In case you’re new here . . .

I’m Sarah, and I am loved by God, a wife, dog mom, and writer. I live in a harbor town in Wisconsin, value authenticity, and delight in a cup of pour over coffee in the morning. I tell stories for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as my day job, which I love! When I put my author-cap on, I like to write about finding God’s goodness in everyday life, the hard and the beautiful, and explore the deeper questions of life and faith. My writing addresses wounds, doubts, and challenges with honesty, while gently pointing toward hope and healing. At least, I try for it to!

My debut book All the Hard Things: 50 Days Through the Valley, is now available!

I’m glad you’re here.

And now, on to today’s letter…

Thunder shakes the windows, the old wood floorboards and our rickety table at the coffee shop, pebble-sized hail plinking against the panes. Safe from the storm, I dig deeper in the work on my laptop, focus on the indie music in my air pods, my friend Erica, busy with tasks on her tablet. We break for conversation, comments on the odds of getting struck by lightning, learn the odds aren’t too out of reach, of talking in tongues, the spiritual realm among us, and the joys of overflooding toilets and homeownership.

It’s been so long since I carried on regular, albeit random, conversations like this and paid attention to them, realizing this is part of my life, and I am living it. That my mind has been present, focused, steady even.

For agonizing seasons, crippling anxiety and fear strangled me, did their best to bend me and keep me keeled over in troublesome thinking. I wondered how I’d get through some days for months, wondered when—if—I would recognize healing and know that I am out of the woods. And, if I did find the shaft of sunlight directing me out, would the ground be steady enough to hold my full weight as I pressed down one foot, and then then other?

Perhaps the storm has passed, but has the wreckage? In the debris strewn all over the lawn, the splinters of logs broken off from once-sturdy trees, where do I begin to pick up this mess, eye the horizon for familiar landscape again?

Yesterday sparks the memory of this catalyst to questions. In my living room as I stare at my counselor across my computer screen, she asks a simple question that squeezes my heart and starts the tears. Unannounced, this brave body of mine reacts, recognizing I’m not quite in the clear. This leads to other examinations that take me into an emotional excavation that prompts me to ask myself a few more questions that catch my body and soul off guard, surprised at the way I respond again to the hitch in my heart and twist of my tears.

What do I want the courage to reach for today?

This question has a quick answer: I want to love my days again.

Before all this, before my brain went haywire and my body lagged like lead, I’d savor each small moment throughout the day—steam from my coffee, the soft blue liquidizing like the lake in my husband Eric’s eyes when we danced slow in the kitchen, the short conversation with the woman ringing up my yogurt and raspberries at the grocery store, when my hands pulled back the soft duvet and bed sheet and I slid my body into my cloud of a bed, the day replayed through my mind and I lay with my head plush in the pillow, thankful and satisfied.

It’s taken a long time to trust my body and brain again. I suppose I’m still subconsciously waiting for the next shoe to drop, protecting myself in an upside-down way to warn myself not to get too comfortable in case this precarious world of mine collapses on itself.

What can I do but wait through this healing and keep soothing my scared self that I’m still here and God has not once dropped me out of the palm of His hand?

Courage can be counterintuitive, like laying another desire of my heart on the altar at God’s feet and trusting in a character I’ve been tempted to misunderstand. Courage can come soft, like rain easing from the pavement and slow breath breezing through my lungs.

What do I want the courage to reach for today?

Courage. The strength and decision to act on a hope building to belief. To reach out my heart and see what it feels like in the hand of God.

Courage to reach, yes, but also, what is reaching out for me today? Where am I unaware that life has been moving closer?

Because life has been moving closer. Pieces, jumbled, blurred, subtly becoming clear in micro moments. Miniscule, the kind I have to squint up close to see, but see, nonetheless.

My phone tells me it’s 5:30 PM. Erica left half an hour ago. Apparently, I’ve been caught up in the coffee shop atmosphere, the music in my ears and the fact that I am typing away while thunder rolls and rain pads down the sky. Caught up in the musing that I am here, and the world is here around me.

Yes, I’ve tucked Bible verses in the pockets of my mind to hold to in the torrent of disbelief, the doubts and lies assailing me in endless hours. My anchor points, holding to the promise of God’s Word alive and active, counting on Him to fight on my behalf.

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14

“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2

They’ve been on my tongue, on repeat, until I could believe them myself.

As I’ve begun to heal, begun to grow, His Word has lit my path, even as I’ve wrestled with the fears that still shake my heart. But I am learning that honesty with Him is the best remedy, the quick sink into intimacy when I bare myself and hold my hurts out for God to receive and coax me deeper into myself, to meet who I am where He already is.

Courage is admitting what I want. To name the life that still rolls through me, the core of who I am, the desire to squeeze every ounce out of my days.

Courage is closing my backpack for the day and stepping into the rain. It’s walking down the pavement while fast falling droplets slide down my jacket and I notice the green buds popped on branches, color stark against the rusted sky. It’s the quiet voice within that just may be finding its song. A new song, but one that’s somehow familiar.

There’s Always Grace,

Sarah

Question to Consider: What do you want the courage to reach for this month?

Hit Reply and let me know - I’d love to hear.

All the Hard Things - Order Now!

Looking for a gift for someone going through something hard? Consider giving them my devotional book that gently walks them through the places that don’t feel good while discovering God’s goodness.

Order All the Hard Things

Also, would you consider leaving a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and anywhere else you can? That means the world and helps get the word out for more people to know about the hope they have through the hard.

Book Recommendation and Giveaway

Every Woman a Theologian by Phylicia Masonheimer

If you’re looking to brush up on your theology and give words to what you believe, Phylicia’s book will give you just that. From the publisher: Through engaging stories and compelling truths, Every Woman a Theologian will help you:

• Identify your existing beliefs about God, salvation, and the Christian life

• Learn how to lovingly communicate Christian truths to those who disagree

• Understand theological concepts without feeling overwhelmed or inadequate

• Grow closer to the heart of God

Buy Every Woman a Theologian

**I’m giving away a copy!

If you’d like the book, hit Reply to the email and put “Giveaway” in the subject line. One random U.S. winner will receive a copy! If you’re chosen, you have four days to email me back or I will pick another random winner.

Latest Published Pieces

All the Hard Things - The Supplement Radio (U.K.)

“It’s a quiet strength in just experiencing God.”

How to Trust God When Life Doesn’t Make Sense - Healing Within Podcast

“There is a place where there are no simple answers and you simply need to be.”

Trust Anyway - Crossmap

I share a reflection of Psalm 79 that helps us remember to proclaim God's praise, and live as foreigners of this earth, in those times when we feel the rug has slid out from under us.

What Do You Want to Hear About?

I’d love to know if there is anything I can add or tweak about this email. Are there helpful links to resources, more encouragement or Bible teaching, shorter but more frequent emails that you’d like? I want to serve you well, and would love to gauge if my letters are meeting you where you need.

Connect with Me

I’d love to hear from you - send me an email at sarahefreymuth@gmail.com to say hi, share a thought that’s on your heart, and let me know how to pray for you. You can connect with me on my social handles, as well:

Instagram Facebook Website

In case you’re new here . . .

I’m Sarah, and I am loved by God, a wife, dog mom, and writer. I live in a harbor town in Wisconsin, value authenticity, and delight in a cup of pour over coffee in the morning. I tell stories for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as my day job, which I love! When I put my author-cap on, I like to write about finding God’s goodness in everyday life, the hard and the beautiful, and explore the deeper questions of life and faith. My writing addresses wounds, doubts, and challenges with honesty, while gently pointing toward hope and healing. At least, I try for it to!

My debut book All the Hard Things: 50 Days Through the Valley, is now available!

I’m glad you’re here.

And now, on to today’s letter…

In the last month and a half, I have been home only a handful of times. Between work trips, family visits, and book signings, I’ve roamed around the country and across the Atlantic.

Poland. The Netherlands. Washington Island. Tennessee. Virginia.

Each place brought beauty in the best ways. It was a lot of living from a suitcase, though. As I sit and sift through the memories of why I was at each place, it’s a gift most people don’t get to experience.

Poland and the Netherlands were for FCA, seeing and serving my North Global teammates, interviewing for stories, giving a workshop on how stories matter, and leading a time of guided quiet and reflection for the beautiful ladies one evening. I spent a long weekend discovering the Northwest part of the Netherlands as a side adventure for myself.

Washington Island in Door County, Wisconsin, brought a mini family reunion for my book signing at the charming bookstore I’ve dreamt of holding a book signing in. Perfect weather, perfect pace, and all the glory Lake Michigan brings. Between Europe and the Island, I celebrated my 41st birthday, quietly and with a dish of Coffee Lovers Only from Cold Stone Creamery.

Tennessee brought the lush greenery and twirling landscape of the Appalachians, sweet laughter from my niece and nephew, and delightful southern kindness. Family time and hikes held a sweet spot in my heart, and we extended our stay an extra weekend, thankful for the flexibility of our schedules.

Virginia was FCA again, serving at camp on the campus of Liberty University. Over 1,4000 campers came to practice their sport and learn about God, and I helped in the gear store. It was a great change of pace, getting to serve one-to-one as I checked staff, campers, and coaches out and made conversation.

While unable to be in my physical place with my people, most simply go through the motions while traveling until they get back “home.” But where and what is home?

Is it a place that is fueled by remembrance, memories happening with those around you in a physical space? Or is it the people, the moment, the places that are made memories and it doesn’t matter if it is your literal residence?

Maybe it is a bit of both.

Home is a ribbon of people that you weave into your marrow as you explore places where you do not live. It’s where you pull the feelings of familiarity in the nest of your heart, extract the sense of place where it hasn’t been before.

It is a longing for or satisfaction in, the dusky hues of an evening where fireflies flicker and roam the yard, the breathless laughter of a child as he learns how to coax one into the cupped palms of his hands. Of letting go and holding loosely, delicate days under a scorching sun, chatter down alleyways that lead back to the hotel after circling tight cobbled streets for an hour.

We’re hardwired for home, but overlook the life right here, what’s now, and the wonder under our feet.

Like finding my book in a Barnes and Noble in Lynchburg, Virginia! :)

I had days harbored at home; the rest were run untethered. Vast landscapes and differing cultures, and it was all beautiful.

Look for home and be prepared to be surprised when you find it. Because home may be wherever we are at the moment, in those moments that matter, in the memories we make.

There’s Always Grace,

Sarah

Question to Consider: What or where is home to you?

Hit Reply and let me know - I’d love to hear.

All the Hard Things - Order Now!

Looking for a gift for someone going through something hard? Consider giving them my devotional book that gently walks them through the places that don’t feel good while discovering God’s goodness.

Order All the Hard Things

Also, would you consider leaving a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and anywhere else you can? That means the world and helps get the word out for more people to know about the hope they have through the hard.

Book Recommendation and Giveaway

In Season by Elizabeth Laing Thompson

My friend Elizabeth’s newest book releases on the 14th, and it’s perfect for every young female athlete who needs to be reminded of her worth in Christ in and out of her sport. This 90-day devotional is for female student-athletes to build faith, strengthen confidence, and train a growth mindset, and would make a beautiful gift for the competitive girl in your life.

Buy In Season

**I’m giving away a copy!

If you’d like the book, hit Reply to the email and put “Giveaway” in the subject line. One random U.S. winner will receive a copy! If you’re chosen, you have four days to email me back or I will pick another random winner.

Latest Published Pieces

If Prayers Aren’t Yet Answered, Keep Trusting God - Proverbs 31 Ministries

Whether it’s something small, like electricity being restored, or something significant, we can take our ask to God, who is gracious and generous and full of love for us, His daughters. As children of God, we always have the ear of our Father.

That Slippery Rug (Psalm 79) - The Good Day Podcast

I share a reflection of Psalm 79 that helps us remember to proclaim God's praise, and live as foreigners of this earth, in those times when we feel the rug has slid out from under us.

Connect with Me

I’d love to hear from you - send me an email at sarahefreymuth@gmail.com to say hi, share a thought that’s on your heart, and let me know how to pray for you. You can connect with me on my social handles, as well:

Instagram Facebook Website

I’m Sarah, and I am loved by God, a wife, dog mom, and writer. I live in a harbor town in Wisconsin, value authenticity, and delight in a cup of pour over coffee in the morning. I tell stories for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as my day job, which I love! When I put my author-cap on, I like to write about finding God’s goodness in everyday life, the hard and the beautiful, and explore the deeper questions of life and faith. My writing addresses wounds, doubts, and challenges with honesty, while gently pointing toward hope and healing. At least, I try for it to!

My debut book All the Hard Things: 50 Days Through the Valley, is now available!

I’m really glad you’re here.

And now, on to today’s letter…

I had a book signing on Washington Island, Door County, at my favorite bookshop, Fair Isle Books.

It’s lovely, tucked next to Red Cup Coffee on the corner of Main and Detroit Harbor Roads, with walls, shelves, nooks, and crannies full with books and fair trade items, arranged by genres, categories, and colors. Pure bliss.

I’ve been coming to the island—my peace place—for 15 years, and always find more than enough hours to browse and talk with Fair Isle’s owner Deb, about what she’s read and enjoyed; that woman is well read.

It’s been a dream of mine to publish a book, and as I gently picked up titles off the shelves of the shop, noticed the cover art and back copy blurb, my head marveled, Wouldn’t it be nice to see my book here? A longing bubbled. Yes, my heart agreed. It would.

This longing grew as years stretched and I dreamed, wrote, waited, and wondered. I attended book signings for others, looked authors in their eyes and asked questions about their process, their joys of writing, and thanking them for their gift of words. I rejoiced with them, still always hoping and praying one time it could also be mine.

A few weekends ago, I sat in that same green chair I’ve seen others in, smiled at people coming and going, making small talk with them as they browsed. Signed some of my very own books, watched my aunts in their element chatting about reading and delighting in the colorful bowls, glass window hangings, and jewelry for sale. Not one person could have come in that shop for the few hours I was there, and it would have been exactly enough. I had my book signing, with my book, words I wrote, in my favorite place.

This was my dream come true.

It was beautiful. It was easy. It was natural and my heart had joy.

I wish I could replay the afternoon, pull a Groundhog’s Day and wake up to do it again, and again, and again. A dream turned reality, something hoped for, but few experience. I recognize that, and I do not take it for granted.

What a gift.

What a life.

There’s Always Grace,

Sarah

Big THANK YOU to Deb at Fair Isle Books, for her generosity, support, and friendship. What a beautiful event, and it was such a joy to share it with you and your delightful shop.

All the Hard Things - Order Now!

Looking for a gift for someone going through something hard? Consider giving them my devotional book that gently walks them through the places that don’t feel good while discovering God’s goodness.

Order All the Hard Things

Also, would you consider leaving a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and anywhere else you can? That means the world and helps get the word out for more people to know about the hope they have through the hard.

Recommendation and Giveaway

I Don’t Have to Have It All Together by Nichole J. Suvar

My friend Nichole J. Suvar’s book came out this month, and I have been cheering her on and waiting for its arrival!

I had the honor of writing an endorsement, and here’s what I said:

From the title alone, I felt my soul let out a long-held exhale. Who doesn’t long for the paradise of long ago to seep into the here and now? As someone who has struggled with overwhelm and anxiety, Nichole Suvar’s hard-won wisdom guides us with lived experience and pulls in professional insight, weaving resources and tools together with the truth of Scripture. It’s like she has known my own mind, given me a hug, and reminded me I’m not alone. The beautiful, gentle, and generous messages in I Don’t Have to Hold It All Together will help guide countless lives into freedom and healing. As it says in her forward, you truly are safe in this book.

Buy I Don't Have to Hold It All Together

**I’m giving away a copy!

If you’d like the book, hit Reply to the email and put “Giveaway” in the subject line. One random U.S. winner will receive a copy! If you’re chosen, you have four days to email me back or I will pick another random winner.

Latest Published

Always Enough: Relief in a Hectic Season - The Love Offering

I’m wiped.

It’s been months of a demanding travel schedule, long hours on a job I love, time with family visiting from out of state, and many writing deadlines. Add to that the pressure to keep up my social schedule with friends, Bible study, and a few other family obligations. I feel like I can’t take much more on my plate, but demands continue to pile up.

Are you overloaded too? Have you taken on too much and given in to just a few too many “yeses” to your days or weeks? If time and attention for others have taken away our quiet with God, we can begin from empty before we even get started.

If you’re already worn thin from meeting the needs of others, rest assured that you are not alone. The needs of others don’t have to keep you from the abundant life Jesus holds out to you.

Read at The Love Offering Blog

Pioneering Another Island Country - Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Pastor Gary Visitacion is no stranger to starting something.

He founded FCA ministry in the Philippines in 2010, developing leaders, volunteers and relationships in the sports world. The Philippines ministry is thriving, staff has grown and God’s been moving.

But God also began moving in the hearts of Gary and his wife, Grace, stirring them toward another island in the South Pacific: New Zealand, a country comprising two main islands, North Island and South Island, and a number of smaller islands scattered along the Pacific Ocean. Its geography is as diverse as its people.

In February 2020, after the FCA International Directors Development conference in Dubai, Gary flew home via Australia to visit his son, with plans to see New Zealand, as he and his wife knew God was shifting and directing them to move. But at that time, the country shut down all travel as COVID-19 descended.

Read at FCA.org

Song for the Soothing

God is in No Hurry by Skye Peterson

When you close your eyes to pray
And your mind starts drifting off
Do you feel a little shame
Like you're getting something wrong?
Like there's a way you're supposed to be
That you haven't figured out?
And if any of this is real
Then you should be there by now

Oh, God is in no hurry, you can take your time
Trusting that the process is part of the design
He loves you where you are, not where you should be
God is in no hurry

Listen Here

Connect with Me

I’d love to hear from you - send me an email at sarahefreymuth@gmail.com to say hi, share a thought that’s on your heart, and let me know how to pray for you. You can connect with me on my social handles, as well:

Instagram Facebook Website

In case you’re new here . . .

I’m Sarah, and I am loved by God, a wife, dog mom, and writer. I live in a harbor town in Wisconsin, value authenticity, and delight in a cup of pour over coffee in the morning. I tell stories for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as my day job, which I love! When I put my author-cap on, I like to write about finding God’s goodness in everyday life, the hard and the beautiful, and explore the deeper questions of life and faith. My writing addresses wounds, doubts, and challenges with honesty, while gently pointing toward hope and healing. At least, I try for it to!

My debut book All the Hard Things: 50 Days Through the Valley, is now available!

I’m glad you’re here.

And now, on to today’s letter…

Just days ago I roamed the cobblestone streets of Amsterdam, took in the gleam of boats on canals in the late afternoon sun, and sweated my way through the Netherlands, mostly on foot for days on end.

Now, I find myself in Urgent Care, checking on a foot that’s swollen and unable to carry my weight.

An X-ray just to cover the bases surprised the PA as she re-entered the room. A fracture in my toe and fluid swelling in the joints between my tibia and ankle bone has me wrapped in an ace bandage and splint brace, attempting to slide the bulk into my tennis shoe. An appointment with the orthopedic specialist is scheduled for the next week.

Well, this is unexpected.

I’d say, “Such is life,” but this is not something I want to let “flow”. I have a heavy travel schedule in June that involves using my legs. Being couch-bound with my leg propped up is not how I planned to use my time.

What’s happened to me? I hit 40 and my body starts falling apart.

Last fall, it was my calf strain that kept me from being active for months. And now, this. At least I have Alfie loyally laying beside me.

Yet, this fractures my expectations leading up to the beginning of summer, including my birthday. Pun intended. Because what else can I do (after admitting my disappointment and sadness) but laugh at the absurdity of it all? CLEARLY, I am not in control of my life, and there is something to pay attention to here. Maybe it’s a nudge to notice the phrase I have framed on my desk: Rest is not wasted time.

Maybe it’s to surrender (again) my frantic pace and plans and take care of myself. Maybe it’s simply to take it one day at a time, like I have so many times before.

From Europe to Urgent Care - how quickly things can change.

This is the crux, the surprises that slide into everyday life. What will we make of them? How will we respond?

We wait. We obey the professionals. We pray and settle in, believing this will not last. Healing will come, however long it may take. But we believe. And we rest. And we look at all that is beautiful around us. Because there is plenty around us that is beautiful.

Here’s to us who sit and wait, turned inside out by the upside-down life events. I’ll keep hobbling along when I just can’t stay on the couch without at least a quick limp around the kitchen. And I’ll look at photos from the week that brought me wonder and exploration around stunning old towns.

I hope you can hobble along wherever you are, too.

There’s Always Grace,

Sarah

Question to Consider: What is something unexpected you are facing, and how can you lean into it? Hit Reply and let me know - I’d love to hear.

All the Hard Things - Order Now!

Looking for a gift for someone going through something hard? Consider giving them my devotional book that gently walks them through the places that don’t feel good while discovering God’s goodness.

Order All the Hard Things

Also, would you consider leaving a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and anywhere else you can? That means the world and helps get the word out for more people to know about the hope they have through the hard.

Latest Published Pieces

Grief and Remembrance - She Reads Truth

‘I Wouldn’t Change a Thing’ - FCA

Connect with Me

I’d love to hear from you - send me an email at sarahefreymuth@gmail.com to say hi, share a thought that’s on your heart, and let me know how to pray for you. You can connect with me on my social handles, as well:

Instagram Facebook Website

I’m Sarah, and I am loved by God, a wife, dog mom, and writer. I live in a harbor town in Wisconsin, value authenticity, and delight in a cup of pour over coffee in the morning. I tell stories for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as my day job, which I love! When I put my author-cap on, I like to write about finding God’s goodness in everyday life, the hard and the beautiful, and explore the deeper questions of life and faith. My writing addresses wounds, doubts, and challenges with honesty, while gently pointing toward hope and healing. At least, I try for it to!

My debut book All the Hard Things: 50 Days Through the Valley, is now available!

I’m really glad you’re here.

And now, on to today’s letter…

Heartbeats are hard to hold in the palm of my hand when they are new and slippery and never stay in one place.

But here they are, just out of their plastic wrap, not a fingerprint mark on their surface, brought to life by the warmth of blood beneath my skin. Such innocence. Such amazement. Such determination to show me what it looks like to fully break open and out.

I wonder, what does it look like, to begin again? A new life, a thaw from the frozen fields of my heart battered and upturned? To step into the new world, the people and places that swirl about, unfamiliar shapes and colors, all a blur, everything foreign to my eyes.

At the crossroads of my identity, my heart’s skin is patching up the bones. It’s been such a battle to bring breath back into my lungs, to lock eyes with the landscape around me and dare to believe that I can rework the soil, clear space to cultivate something completely different than the forsaken remains of rubble that once housed my dreams.

God and I, we’ve unearthed the underside of my darkest pain, my scarred memories, smashed soul, and belief hammered down before it could climb back into sunlight. Over and over, I spoke a mantra that He is good, that He is good to me, even when I couldn’t keep tucked secure in faith.

But here I am, waking up one weekend with a wave of fresh air, on the edge of coming into my own. Starting over, seeking truth, beginning to understand that this continued path will not be easy. It will be messy, ensnared, rough choices every moment to decide to do work for my heart. Lessons lived, truths learned in earnest, catastrophe and incline.

Will I be taught to tie anchor to His strength and gear up for the battle? To reclaim ground, I must be grounded in the fire beneath my veins, remember how it burned so great within once before.

There are still vast wonders to find. Otherworld treasures that glow in the eternal realm, flicker in the here and now.

Here I learn how to be bold in the excruciating pain it will take to stand day after day in the open, heart hanging, suspended, exposed and aching. Learn what it means to lean into hope, hold onto it like a lifeline, that even when what I ask for isn’t answered like I desire, that it is not the end. That it is good, because God deems it so. And to continue to hold out my hands in offering, accepting what instead He has to give.

To take heart, stand with a shield of courage banded in front of me, bravery a voice that had forgotten to share its tone with me for many years. Stand in the face of lions baring teeth like swords, stare them in the eye.

Keep kissing the hurt when my natural response is to shrink back inside myself and push away. No. This time I stay. I do not drop my gaze; I do not hide my heart.

Here I stand, breathing out loud in the quiet. Listening to the way my lips exhale this newness, first blink of daylight in darkness long curtained in timid caverns.

Here, I burn.

For creativity, the aching in my chest that pops like sparklers in July dusk. It’s been a black and white existence burrowed into my marrow, where once flashed multitude of magic shades. Words pierced me, brought this terrible and beautiful world bright and full when I first bloomed into being.

For love. To walk that beautiful road with a smile soft across my face. Even when it broke my bones and jaded my rose-colored glasses, dare to cast out fear in perfect love. When love hurts, know the pain reminds me that this body, these organs, all particles unseen, are sparked reminders that I am alive, and love is life.

Burn for being brave. Because my heart, my hope, my faith, my soul, will take hit after hit, knockdown after disappointment. I want to know how to retain the courage to keep moving. To plow forward with confident determination that though I stumble, I will not veer.

Break barriers to believe. Fresh cleanse from the musty attic of words I would not say. Refuse to fold. Trust Him alone who heals my hurt, makes all things new. To begin again is to behold the blank canvas, the color wheel, the first slide of step that lights the way.

I am the walking miracle regaled in stories whispered in awe around the world.

Believe this. Begin again.

There’s Always Grace,

Sarah

Question to Consider: Where do you need to begin again? Building your hope? Letting God love you? To step out and try starting something you’ve wanted to but been afraid?

Prayer for Beginning Again: Lord, here we are, about to begin again. You are the One who makes all things new, starting with Your mercies today. Help us to be bold, be brave, and believe in You and how You’re working in our lives. Amen.

All the Hard Things - Order Now!

Looking for a gift for someone going through something hard? Consider giving them my devotional book that gently walks them through the places that don’t feel good while discovering God’s goodness.

Order All the Hard Things

Also, would you consider leaving a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and anywhere else you can? That means the world and helps get the word out for more people to know about the hope they have through the hard.

Recommendation and Giveaway

Prodigal Daughter by Deborah Rutherford

My sweet friend Deborah Rutherford’s poetry book Prodigal Daughter just came out and if you are looking for poetic, healing words that lead you to the heart of the Father, this book is one to pick up.

From the Publisher:

Through unflinching honesty, Deborah invites us into the landscape of her life: a pilgrimage spanning from the rugged coast of Maine and the Smoky Mountains to the sun-drenched shores of Maui and Southern California. She explores the rebellious years of searching for belonging, the wilderness of disordered eating and self-harm, the grief of abortion and loss, and the slow, miraculous awakening to a God who never stopped pursuing her.

Buy Prodigal Daughter

**If you’d like the book, hit Reply to the email and put “Giveaway” in the subject line. One random U.S. winner will receive a copy! If you’re chosen, you have four days to email me back or I will pick another random winner.

Latest Published

Pioneering Another Island Country - Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Pastor Gary Visitacion is no stranger to starting something.

He founded FCA ministry in the Philippines in 2010, developing leaders, volunteers and relationships in the sports world. The Philippines ministry is thriving, staff has grown and God’s been moving.

But God also began moving in the hearts of Gary and his wife, Grace, stirring them toward another island in the South Pacific: New Zealand, a country comprising two main islands, North Island and South Island, and a number of smaller islands scattered along the Pacific Ocean. Its geography is as diverse as its people.

In February 2020, after the FCA International Directors Development conference in Dubai, Gary flew home via Australia to visit his son, with plans to see New Zealand, as he and his wife knew God was shifting and directing them to move. But at that time, the country shut down all travel as COVID-19 descended.

Read at FCA.org

Song for the Soothing

God is in No Hurry by Skye Peterson

When you close your eyes to pray
And your mind starts drifting off
Do you feel a little shame
Like you're getting something wrong?
Like there's a way you're supposed to be
That you haven't figured out?
And if any of this is real
Then you should be there by now

Oh, God is in no hurry, you can take your time
Trusting that the process is part of the design
He loves you where you are, not where you should be
God is in no hurry

Listen Here

Connect with Me

I’d love to hear from you - send me an email at sarahefreymuth@gmail.com to say hi, share a thought that’s on your heart, and let me know how to pray for you. You can connect with me on my social handles, as well:

Instagram Facebook Website

In case you’re new here . . .

I’m Sarah, and I am loved by God, a wife, dog mom, and writer. I live in a harbor town in Wisconsin, value authenticity, and delight in a cup of pour over coffee in the morning. I tell stories for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as my day job, which I love! When I put my author-cap on, I like to write about finding God’s goodness in everyday life, the hard and the beautiful, and explore the deeper questions of life and faith. My writing addresses wounds, doubts, and challenges with honesty, while gently pointing toward hope and healing. At least, I try for it to!

My debut book All the Hard Things: 50 Days Through the Valley, is now available!

I’m glad you’re here.

And now, on to today’s letter…

I took my first class at the YMCA.

It is called Cardio Core, and I walked in having no idea what to expect. We did lots of pyramids (sets of workout moves up and down in amount of reps), sets of light weight work, kettlebell swings, and cardio. I had no idea what I was doing, and the music kept blaring through the speakers and the rest of the class seemed to know the rhythm and routine. So, I just kept my eyes on the instructor to see what we were doing next.

We had mirrors all across the wall so I was forced to watch myself awkwardly twist and stretch, lunge, and lift. But, I did it. I eventually caught on and got a feel for where we were going and how to push my body. The hardest part has been getting myself out the door and actually into a class. We have been members to the Y for a month now, before I actually took advantage of being a member and walking into the building on the other side of town. But I stepped into the unknown, and found my way around by the end.

As I sanitized my sweat-soaked mat and said thank you to the instructor, I had the biggest sense of accomplishment. I walked into the locker room with my head high, knowing I had accomplished something seemingly insignificant for many, yet felt like a giant leap for me. Yes, I had been a college athlete and had run half marathons, but I admit to myself that my body is not the same as it was in my mid 20s or even my 30s. At 40, life has happened, I like sugar way too much, and I have gone through the battles of this world that have created a different body in this season.

But once I accepted where I was, I began to build myself back up, slowly, but noticing and savoring the small victories. I just started. Walked through the doors of the YMCA, pulled on my shorts and laced up my shoes, and stepping into a class to work my core and cardio. Was it earth-shattering? Probably not. But it made a difference to me. Will I return? Yes. Because the hardest part was simply showing up.

Where are you in this season? Are you somewhere you didn’t expect you’d be, either physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually? Do you wonder where to go from here?

Just start. Whatever it is you have been saying you want to do or will do, at some point, we need to take that first step. It may be scary, and it may be hard, but it will be worth it. When the first one is in the bag and you know you can endure, everything will begin to go better. One step at a time.

There’s Always Grace,

Sarah

Question to Consider: What is something you can start with just one step this week?

All the Hard Things - Order Now!

Looking for a gift for someone going through something hard? Consider giving them my devotional book that gently walks them through the places that don’t feel good while discovering God’s goodness.

Order All the Hard Things

Also, would you consider leaving a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and anywhere else you can? That means the world and helps get the word out for more people to know about the hope they have through the hard.

Latest Published Pieces

Moving from Disappointment to Expectancy - P31

Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted - She Reads Truth

The Middle Ground - The Sisterhood Magazine

‘The Answer to My Prayers’ - FCA

Connect with Me

I’d love to hear from you - send me an email at sarahefreymuth@gmail.com to say hi, share a thought that’s on your heart, and let me know how to pray for you. You can connect with me on my social handles, as well:

Instagram Facebook Website

If you really want to have fun, send me some snail mail! I may even write you back. :)

P.O. Box 149, Port Washington, WI 53074

In case you’re new here . . .

I’m Sarah, and I am loved by God, a wife, dog mom, and writer. I live in a harbor town in Wisconsin, value authenticity, and delight in a cup of pour over coffee in the morning. I tell stories for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as my day job, which I love! When I put my author-cap on, I like to write about finding God’s goodness in everyday life, the hard and the beautiful, and explore the deeper questions of life and faith. My writing addresses wounds, doubts, and challenges with honesty, while gently pointing toward hope and healing. At least, I try for it to!

My debut book All the Hard Things: 50 Days Through the Valley, is now available!

I’m glad you’re here.

And now, on to today’s letter…

But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath! Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?” - John 18:11, NET

I would be like Peter, too.

Quick to defend Jesus, to spare Him from suffering. To slash away discomfort and pain.

But would I be like Jesus, rebuking any thought other than the will of my Father?

“Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

It’s one thing to say I’m a child of God, and another to take and drink the dregs of suffering.

But drink Jesus did—even when it burned His throat and stung His eyes. Even when it struck and sliced His heart.

This cup was from me.

This cup was for me.

This cup was for you, too.

“For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him.” - John 3:16-17

For God didn’t send Him to condemn, but to save.

Jesus drank the cup to call us home.

The only way to save was through suffering.

The only way.

Because when Jesus poured out His tears facedown in a garden, His shaking lips asked for another way. His sweat swam crimson down His skin, and somehow He was able to utter, “Yet not my will, but Yours.” (Luke 22:42)

The will of the Father was the cup He didn’t want, but Jesus held it in His hands and drank. For you. For me. For us all.

He willingly was led to this cup of suffering, 100% in control and 100% surrendered.

How surrendered am I to the One who swallowed the poison and stepped into the grave and swallowed up death and sin so that cup would never pass my lips?

What does He ask of me, of my heart and my obedience? What keeps me from “Your will be done” in my own life?

For the joy set out for him he endured the cross…” – Hebrews 12:2

For the joy, Jesus drank the Father’s cup. The road to joy was paved with pain. Purpose, yes, but also pain.

Jesus gave Himself—emptied Himself—so I could gain everything.

I would be like Peter, quick to defend. I’d like to be like Jesus, too. God willing, may I release control and surrender in obedience to the Father who made a way for me and the Son who showed me how to get there.

There’s Always Grace,

Sarah

Question to Consider: What does He ask of you, of your heart and your obedience? What keeps you from “Your will be done” in your own life?

Hit reply and let me know - I’d love to hear.

All the Hard Things - Order Now!

Looking for a gift for someone going through something hard? Consider giving them my devotional book that gently walks them through the places that don’t feel good while discovering God’s goodness.

Order All the Hard Things

If you already own a copy, would you consider leaving a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and anywhere else you can? That means the world and helps get the word out for more people to know about the hope they have through the hard.

Song for Your Good Friday

Last Words (Tenebrae) by Andrew Peterson

Father, forgive them for they know not what they do

Forgive them, they know not what they do

Today you will be with me in Paradise

You will be with me today

Listen Here

Connect with Me

I’d love to hear from you - send me an email at sarahefreymuth@gmail.com to say hi, share a thought that’s on your heart, and let me know how to pray for you. You can connect with me on my social handles, as well:

Instagram Facebook Website

If you really want to have fun, send me some snail mail! I may even write you back. :)

P.O. Box 149, Port Washington, WI 53074

In case you’re new here . . .

I’m Sarah, and I am loved by God, a wife, dog mom, and writer. I live in a harbor town in Wisconsin, value authenticity, and delight in a cup of pour over coffee in the morning. I tell stories for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as my day job, which I love! When I put my author-cap on, I like to write about finding God’s goodness in everyday life, the hard and the beautiful, and explore the deeper questions of life and faith. My writing addresses wounds, doubts, and challenges with honesty, while gently pointing toward hope and healing. At least, I try for it to!

My debut book All the Hard Things: 50 Days Through the Valley, is now available!

I’m glad you’re here.

And now, on to today’s letter…

A woman at church told me she was tired of the weather whiplash. That is the perfect way to describe our Wisconsin spring. We are officially into a new season, but many of us seem like we are still sitting in winter. Within the whipping winds, muddy yards, and a thickness in our hearts that hasn’t softened, we may feel like the remnants of the slushy snow caked in grime and sludge from the streets. And the low-hanging sky still spills gray, thick and shielding the light.

Yes, it is spring, but in our lives, our hearts, we are still waiting to move from winter.

You are not alone in the desire for warmer days, more sunlight, and a heart to bloom with joy. You are tired of being strong in the cold.

We can grow weary in the wait. Another test with results pushed back. Another sleepless night. Another day where our call goes unreturned.

Where is the spring for our hearts, the hope that is said to bloom along with the flowers? We look for green, signs of anything soft to shake the stiffness of earth and soul.

Maybe our emergencies aren’t emergencies anymore, but life hasn’t settled into place. What then, when we wait for the pieces to shift in the slow turn of reemergence? Healing doesn’t come on our timeline; new seasons don’t start all of the sudden.

It’s OK to be tired. It’s OK to want the weather to change, both literally and in the landscape of our heart.

But God and His goodness are not just found in the high hopes of May, when temperatures are Eden-like and colors pop and abound. He’s in the mess, the mud, the slush and ice that cling to the ground, unwilling to leave just yet.

We cannot rush what is coming. But we can trust that the softer days of spring will come. Because He is here in the thawing out, the waiting. It isn’t for us to push through or grasp for something; pause, step back, be. Spring is unfolding all around us.

Do we see it? Dare we believe?

There’s Always Grace,

Sarah

Question to Consider: What is one 'winter' thought you are ready to let melt away today?

All the Hard Things - Order Now!

Looking for a gift for someone going through something hard? Consider giving them my devotional book that gently walks them through the places that don’t feel good while discovering God’s goodness.

Order All the Hard Things

And if you already own a copy, would you consider leaving a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and anywhere else you can? That means the world and helps get the word out for more people to know about the hope they have through the hard.

Song for Your Weary Heart

Perfect Peace by Tenielle Neda

Are you not more precious than gold?
Or the flowers of the field so beautifully clothed
Why then worry about tomorrow?
What you need your Father knows

You will keep in perfect peace
Thosе whose minds are steadfast
You will keep in pеrfect peace
Those who trust the Lord

Listen Here

Connect with Me

I’d love to hear from you - send me an email at sarahefreymuth@gmail.com to say hi, share a thought that’s on your heart, and let me know how to pray for you. You can connect with me on my social handles, as well:

Instagram Facebook Website

If you really want to have fun, send me some snail mail! I may even write you back. :)

P.O. Box 149, Port Washington, WI 53074

In case you’re new here . . .

I’m Sarah, and I am loved by God, a wife, dog mom, and writer. I live in a harbor town in Wisconsin, value authenticity, and delight in a cup of pour over coffee in the morning. I tell stories for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as my day job, which I love! When I put my author-cap on, I like to write about finding God’s goodness in everyday life, the hard and the beautiful, and explore the deeper questions of life and faith. My writing addresses wounds, doubts, and challenges with honesty, while gently pointing toward hope and healing. At least, I try for it to!

My debut book All the Hard Things: 50 Days Through the Valley, will be released through Harvest House Publishers in February 2026. I’m glad you’re here!

And now, on to today’s letter…

My fingers click along the keyboard as my stereo streams a mix of songs from one of my playlists. I look to the square windows of my office, see land and sky both slate, so there is no clear definition of sunset in a wide space that doesn’t show the sun. From the brisk breeze and bare branches of trees along the street, it seems like time has reversed, reverted back to November, the beginning of a barren winter.

I’m still thawing out from running Alfie in the yard, watching him chase his ball, chasing after his ball myself while he stood there with his face tipped sideways, watching me as entertainment.

This is my life at the moment. Working my day job, playing fetch with myself as my small dog stares, and sitting at my desk wondering where to go from here on a dusky day eerily similar to months before.

What do you do after you write a book?

You spend years growing this idea in your heart, then put it on paper. Rewrite, edit, write some more. Turn it in on deadline, get changes back and quickly make them. Proofread again and again. Make decisions on designs, meet with the marketing team, and bust your butt prepping emails, social media posts, and other digital assets that you’re supposed to create.

Writing and editing the book was easy and fun. It was all the marketing effort that threatened to take me down.

The hum and buzz of building my launch team, Kaitlyn being a champ at leading the pack and getting so many beautiful people connected and on board to support the book. Seeing it rise and stay on the Amazon New Release charts in multiple categories, including #3 in Devotionals and Women’s Issues and #26 in Christian Living.

Podcasts and guest blogs, and trying to keep up to post about them on social. Prep for my launch party, all the details and great people helping. Then the post-launch crash, getting sick, and then stepping right into work travel.

Now, I’m back home, with my book a month old, a Beaglier who wants to play nonstop, and a life to live here in Wisconsin.

What do you do after you write a book?

Do you think of the next step in the process, the next lead magnet, and shape up another proposal?

Or do you let yourself linger over a cup of coffee, listen to the cranes that call overhead? Pull a book of poetry off your shelf and lose yourself in its beauty?

I say yes to all the latter.

What I have missed over this prolonged season of book prep:

• Reading a good book for fun

• Moving slow

• Writing average poetry

• Curling up with Alfie and Eric

• Watching movies

• Having no pressure of deadlines and “success”

• Being a present aunt to my nephews and niece

• Stopping by my parents’ house to visit

• Noticing the change of seasons

• So much

Right now, it’s time to rest in the ways my heart and body say they need. Time to remain close to God and remember what His heartbeat sounds like. Time to keep telling stories of coaches and athletes around the world, and maybe join a class at the YMCA.

I’m still writing. I’m still here with you. I just won’t be as tightly-scheduled to get it all done.

Breathing a release, breathing again.

There’s Always Grace,

Sarah

Book Giveaway!

I still like books, and I like giving them away.

This month, would you like this one?

It’s filled with Scripture and beautifully illustrated word art, great for a quick turn to for encouragement.

**If you’d like the book, hit Reply to the email and put “Giveaway” in the subject line. One random winner will receive a copy!

All the Hard Things - Order Now!

Looking for a gift for someone going through something hard? Consider giving them my devotional book that gently walks them through the places that don’t feel good while discovering God’s goodness.

Order All the Hard Things

And if you already own a copy, would you consider leaving a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and anywhere else you can? That means the world and helps get the word out for more people to know about the hope they have through the hard.

Connect with Me

I’d love to hear from you - send me an email at sarahefreymuth@gmail.com to say hi, share a thought that’s on your heart, and let me know how to pray for you. You can connect with me on my social handles, as well:

Instagram Facebook Website

If you really want to have fun, send me some snail mail! I may even write you back. :)

P.O. Box 149, Port Washington, WI 53074

My book is out in the world.

Have I thanked you for all the support and encouragement? I will say it again: “THANK YOU!”

Do you know what I’ve been doing in these weeks after launch?

Collapsing with a cold.

Spending a week out of state working and serving at our FCA all staff conference.

Prepping to head back out of state for work.

Curling up with Alfie at night and trying to memorize Eric’s face again.

Then, after I’m back home, entering into the quiet shift after book launch.

There’s this strange, quiet shift that happens after a launch. For so long, these stories and lessons were the private conversations I had with myself and with God in the middle of the mess. Now, they belong to you.

The View from the Other Side

Entering this “post-launch” season feels less like a finish line and more like a deep exhale. Man, I ran hard. But I’m learning that having a book out in the world isn’t just about sales or rankings (though I admit I’m a bit curious to see how it’s doing); it’s about the connection. Since the release, I’ve been struck by how many have messaged me and told me how it’s meeting you in your hard, and how you have purchased a copy to give to someone you know who is struggling.

That means the world, to realize we all carry hard things, but we don’t do it alone. Though I am looking to find peace that the work is done, it is released, and in God’s hands. : )

A Small Request

If you’ve picked up a copy and found a bit of light in it, would you consider doing one of two things?

1. Leave a Review: On Amazon or Goodreads, even a one-sentence review helps other “valley-travelers” find the book.

2. Pass it on: If a specific chapter made you think of a friend, send them a text or a photo of the page.

“Here is where we pile our remembrance stones, stack them one on top of the other, souvenirs from along the way that take us back to each place we’ve been.”

A Where Do I Go From Here?

Really, we’re just getting started.

But what is next?

Rest. It’s needed. And I don’t want to be on my computer all that much for a while. Maybe for basics, or for fun.

But I think I’d like to reach out to churches and offer All the Hard Things as a resource for their book clubs or small groups, with a soft heart-focused style of meeting and offer them a leader guide that gently moves women from a “study hall” setting to a couch or circle in a safe and informal format.

Please pray as I start reaching out to churches, that if this is something God wants for a next step, that He would open the right doors. If you think your church would benefit from this, please let me know; I’d love to connect with them.

Eric and I at my FCA all staff conference

Me, with Alfie, exhausted but happy after book launch

Reminder to myself: Savor this. Go a little slower. Connect a little deeper.

May this be your reminder, too.

There’s Always Grace,

Sarah

Congratulations to all of the giveaway winners throughout this whole launch process! It’s been such a joy to gift you a tiny bit of thanks for all of your help and support.

Guest Podcasts I’m On - Click the Names to Listen!

Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast

The Redbud Hyphen Podcast

The By Words Podcast

The Good Day Podcast

Connect with Me

I’d love to hear from you - send me an email at sarahefreymuth@gmail.com to say hi, share a thought that’s on your heart, and let me know how to pray for you. You can connect with me on my social handles, as well:

Instagram Facebook Website

If you really want to have fun, send me some snail mail! I may even write you back. :)

P.O. Box 149, Port Washington, WI 53074

In case you’re new here . . .

I’m Sarah, and I am loved by God, a wife, dog mom, and writer. I live in a harbor town in Wisconsin, value authenticity, and delight in a cup of pour over coffee in the morning. I tell stories for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as my day job, which I love! When I put my author-cap on, I like to write about finding God’s goodness in everyday life, the hard and the beautiful, and explore the deeper questions of life and faith. My writing addresses wounds, doubts, and challenges with honesty, while gently pointing toward hope and healing. At least, I try for it to!

My debut book All the Hard Things: 50 Days Through the Valley, from Harvest House Publishers, is out in the world and available to order!

I’m glad you’re here!

And now, on to today’s letter…

I desperately wanted to be present to everything. My launch party, the launch team, kind words from friends and strangers.

It’s been one week since All the Hard Things launched into the world, and it still all seems surreal.

Holding my first book in my hands, and seeing others hold it is surreal.

Signing books for people is surreal.

Sitting and talking about the writing process, my faith, and the book is surreal.

We even made Amazon’s top new releases in certain categories (like #3 in Devotionals, #4 in Women’s Issues, and #26 Christian Living!). Surreal.

Basically, it’s all surreal.

And the week has been beautifully full, but fast. And honestly, my release party was a blur. All the set up, all the people, all the tear down, and then we were done.

It was glorious, but man, I’m wiped.

Where do we go from here?

We start right here. With rest. With gratitude.

Photos from the Launch Party:

And I still have some greeting cards I made with my photos and quotes from the book inside if you’d like to buy any - they are $5/each. Let me know, and if you need to buy a copy of All the Hard Things, let me know, too!

Thank you for making book launch week a beautiful week. Glory to God, and I pray it keeps meeting your heart where it needs to, and that God gets it into the hands of those who could benefit from it.

We launched a book!!!

There’s Always Grace,

Sarah

Harvest House Book Giveaway!

I have a book bundle from Harvest House to gift to you:

and

How you can win this book bundle:

Tell someone about All the Hard Things and encourage them to buy a copy. Then, reply to this email and tell me who you shared the book with and why they would benefit from it. :) One random winner will receive the books!

Connect with Me

I’d love to hear from you - send me an email at sarahefreymuth@gmail.com to say hi, share a thought that’s on your heart, and let me know how to pray for you. You can connect with me on my social handles, as well:

Instagram Facebook Website

If you really want to have fun, send me some snail mail! I may even write you back. :)

P.O. Box 149, Port Washington, WI 53074

It is surreal that we are here. I feel like I spent all my words writing and building this up, and now, I don’t have any to articulate what this means.

But from my heart — thank you!

I’m thinking, though.

About our valleys.

The quiet ones no one saw.
The long ones that reshaped us.
The ones we didn’t choose but somehow had to walk through anyway.

This book was written in those places. Not from the other side with everything neatly tied up, but from the middle, the not yet. Where faith feels tender, hope is off in the long distance, and God’s voice is soft, muffled.

Thank you for being on this journey with me, letting me walk with you through the hard things. Thank you for trusting me with your presence, your prayers, your stories, and your willingness to stay when it would’ve been easier to turn away. Because it would have been so much easier to turn away.

My prayer for you is this:
That these pages would meet you exactly where you are.
That you would feel less alone in your valley.
That you would sense God’s nearness — not rushing you forward, but walking beside you, step by step.

If you haven’t gotten your copy yet, head over to any of the links below!

Harvest House

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Christianbook

If you feel up to it, you can simply hit reply and share what God is stirring in you. Where He is meeting you in these pages. There’s no pressure to have the right words. I read each message, and it would be an honor to listen — and to pray with you.

Thank you for being here.
Thank you for walking this road with me.
Thank you for being part of this story.

All glory to God. For our good, through the hard.

With gratitude and grace,
Sarah

Share Your Story: I’d love to hear how God has met you in these pages, and who you can think of for whom this book could be a blessing.

Recommended Song

“I Know You Are Good” by The Church Will Sing

to know you
is to know that you are good
to know you
is to know you love me
you are for me
you never leave me
I know, I know that you are good
I know, I know that you are good

Listen Here

Connect with Me

I’d love to hear from you - send me an email at sarahefreymuth@gmail.com to say hi, share a thought that’s on your heart, and let me know how to pray for you. You can connect with me on my social handles, as well:

Instagram Facebook Website

If you really want to have fun, send me some snail mail! I may even write you back. :)

P.O. Box 149, Port Washington, WI 53074

The book that’s been prayed over, wrestled through, and written from the valley is finally out in the world.

All the Hard Things: 50 Days in the Valley is in your hands, or on its way. We’ll be able to walk this journey together, to glean the glimmers of God’s goodness in our everyday and start to grow our hope.

What a joy it is to share this day with you – my book is out in the world!

I’m so grateful — for you, for this story, for the God who meets us in every hard place. This is for Him, first and foremost. And this is for you.

“In All the Hard Things, Sarah Freymuth offers a gentle lifeline through beautifully written devotions rooted in biblical truth. With tender encouragement and relatable personal stories, she meets readers in their pain and points them toward the steadying hope of God’s presence. Whatever dark valley you may be walking through, Sarah’s heartfelt wisdom will be a soothing balm and a light—reminding you to grasp God’s hand and keep your eyes ever fixed on His unfailing faithfulness.”

Shelby Dixon, Devotions Manager, Proverbs 31 Ministries

“Sometimes, when you are going through hard things, the Bible verses or Christian sayings people bring can feel like salt on a wound; a band-aid on a gaping wound. Through All the Hard Things, Sarah brings a different message. Unafraid to speak to what is breaking our hearts, she gets right to the raw pain and brings the balm of God’s Word to our hurting places to begin the healing process.”

Lynn Cowell, Bible Teacher and Author of Strong & Secure and Fearless Women of the Bible

Get the book at:

Amazon

Bookshop.org

Barnes and Noble

Harvest House Publishers

And anywhere books are sold!

Would you help me spread the word?

Share about it on social, gift it to a friend, and leave a review (reviews are super helpful!) — it means more than you know. Reviews help share the word and let other people find the book easier.

This is surreal and a dream come true. What a gift!

Thank you for walking this road with me. You’re part of this story, too.

Alfie thanks you, too. :)

ORDER HERE!

Celebrating Together!

Sarah

A Prayer of Thanks: Father, You are the giver of all good gifts. Everything I have is from You, and it is for You. Help me walk my journey in company with You. You are doing something new, and I want to stick close. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Journal Giveaway!

As a thank you for all your support, I’m giving away a journal and a personally written note. To enter the giveaway, reply back to me and tell me what part of the book you’ve been enjoying. I’ll be selecting two random winners from those who enter!

**Sadly, I will only be able to mail to those in the U.S. And the actual journal may differ from the ones pictured.

Connect with Me

I’d love to hear from you - send me an email at sarahefreymuth@gmail.com to say hi, share a thought that’s on your heart, and let me know how to pray for you. You can connect with me on my social handles, as well:

Instagram Facebook Website

If you really want to have fun, send me some snail mail! I may even write you back. :)

P.O. Box 149, Port Washington, WI 53074

Next week, All the Hard Things finally releases into the world — I can’t believe it! After years of writing and waiting and editing and praying and every other bit of life in between, here we are.

This has been a work of the heart, and in just a few short days, it will be in your hands.

This is for you. This is for me. This is for us, as we wander our valleys in step with our God.

His goodness has remained, pulling us back to his side, keeping us steady. What a joy when we are lifted from the tempest and set safely in his arms!

All the Hard Things, page 238

Your encouragement, prayers, and presence have carried this message further than I dreamed. Your responses to my emails, your pre-ordering, and sharing about the book is incredible, and there is no way I could have done any of this by myself. It takes a village; thank you for being part of mine.

“If you’ve ever wondered where God is in the midst of your suffering and longed for a lifeline as you walked through a spiritual fog, All the Hard Things will meet you right where you are. Sarah comes alongside her reader as a safe confidant who has asked the hard questions, walked the painful paths of faith, and seen God’s goodness in the midst of it. Not only that, but she is a steady guide who will help you find the beacon of hope you’re searching for and point you toward God’s truth. I will be recommending this book for years to come.”

Abby McDonald, author of Surrendering Certainty and Shift, writing coach, and contributor for Proverbs 31 Ministries

If you haven’t yet, there’s still time to pre-order and be among the first to receive your copy.

Preorder now and help spread the word. This is God’s message to hurting hearts; let’s help get it to who needs it.

Preorder Here

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for walking with me.

Now, here’s an Alfie picture because we need some cuteness. :)

One more week!

There’s Always Grace,

Sarah

A Prayer for The Wait Almost Ending: Father, You are the giver of all good gifts. Everything I have is from You, and it is for You. Help me walk my journey in company with You. You are doing something new, and I want to stick close. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Recommended Song

“Living God” by Red Rocks Worship

I breathe in the presence of the living God
I take in the goodness of your love
I lean in closer to my Father’s heart
I trust in who you say you are

You are alive, living and breathing
Here in this place, speaking and healing
Your fullness and glory is right here before me
You’re the living God, the living God

Listen Here

Connect with Me

I’d love to hear from you - send me an email at sarahefreymuth@gmail.com to say hi, share a thought that’s on your heart, and let me know how to pray for you. You can connect with me on my social handles, as well:

Instagram Facebook Website

If you really want to have fun, send me some snail mail! I may even write you back. :)

P.O. Box 149, Port Washington, WI 53074

How does hope grow in the hard?

For me, writing this book became an act of worship. Even in the thick of it when I didn’t know the ending. Even in the waiting. Even when I still suffered. Every reflection, every prayer, was me finding my way back to hope—one word at a time. One belief at a time. One devotion lived out in real time.

Where have you walked out your belief when you couldn’t see what was coming? Where did you dare to believe God would grant hope once again?

We can be real with Him, because He is trustworthy. And we can begin to hope, one breath at a time.

All our longings and groans are laid out before him. Nothing is hidden. But in our hearts’ desperate cry, here is where our Father meets us, reminds us of who he is, and that he is here. In the upside-down diagnosis, the experimental treatment, and the long nights pacing awake and weary, he is our good Father, our comforter, our companion. We are not alone in the darkness, for the dark is like light to him (Psalm 139:12).

All the Hard Things, page 119

Our hearts need space to sit, to reflect, to work out their troubles. And we need to remember that we are never alone, that God is working beyond what we can see, and is building something beautiful, even from the pain.

Inside these pages, I pray, you’ll find space to pause, breathe, and let your heart rest again. There are questions, Scripture, and honest invitations to meet God where you are. Because He wants to meet you right where you are. With nothing held back, but bringing our requests to Him and worshipping our way through, because of His goodness, even in our setbacks.

Especially there.

I can’t believe we’re just a few weeks away from my book entering the world! Thank you for the prayers and encouragement along the way; it’s meant so much.

Preorder All the Hard Things and start your own journey back toward hope. Your heart will thank you.

Preorder Here

There’s Always Grace,

Sarah

Question to Consider: What does it look like to lay your groans and longings before God? Imagine Him responding - what would He say?

Hit reply and let me know—I’d love to hear.

A Prayer for Beyond What You Can See: Lord, I’m tired of trying to hold it all together. I need space for my heart to rest and breathe. You invite me to come to You, just as I am, in honesty. Help me rest in the truth that Your strength carries me when I cannot stand, and that in You, I can begin to hope again. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Recommended Song

“Come and Rest” by Mission House

Have you been trying to move a mountain
And the mountain it will not move
Have you been struggling
To remember somebody is looking out for you

Come and rest
Come and rest
Come and rest
In the love of God

Listen Here

Connect with Me

I’d love to hear from you - send me an email at sarahefreymuth@gmail.com to say hi, share a thought that’s on your heart, and let me know how to pray for you. You can connect with me on my social handles, as well:

Instagram Facebook Website

If you really want to have fun, send me some snail mail! I may even write you back. :)

P.O. Box 149, Port Washington, WI 53074

You’ve been following along as I’ve walked the publishing journey. And my book is almost here!

As a fellow pilgrim on this winding journey of writing and life, I know how harrowing writing can seem. And sometimes, it’s hardest just to get started. Not because they lack ability, but because they keep waiting for the perfect moment.

And this is the part I want to gently hold:
You don’t need to know everything before you begin.
You don’t need all the answers.
You don’t have to have the perfect season of life or be “qualified” in the world’s eyes.

The writers who finish their books aren’t perfect.
They simply begin — imperfectly, honestly, and with steady hearts. And they keep holding it out to God in the process.

I keep coming back to this truth:

Small steps matter more than big intentions.

The Write Your Book Guide is one of those small — but meaningful — steps. It gives you:

• Direction instead of confusion

• Momentum instead of hesitation

• Hope instead of self-doubt

And it costs nothing except a few minutes of honesty with yourself.

Get your free guide here:
https://www.hopewriters.com/a/2148221940/8oPMoehf

Ready to take your first step? I’m excited for you!

Walking with you,
Sarah Freymuth

This is a sponsored partnership with Hope*Writers. They are passionate about cultivating writers and helping you with your writing and publishing goals. I truly believe in their work or I wouldn’t be telling you about them. If you want to start, here’s a helping hand.

Connect with Me

I’d love to hear from you - send me an email at sarahefreymuth@gmail.com to say hi, share a thought that’s on your heart, and let me know how to pray for you. You can connect with me on my social handles, as well:

Instagram Facebook Website

If you really want to have fun, send me some snail mail! I may even write you back. :)

P.O. Box 149, Port Washington, WI 53074

Maybe you’re still in the thick of it. The valley feels endless, and hope seems far away. Where do you turn? Where does God show up as we circle the same path?

Here’s what I’m learning as the valley keeps going: God’s goodness doesn’t skip over the valley. It shows up in it.

Valleys are not despicable, nor are they the destination. They are part of the way. And there is no way but through. With Him. At the cadence you need and the cadence He knows.

You don’t have to rush your way out to be seen by Him. He’s already there with you in the darkness, the disorientation, the deep places where it seems impossible to dig out. God is growing something good in you, through His Spirit, in His way and timing. He’s stretching you and shaping you and wants you to see flickers of His light here, in the waiting, in the shadows. You can persevere through; He will see to it.

I know. My valleys have stretched and stayed, and then they’ve gone. There is no sweet spot of perfection, but there is goodness along the way. God promises.

This season will shift. It’s not a matter of if, but when. And while there are no guarantees for the timeline, there is a companionship that comes as God goes with.

Let these 50 days remind you that you are not forgotten in the middle of your story. Pack this book in your bag for the long road. God’s goodness is here, in the valley, as you walk.

Stay the course. You will make it through.

Preorder your copy today. Pack it for the journey.

Preorder Here

There’s Always Grace,

Sarah

Question to Consider: Where have you seen God’s goodness while walking through the valley? How can you hold to those glimmers of His goodness to get you through?

Hit reply and let me know—I’d love to hear.

A Prayer for When You’re Still in the Valley: Father, I can’t believe I’m still in the valley. There doesn’t seem to be an end in sight, but I am not forgotten, and there will be a way through. You are with me, giving me Your goodness, even if it’s just one step at a time. Hold me steady. You will guide me to the other side. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Start the Reading Plan

Fun Update: All the Hard Things YouVersion Plan!

My 10-day reading plan for All the Hard Things is live on YouVersion!

When life hands you news you never expected and burdens you can barely hold, you don’t have to walk through the hard things alone. From Sarah Freymuth, this YouVersion plan offers 10 days of gentle affirmations, scriptural insights, and uplifting reminders of God’s intimate goodness for those moments and seasons you need them most. Cling to God’s character each day and find encouragement for each step of the journey.

We would like to thank Harvest House Publishers for providing this plan.

Start the Reading Plan

Recommended Song

“Meet Me in the Valley” by Tasha Layton

Meet me in the valley, I need You, Lord
Be my shield in the middle of the war
Tell me that I’ll make it when I’m not sure
You’ll be faithful like You’ve been before
Meet me in the valley
Meet me in the valley
Meet me in the valley

If this is where the broken things
Are healed and brought to life
Then lead me through the wilderness
But keep me by Your side

Listen Here

Connect with Me

I’d love to hear from you - send me an email at sarahefreymuth@gmail.com to say hi, share a thought that’s on your heart, and let me know how to pray for you. You can connect with me on my social handles, as well:

Instagram Facebook Website

If you really want to have fun, send me some snail mail! I may even write you back. :)

P.O. Box 149, Port Washington, WI 53074

You know the journey we’ve been on.

Release day for my first book, All the Hard Things: 50 Days Through the Valley, is February 3rd. Wow.

After years of tears, trust, life, words on paper, waiting, and the publishing process, this book is finally ready to be born into the world!

Why This Book

Maybe you've received news you never expected to hear. Maybe you’re clinging to a wild hope that seems to grow smaller with each passing year. Or maybe you’ve navigated one impossibly hard season after another, and you don’t know how much longer you can endure.

There are no instructions for times like these. No platitudes or forced positivity will do. Instead, All the Hard Things is a devotional offering 50 days of gentle affirmations, scriptural insights, and uplifting reminders of God’s intimate goodness for anyone experiencing a season of difficulty.

The way out of the valley is through the good guidance of our Shepherd, who gives us what we need and leads us by his love. These devotions will help you cling to God’s character each day and count on his goodness and faithfulness each step of the way.

My Invitation to You

People will only know about this book from friends like you telling them about it. By being a part of my Launch Team, we can all tell about it at the same time and get the book into the hands of people who need to know God is with them in their struggles.

To get started, would you mind filling out this quick sign-up form?

Join the Launch Team Here

Why the form? It’s the only way I can ensure you get a digital Advanced Reader Copy (to read before anyone else!) and all the “inner circle” updates and surprises I’m planning for launch week.

All Launch Team members will receive access to:

🎉 A digital copy of All the Hard Things (Several weeks before it releases!)

🎁 Lots of fantastic giveaways just for Launch Team members

✨ Live videos with me inside our private Facebook group

Join the Launch Team

It is such an honor to walk with you through this season, and I do hope you consider joining the Launch Team to help me usher these words into the light!

Grace is here,

Sarah

Special Book Excerpt!

A Quiet Life: Resting in God’s Love

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

In this world, there’s always a higher height to reach. I can get trapped in the circus that is climbing the social ladder, pushing to pursue my purpose, longing to do and be as much as I can. I find myself pouring into my writing, my ministry, my work, and the people around me because that’s what I’m supposed to do, right? Isn’t this what God wants for me?

But that self-imposed pressure for perfection can swiftly send me into overdrive, spiking my stress levels once again. And what is it that I’m really seeking? A sustainable career? A gold star from God? There is so much to keep up with, and combining life’s daily tasks with my personal pursuits of—dare I admit it?—glory and good marks opens the door for things to go sideways fast.

Even as Christians, we can succumb too easily to the worldly pressure to be all we can be, whatever we think that means for us. We can even mistake this striving for obedience to God. Striving comes from our own effort, fueled by dependency on what we do, whereas following our calling comes from the overflow of knowing we are already loved by God as we obediently take the steps he’s laid out before us. It’s not bad to have goals, whether those goals are earning a PhD, starting a family, running a half-marathon, or throwing ourselves into ministry. But the striving and stress of holding these goals up high as our greatest prize will inevitably take away from our ability to see the God who has given us drive and good things in the first place.

Our days rush by, each filled to the brim. But we were not made to keep taking on more, our minds and calendars swelling and leaving us with no room to slow down, step back, and be with the Lord. Eventually, our own efforts at excellence will leave us lacking. We can try to have everything and do it all, but this isn’t sustainable. We were not made to keep taking on more while leaving no room to slow down, step back, and be with the Lord. We can nobly pursue what God has invited us into, like being a wife, mother, or ministry worker, but if we lesson our time with God and let ambition lead us instead, we lose our first love in the Lord and are found lacking. There is more for us in less.

Pre-Order All the Hard Things

Connect with Me

I’d love to hear from you - send me an email at sarahefreymuth@gmail.com to say hi, share a thought that’s on your heart, and let me know how to pray for you. You can connect with me on my social handles, as well:

Instagram Facebook Website

If you really want to have fun, send me some snail mail! I may even write you back. :)

P.O. Box 149, Port Washington, WI 53074

In case you’re new here . . .

I’m Sarah, and I am loved by God, a wife, dog mom, and writer. I live in a harbor town in Wisconsin, value authenticity, and delight in a cup of pour over coffee in the morning. I tell stories for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as my day job, which I love! When I put on my author-cap, I like to write about finding God’s goodness in everyday life, the hard and the beautiful, and explore the deeper questions of life and faith. My writing addresses wounds, doubts, and challenges with honesty, while gently pointing toward hope and healing. At least, I try for it to!

My debut book All the Hard Things: 50 Days Through the Valley, will be released through Harvest House Publishers in February 2026. I’m glad you’re here!

And now, on to today’s letter…

Freshly fallen snow carpets the yard; a low and hazy sun stretches slowly into the morning sky. A new day dawns in a new year; there is much that will cover the canvas of the calendar these next twelve months. Many have made resolutions and goals, determined that this is the year they finally curb their unhealthy habits and make space for more margin in their hours.

The beginning of a new year offers a recommitment to the things we hoped to accomplish the year before, and a time to make strides on hopes that have lain dormant. A vigor to make this the year of accomplishment leads the charge with sparks of intention.

But for many of us, the turn of the page into another year comes with little change at all. There are still doctor appointments and diapers to change, illnesses that linger and weariness that won’t go away. Maybe the new year isn’t so fresh and hopeful.

What then, when the shiny possibility of goals and a clean slate don’t stack up for us in January? When it seems like the days roll right into one another with no differentiation? When we’re still slogging through?

Perhaps we give ourselves grace that our pace doesn’t need to follow the perceived race of the new year and all its quick firing resolutions. Perhaps we can take it slow into this season, to recognize our limitations and cares that continue and lay them at the feet of Jesus. To take up his yoke because he promised it was easy and his way is light, both metaphorically and literally.

Don’t we need a tiny light right now? In the middle of our messy days, our weary hearts, a flickering hope that hums through a bleak midwinter? Life can hit hard, but Jesus is gentle.

Come to him, all who have tried every other way. All who have held hurting loved ones and shouldered the pain of a punctured planet. If your splintered heart longs for healing, let his love wash your wounds from this world. Rest with him, walk in his way, lean into his arms, and remember that he calls you beloved.

For beloved we are, not from anything we’ve resolved to do but simply by being his.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” - Matthew 11:28, NIV

Be still. Receive grace. Go one day at a time, if that’s what you need. When the world runs full steam ahead and you are done trying to keep up, let go. Slow down. See him who holds it all, holding you.

Our cares will still be here tomorrow. But our hopes will still hold, and a good Shepherd will see us through, wherever this year brings us.

Release what isn’t yours to carry. Receive the gift that is grace upon grace. Look for his light through the fog of frenzy. Isn’t it a relief to rest in him?

What a relief to rest in him.

***

This letter is actually featured on Harvest House’s blog, where I’m ringing in 2026 with some gentle reminders that we don’t have to rush into the year.

If this idea of grace for when you’re already weary, This is something I care about and explore in my 50-day devotional, All the Hard Things: 50 Days Through the Valley. This book is a daily companion for when it feels like spring will never come, designed to help you find the ‘traces of healing’ God places along the path.

There’s Always Grace,

Sarah

Questions to Consider: What has you weary right now? How can resting in Jesus help you receive grace rather than rushing around?

Hit reply and let me know—I’d love to hear.

A Prayer for the Weary Heart: Lord, for those of us whose lives don’t seem to change once the next year comes, would You come close? Would Your grace spread in us, that we can be at rest with You, wherever we are, because Your burden is easy? Help us receive the love and peace You have for us, and let us hold this year out to You. We trust You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Win a “For the Valley” Comfort Pack!

Congratulations to Sharla Fritz for winning last month’s book, Defined!

I’m giving away two comfort packs for your journey through All the Hard Things!

Included in the “For the Valley” Bundle:

Autographed copy of All the Hard Things

Calming journal to capture your thoughts

Tea tin with soothing tea sachets

4 oz. Through the Valley scented candle made especially for my book

Handwritten note of encouragement

Quote sticker

How to Be Entered to Win:

• Pre-order the book! (If you’ve already pre-ordered, this will still work.)

• Share my book link with two other people and get them to pre-order as well.

• Hit REPLY to this email and share the order summaries.

The two winners will be notified via email. And stay tuned for more opportunities to win fun goodies!

Published Pieces

Click the links below to read the articles:

She Reads Truth - He Will Gather His People

She Reads Truth - The Way is Prepared

Proverbs 31 - Lord, Please Be My Prince of Peace This Christmas

Crossmap - Newness for Our Heart and Year

Connect with Me

I’d love to hear from you - send me an email at sarahefreymuth@gmail.com to say hi, share a thought that’s on your heart, and let me know how to pray for you. You can connect with me on my social handles, as well:

Instagram Facebook Website

I read about our brain’s resilience, its ability to heal and change our neuropathways into new ways of thinking.

I read about medication, how long it takes to kick in and see any signs of it working. What the side effects were, and what to do if it didn’t quite do the job.

I read about prayer and faith, to train myself spiritually to believe God was with me and at work, and to believe that He would come through.

My mind battled with this belief. I wanted to be found faithful, so I did everything I could to make it that way. I was holding on for dear life, fearing for my life and the state of it.

I was trying to control staying on top of my job, holding myself up to survive the day, and telling myself that things would get better. I squeezed my grip because I thought it was up to me to hold on. Even when I had no strength left, I still worked to keep a pinky finger hooked to my efforts and search for the right answer that would ease the pain.

But it became too much. I couldn’t hold myself up. Couldn’t contain or control what was beyond me in the first place. I couldn’t hold on, so I let go and let God hold me.

That’s when I learned the quiet miracle of surrender. Of opening up my clenched hands and heart, no matter how terrified I was to fall full weight on God.

He says His yoke is easy and burden is light, and to cast our cares on Him. This is His promise, His imploring to our hearts.

We are not meant to carry the weight of control. We are not meant to save our lives by our own effort. We can’t. When questioning our trust in God becomes too much to take, release your heart in surrender. We are already tucked in the safe and secure arms of God.

Our trust can come in surrender, because God doesn’t demand we be fearless — only that we open our hands.

If you’re standing on the edge of surrender, may this be your permission to let go.

Preorder All the Hard Things and find rest for the part of you still holding on too tight.

Preorder Here

There’s Always Grace,

Sarah

Question to Consider: What story in your life has been the hardest to tell, and how might it reveal God’s fingerprints of redemption?

Hit reply and let me know—I’d love to hear.

A Prayer for Trust in Surrender: Father, I am trying so hard to control everything. I want to feel stable. I want to have order. I want to know things will be OK. Help my trust become surrender as I open my hands to You. Take what I’ve been clinging to, and fill me instead with Your peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Recommended Song

“Let Go” by Kory Miller

I’m not afraid of the tension
That you’re feeling
There’s no need to hide
Let Me hear all your questions
I have healing
For your anxious mind
Won’t you please
Come home

Cause you’re on the edge
Of something beautiful
Won’t you just let go

Listen Here

Connect with Me

I’d love to hear from you - send me an email at sarahefreymuth@gmail.com to say hi, share a thought that’s on your heart, and let me know how to pray for you. You can connect with me on my social handles, as well:

Instagram Facebook Website

If you really want to have fun, send me some snail mail! I may even write you back. :)

P.O. Box 149, Port Washington, WI 53074