reply

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