Overcomer Series with Sarah Beth Marr
What do you do?
Growing up, did you always dream that you would be doing what you’re doing now?
I always wanted to be married and to be a mom. But the other things, author, and speaker, in particular, were never on my radar. I actually danced as a professional ballerina right out of high school, so dancing professionally was my dream for a long time. I got to live that dream out for about 15 years as a professional ballerina. But what I do now was more of an unfolding of realizing what God was pointing me towards. When I began to press into His heart for me, writing began to surface. I think that is what is so sweet about dreaming with God. He takes us places we never dreamed of.
What made you decide to “go for it” in terms of your career goals/ambitions?
As I understood the value of putting words together and how God can use our words and His Word to impact hearts, I really began to embrace my lane of writing and really settle into it. I have always been moved and impacted by words, and the thought of doing that for someone else is what gives me the motivation to write. Writing is a mysterious art to me. It is more of a “let it happen” mentality than a “make it happen” mindset for me. When I let God lead and let Him lead my writing, inspiration comes. But when I try and force it, it feels forced.
Did you face adversity? How did you overcome that?
For sure! In my dancing career, I wrote through the adversity that I encountered in the ballet world. That adversity is what lead me to write. Without the tough things I faced in the ballet world, I do not know that I ever would have felt the need to write through it. Writing was my way of seeking the Lord through the challenges. In my writing now, I think the hardest part has been just learning patience. This art takes time, more time, and more time! It’s never a quick turnaround of results. It’s always a work in progress. But in so many ways, it is just like the rehearsal process of dancing was for me. You rehearse and rehearse and polish and polish and then you get to the fun part, the performance! Writing feels that way, but in this, I have learned that the journey is the sweetest part. So the way I have overcome the adversity in the ballet world and now in writing is seeking the Lord. In most instances, I seek Him through writing. I feel closest to God when I write.
A lot of women have these big goals & big ideas that they’d like to bring to life, what advice would you give them in terms of how they can make that happen?
Seek the Lord. Dream with Him. He will be faithful to guide you step by step. Keep taking your ideas and your dreaming thoughts to Him. Let Him unravel your dreaming questions with His ideas and His dreams for you. He wants to be, in a sense, your dance partner through your dreaming dance. When you let Him lead and keep your relationship with Him first, He will begin to plant the seeds of the things He made you for and grow them into realities.
What’s the biggest regret you have when it comes to your blog/shop/business?
I think my only regret are the times I have compared myself to other bloggers. Everyone has their own thing going on, so for me, I have learned while being inspired by other bloggers is a beautiful thing, getting down on myself for not doing this or that better or whatever it is, is a destructive thing. I wouldn’t have wasted time trying to figure out how often to post or trying to force words to come. I would have kept on just like I began….write when inspired. For me, writing in that freedom brings the most creativity and inspiration. When I simply trust the Lord for the words, He seems to bring just the right words at just the right time. While I think blogging on a set schedule is a great thing to challenge us and keep us engaged with our audience, for me, the minute it becomes forced is the minute it loses its heart and soul and impact. Also, some bloggers will blog daily, some will blog weekly, some experts suggest this or that while others suggest something totally different. The same thing goes for social media. I spent a lot of time trying to “figure out” how much to post and all of that. I have learned that it’s between me and the Lord. And for me, less is best. But everyone’s best is going to look different.
What’s been your proudest moment so far?
Knowing the words that were penned through fifteen years of dancing professionally, that then found their way to my blog, are now going to be in part making their way into my first book. Only God. And of course our little family. My husband and three sons…that’s where the good stuff is.
I believe in the story of the overcomer. That has been my story and I believe that is your story too. We want your journey here on the blog to help encourage others just like you and me. If you’d like to share that with us, please come over and share your story with us!
Was this story an encouragement to you? Share it with others!