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Margaret’s Story: From Survival to Thriving

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Margaret, who opens up about her powerful journey from simply surviving life’s challenges to stepping fully into a life of thriving.

Growing up in an unstable environment, Margaret carried many of those struggles into adulthood—impacting her career, relationships, and sense of self. But through intentional choices, faith, and supportive community, she discovered that breaking old cycles and creating a new path forward is possible.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How Margaret recognized unhealthy patterns and chose change.

• The role of faith and resilience in overcoming setbacks.

• Practical habits that fueled her transformation—journaling, setting boundaries, and rest.

• Why small daily practices can lead to lasting growth.

• The importance of surrounding yourself with people who encourage and uplift you.

  
  

✨ Key Quote

“I started to see challenges as opportunities to grow.” – Margaret

Episode Highlights

• 0:00 – Introduction & Margaret’s background

• 5:30 – Recognizing cycles of survival

• 12:15 – Faith as a foundation for resilience

• 18:40 – Small habits that bring big change

• 25:00 – Lessons for anyone seeking to thrive

Margaret’s Story: From Survival to Thriving

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Margaret, who opens up about her powerful journey from simply surviving life’s challenges to stepping fully into a life of thriving.

Growing up in an unstable environment, Margaret carried many of those struggles into adulthood—impacting her career, relationships, and sense of self. But through intentional choices, faith, and supportive community, she discovered that breaking old cycles and creating a new path forward is possible.

How Margaret recognized unhealthy patterns and chose change.

The role of faith and resilience in overcoming setbacks.

Practical habits that fueled her transformation—journaling, setting boundaries, and rest.

Why small daily practices can lead to lasting growth.

The importance of surrounding yourself with people who encourage and uplift you.

“I started to see challenges as opportunities to grow.” – Margaret

0:00 – Introduction & Margaret’s background

5:30 – Recognizing cycles of survival

12:15 – Faith as a foundation for resilience

18:40 – Small habits that bring big change

25:00 – Lessons for anyone seeking to thrive

What happens when churches prioritize productivity over people?

Doug Sauder, Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, has lived through the fallout of leader neglect—and the transformation that comes when soul care becomes a core value.

In this powerful conversation, Doug shares his journey from a culture of overwork and burnout to one of rest, accountability, and sustainability. He opens up about:

·       Surviving the ripple effects of a senior leader’s moral failure

·       Resisting the “Messiah complex” of nonstop ministry

·       How Calvary Chapel restructured to prioritize Sabbath, family, and health

·       Why sabbaticals are a game-changer for leaders—and how his own shaped his identity beyond achievement

·       What it takes for boards and staff to cultivate healthy rhythms of work and rest

This is a hopeful, honest episode packed with wisdom for pastors, nonprofit leaders, and boards who want to protect their leaders, steward their people, and create ministries that flourish for the long haul.

About Doug Sauder:

Doug Sauder is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, one of the largest churches in the U.S. He is known for his heart for families, his leadership in crisis, and his commitment to building a culture of health and soul care among leaders. Doug and his wife, Suzanne, have three sons and have served as foster parents to more than 50 children.

Additional Resources:

·      ECFA.org/LeaderCare

·      Learn more about Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale

·      PastorServe – Coaching & Soul Care for Leaders

·      The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Peter Scazzero       

Some leadership habits seem helpful, but their hidden weaknesses can actually frustrate and suppress team potential. In this episode, Craig shares two more leadership blind spots and how to fix them before they limit your organization’s growth.

Get the free leader guide for this episode here: https://www.life.church/leadershippodcast/blind-spots-that-destroy-teams.

Missed the first two blind spots? You can find them in the previous episode.

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JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Website: https://www.craiggroeschel.com

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️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/35447748/

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ABOUT CRAIG

Craig Groeschel is the founder and senior pastor of Life.Church and one of today’s most trusted voices in leadership. Since 2016, he’s shared practical, empowering leadership insights to help you grow through the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast.

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My Baby Has a Disability – Shauna Amick shares her story of having a child prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome. In the midst of her enormous questions and fears, Shauna learned that God has a one-of-a-kind purpose for every child—each one uniquely formed in his image. Shauna invites you to dream new dreams for yourself and your precious child. 

Use the coupon code: RADIOGIFT for free shipping!

*Limit one copy per person*

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Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible.

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org.

Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

“God raised Christ from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything” (Ephesians 1:20-22 MSG).

Christ runs the show. He has authority over the world, and he has authority over your world. Your date of birth, your date of death. Your mood swings, sleep patterns, eating habits, your salary. He’s never surprised, he’s never caught off guard. He’s never ever uttered the phrase, “ Now how did that happen?”

Uproot your fear of pandemonium and replant the assuring promise: “God makes everything work out according to his plan” (Ephesians 1:11 NLT).

Read more Tame Your Thoughts: Three Tools to Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

After Kat learned she was pregnant, she dropped out of high school to care for her daughter. Fifteen years later, Kat was a working mother of three who dreamed of becoming a licensed beautician. With humility and tenacity, she became a student again in a free GED support program. It was humbling to go back to school after so long, but worth it. “This program changed my life!” Kat said. “My teacher was amazing and offered so much encouragement.”

Remaining teachable may be one of the most difficult things we can do. The Bible speaks of having a teachable heart that’s open to God’s wisdom. The poetry of Proverbs paints a picture of two women calling out to passersby—wisdom and folly (Proverbs 9:1-6;13-18). Those who listen to wisdom receive correction with grace. They “add to their learning” and become even wiser (v. 9). They habitually “walk in the way of insight” (v. 6) and seat themselves at wisdom’s table for instruction. Their obedience leads to a full life (v. 11). In contrast, those who listen to folly hate being corrected or criticized. They insult anyone who tries to instruct them (vv. 7-8). Humility comes from fearing God—acknowledging that He is “the Holy One” and we are not (v. 10). It’s not easy to stay teachable, but it also brings freedom to admit we don’t know it all and we still need help. Wisdom calls to us. How will we respond?

Visit www.joniradio.org for more inspiration and encouragement!

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Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible.

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org.

Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

Satan hates to see you pray. He does not scatter when you listen to a sermon. Demons do not backpedal when you perform acts of benevolence.  The principalities of hell are not flustered when you open a Christian book.  But the walls of hell shake when, with an honest heart and faithful confession, you bow your head and pray. Satan knows the power of prayer.

Do you long for peace? Then pray. “Prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long” (Ephesians 6:18 MSG). You cannot control events that are uncontrollable, so don’t try. You cannot change the future as long as the future is in the future, so don’t try. There is so much we cannot do. But there is one thing we must do. We must pray.

Read more Tame Your Thoughts: Three Tools to Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.