Embracing Faith, Beauty, and Surrender: author and literary agent Michelle S. Lazurek shares her faith, writing, and overcoming anxiety.
In this episode of Beholder Beauty, Michelle S. Lazurek, a seasoned author and literary agent, shares her journey of faith, writing, and overcoming anxiety. Michelle discusses her calling to write, inspired by scripture and the intimate relationship between John and Jesus. She provides beauty tips, including her favorite skincare products, and speaks on the importance of self-care. Michelle also opens up about her struggle with identity, performance-based approval, and her discovery of surrendering to God’s will. As a multi-genre award-winning author, she offers practical advice for aspiring writers and emphasizes the significance of prayer, community, and seeking help in times of mental health struggles. This episode is filled with profound insights and relatable experiences, encouraging listeners to embrace their faith and take steps of obedience.
What areas of your life do you need to lay down so that God can do the impossible in your life? Michelle S. Lazurek #surrender #faith #Author
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What areas of your life do you need to lay down so that God can do the impossible in your life?
It doesn’t matter what I do, but rather who He is, what He’s done for me on the cross, and that His love covers everything.
Surrendering control over our lives is the number one way to achieve a more intimate relationship with Christ. We can yield our entire lives to the Lord and watch Him work.
Feelings are deep, and they can aid you just as badly as a bad foundation. So if you don’t grieve the things in life that are great losses to you, including your health and outward appearance, you know, you can really waste a lot of what God has given you for life on this earth.
Michelle S. Lazurek
Episode 22: Embracing Faith, Beauty, and Surrender: A Conversation with Michelle S. Lazurek
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Introduction music Everlasting Covenant by Don Rutherford.
Show notes:
00:00 Introduction to Beholder Beauty
00:22 Michelle Lazurek’s Writing Journey
02:16 Becoming a Literary Agent
04:08 Beauty Tips and Skincare Routine
07:10 Struggles with Beauty and Self-Esteem
10:57 Embracing Aging and God’s Purpose
17:02 Overcoming Anxiety and Writing ‘I Surrender All’
21:52 The Struggle of Surrendering to God
22:46 Overcoming Performance-Based Identity
24:59 The Power of Prayer in Surrender
26:37 Seeking Help and Normalizing Mental Health
29:33 Finding Community and Support
30:07 Lessons Learned from Writing the Book
31:40 Advice for Aspiring Writers
37:49 Personal Insights and Hobbies
40:24 Final Thoughts and Prayer
Meet our Author, Michelle S. Lazurek
Michelle S. Lazurek is a multi-genre award winning author, speaker, pastor’s wife and mother. She is a regular contributor for ibelieve.com and crosswalk.com and is a movie reviewer for Movieguide Magazine. She also is a literary agent for Wordwise Media Services. When not working, she enjoys sipping a Starbucks latte, collecting 80s memorabilia and spending time with her family and her crazy dog, Cookie. For more info, please visit her website www.michellelazurek.com.
The Behold-Her Beauty Podcast is a sacred space for the soul moving from broken to beloved. Together, we seek God’s beauty in the everyday and make room for peace in the mess of life. Through poetry, heart-to-heart conversations, and the Son’s renewing warmth, we watch our regrets become seeds of hope as we embrace our identity as God’s beautiful daughters.
Read, listen, and soar. 🕊️✨
Giving a voice to the journey from broken to beloved. 🕊️ Today I am sharing a special episode of Behold-Her Beauty Podcast with author, Sarah Freymuthto discuss her book, All the Hard Things: 50 Days Through the Valley.
Also join the conversation by subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing your thoughts in the comments. We would love it if you would leave a ❤️ to let us know you’re reading and listening!
Sarah is the author of All the Hard Things: 50 Days Through the Valley, a devotional journey shaped by her own experiences of long COVID, anxiety, depression, and the repeated hardships that quietly reshape a life.
In our conversation, she opens up about what it means to find God’s presence not after the hard things—but in the middle of them. Through her story, we talk about what it looks like to anchor identity in Christ when everything else feels uncertain, and how God often speaks through unexpected “trail markers” of hope—like friendships, nature, music, and even the small reminders we almost overlook.
We also talk about beauty, soul care, and what it means to believe God is still good when life feels heavy.
If you’ve ever found yourself in a season where the “valley” feels long or confusing, this conversation will gently meet you there.
Because sometimes hope doesn’t arrive as a rescue from the valley—but as a companion within it.
The episode closes with a beautiful heartfelt prayer from Sarah to guide you through your week.
A Reflection For You
Where in your life do you feel like you are in a “valley” season—and what might God be inviting you to notice right there? I’ll meet you in the comments.
You can pick up her book here: https://amzn.to/3Zdtr5W
Sarah Freymuth is the content and storytelling manager for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and she writes for numerous platforms, including Proverbs 31 Ministries, YouVersion, (in)Courage, and She Reads Truth. Sarah loves unearthing God’s goodness in places that don’t feel good, with a heart especially for faith and mental health. She enjoys a simple Wisconsin life by Lake Michigan with her husband, Eric, and Beaglier pup, Alfie.
Links: Website, Substack, Instagram, Facebook
Music by Samuel F. Johanns from Pixabay
Watch the whole episode on my Youtube Channel and be sure to subscribe and follow.
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Prodigal Daughter: Poems of Light for the Lost debuted at the Cultivate Rooted Retreat with The Way Back Books!
Let’s tell the world that stories of redemption and grace are still the ones we crave.
Purchase a copy (or two) at the Prodigal Daughter AMAZON LINK:
This book is my heart on paper, written for every soul who has ever felt ‘too far gone’ to sit at the Father’s table.
P.S. After reading you will bless me by leaving a review on Amazon.
With love, Deborah (residing in Georgia) 🕊️✨🌿
Podcaster, Author, Poet, and Speaker
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Remember, you are Beautiful!
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Together, we delve into the beauty of life. Our God is our redeemer, and it is an ashes-to-beauty kind of story. STAY AWHILE.
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