# 029 | The Best Laid Plans: Sandra Hartlieb's Story of Finding Worth Beyond Work

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/god-s-power-stories-finding-god-s-lead-how-god-shows-up-bible-and-everyday-life-stories-approaching-god-with-boldness-7102580/029-the-best-laid-plans-sandra-hartlieb-s-story-of-finding-worth-beyond-work
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/god-s-power-stories-finding-god-s-lead-how-god-shows-up-bible-and-everyday-life-stories-approaching-god-with-boldness-7102580/029-the-best-laid-plans-sandra-hartlieb-s-story-of-finding-worth-beyond-work.md
Podcast: [God’s Power Stories | Finding God’s Lead, How God Shows Up, Bible and Everyday Life Stories, Approaching God with Boldness](https://stenobird.com/podcast/god-s-power-stories-finding-god-s-lead-how-god-shows-up-bible-and-everyday-life-stories-approaching-god-with-boldness-7102580)
Published: 2025-05-13T12:18:19+00:00
Episode link: https://rss.com/podcasts/gods-power-stories/2927515
Audio file: https://content.rss.com/episodes/391520/2927515/gods-power-stories/2026_06_19_11_01_22_756cf2a7-ffee-4aac-8347-e14bde1288ee.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/god-s-power-stories-finding-god-s-lead-how-god-shows-up-bible-and-everyday-life-stories-approaching-god-with-boldness-7102580/episodes/029-the-best-laid-plans-sandra-hartlieb-s-story-of-finding-worth-beyond-work
Duration seconds: 1531

## Resource

Hi there, friend! In this moving episode, I interview Sandra Hartlieb, a legally blind storyteller, speaker, and author who brings biblical characters to life through first-person dramatic portrayals. Sandra shares her powerful journey from Broadway dreams to professional theater, through devastating vision loss, to discovering her true calling and identity. Born with severe vision impairment, Sandra wore "Coke bottle glasses" as a child and eventually needed a cornea transplant. Despite pursuing theater at Indiana University and winning awards for acting and directing, she realized professional theater wasn't aligned with her faith. Years later, while thriving in her "dream job" advocating for people with disabilities, Sandra had to surrender her driver's license in 2009—ending not just her independence but her career. The depression that followed was so severe her doctor referred her to a psychologist. During one session, the therapist asked about Sandra's grandchildren: "Didn't you love them from the moment they were born? Why? They hadn't done anything." That question became Sandra's breakthrough moment—realizing her worth wasn't tied to her accomplishments but to being a "daughter of the King." Now in full-time ministry since 2023, Sandra travels (with her husband driving) performing as Mary, Peter's mother-in-law, the Jewish midwife Pua, and other biblical women, transporting audiences to ancient villages and wedding feasts through intimate storytelling. Key Takeaways: "We can make our plans, but God directs our steps" (Proverbs 16:9) - Even when walking in God's will, He may redirect you to something better Your worth isn't in what you do - Like grandchildren loved before accomplishing anything, God loves us simply because we're His children Open your hands to r…

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