Peace in His Presence

Learning to Be Still: A Prayer for Anxious Hearts

Are your thoughts spiraling with worry and anxious “what ifs”? In this episode of Peace in His Presence, we pray through Psalm 46:10 — “Be still and know that I am God” — and discover how God’s peace can calm anxious hearts and bring rest when life feels uncertain. This episode prepares us for the Be Still Series with a simple yet powerful prayer for when your heart feels anxious. You’ll hear how learning to “be still” in God’s presence helps stop anxious thought spirals, quiet your restless heart, and remind you that God holds all things together. Whether you’re facing a difficult decision, weighed down by anxiety, or simply longing for rest, this prayer will help you: Pause and breathe in God’s presence Release your need to control every outcome Remember God’s promises of peace in Scripture Trust Him to hold your heart in uncertain times ✨ This episode is especially for anyone searching for peace in anxiety, Christian prayers for worry, or how to trust God when life feels overwhelming. Take a deep breath, friend. Let’s learn to be still together and rest in God’s presence. 📖 Scripture: Psalm 46:10 — “Be still and know that I am God.” Resources Mentioned: FREE Thought Spiral Quiz: Discover which rut you are stuck in. . . Promised Hope: Finding Peace in God's Faithfulness Promised Rest: Finding Peace in God's Presence Free 50 Minute Consultation Call With Michelle Connect With Michelle: Michelle's Webiste

When Worry Takes Over: Breaking the Anxiety Spiral

In a world of constant uncertainty and overwhelming news cycles, it's no wonder anxiety feels like it's taking over. Many of us find our worry spirals spinning completely out of control, leaving us exhausted and afraid. What do you do when fear hijacks your body at 1 AM, trying to control something happening 4,000 miles away? In this episode, I share my raw, honest story of the night I tried to manage my son's flight delay from Iowa - and what it taught me about breaking free from the anxiety patterns that keep us trapped. In This Episode, You'll Discover: Why your worry thoughts are like "well-worn ruts" in your brain How God's Word can literally create new neural pathways The difference between reasonable concern and paralyzing control Practical steps to break the anxiety spiral when worry takes over Scripture-based tools that actually work in real-time If you're exhausted from trying to control outcomes you can't manage, lying awake at night consumed by "what if" thoughts, or feeling hijacked by fear in uncertain times, this episode offers hope and practical help. Featured Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7 - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Resources Mentioned: FREE Thought Spiral Quiz: Discover which rut you are stuck in. . . Promised Hope: Finding Peace in God's Faithfulness Promised Rest: Finding Peace in God's Presence Free 50 Minute Consultation Call With Michelle Connect With Michelle: Michelle's Webiste

Mama, When You Can't Hold Them in Your Arms, Hold Them in Your Prayers

Does your mama heart ache when your child leaves? You're not alone. If you've ever watched your child drive away and felt your heart break a little, this episode is for you. Michelle shares her tender goodbye with her son Matthew as he heads to his senior year of college, and offers three practical tools to help you navigate the beautiful, painful journey of letting go with love. What You'll Learn: ✨ Why being a "50-50 mom" is actually perfect (and gives you permission to stop trying to be perfect) ✨ The hero vs. victim mindset - how treating your child as the hero of their story creates connection instead of control ✨ Selah Moments - a simple way to stay connected without being controlling (plus the neuroscience behind why this works!) ✨ The power of release - what burdens you're carrying that were never meant for you ✨ A beautiful prayer based on Psalm 121 where you can insert your child's name Perfect for Mamas Who: 💙 Feel anxious when their children leave home 💙 Struggle with wanting to control outcomes for their kids 💙 Wonder if they're "doing motherhood right" 💙 Have a child leaving for college, starting school, or any major transition 💙 Want to connect with their children without being controlling 💙 Need comfort for their aching mama heart Key Timestamps: [00:00] Michelle's tender goodbye to Matthew [02:00] Why being a "50-50 mom" is perfectly okay [04:00] The box story - when mama anxiety takes over [07:00] Hero vs. Victim: How we see our children matters [10:00] Selah Moments for connection instead of control [13:00] Release: What you're carrying that isn't yours [14:00] A mother's prayer using Psalm 121 Episode Highlights: "All of motherhood is loving them enough to let them go." "When we can't hold them in our arms, we can hold them in our prayers." "Your heart has been in training for this moment. The ache won't break you." "I'm a 50-50 mom and it's okay. I'm 50% great mom and 50% 'well, that didn't work' mom." Resources Mentioned: 📖 Promised Hope by Michelle Diercks - Written during her first year of empty nesting, filled with truths and names of God that bring comfort to weary mama hearts 🙏 Psalm 121 - A beautiful prayer for your children's protection and God's watchful care 📱 Selah Moments - Connect with your children by sharing daily favorite moments Connect with Michelle: 🌐 Website: [Your website] 📧 Newsletter: [Newsletter signup] For the Mama Whose Heart is Breaking: Sweet mama, if you found this episode because your heart is aching as you watch your child grow up and away, please know you're not alone. Every mama walking this earth knows the bittersweet pain of loving someone so much you have to let them go. Your tears are holy. Your heartbreak is love. And your willingness to release them into God's hands is the bravest thing you'll ever do. Keywords for SEO: Empty nest syndrome, letting go of children, mama heart aching, sending kids to college, motherhood anxiety, control and parenting, connecting with adult children, prayer for children, Psalm 121 for mothers, Christian parenting, mama guilt, loving through letting go, first day of school emotions, helicopter parenting recovery Leave a Review: If this episode spoke to your mama heart, would you leave a review? Your words help other aching mama hearts find the comfort they need. ❤️ Remember, dear mama: When you can't hold them in your arms, you can always hold them in your prayers.

Finding Rest For Your Soul In the Middle of the Storm.

Are you exhausted from trying to control the storms in your life? Searching for rest that seems impossible to find when everything feels chaotic? In this episode, you'll discover how to find genuine rest for your soul - not after the storm passes, but right in the middle of it..." In this episode, author and certified Christian life coach Michelle Diercks shares the life-changing difference between external control and internal safety. Through a powerful story from her days as a 19-year-old camp counselor caught in an unexpected storm, Michelle reveals why our attempts to create safety through control always fail - and what actually works instead. What You'll Learn: Why anxiety isn't love (it's exhaustion wearing a responsibility costume) The difference between external control and internal safety Michelle's Five Rs framework for finding peace in the middle of life's storms How to stop carrying burdens that were never yours to carry Why "being strong" might actually be keeping you from feeling safe Biblical principles for finding rest when life feels out of control Perfect for people who: Struggle with anxiety and the need to control outcomes Feel responsible for everyone else's happiness and safety Are exhausted from trying to manage what they can't actually manage Want to learn how to trust God practically, not just theoretically Are ready to stop trying to be God (because you're terrible at it, and He's not hiring) Michelle shares vulnerable stories from her own journey of learning to let go, including her recent middle-of-the-night attempt to "fix" her son's flight connection from Iowa to Spain. Spoiler alert: it didn't work, but it taught her (again) about the freedom that comes from surrendering control. Featured Resources: Promised Hope: Trusting in God's Faithfulness by Michelle Diercks Free weekly newsletter with practical tools for anxious hearts Information about Michelle's coaching and free consultation calls Key Bible Verses Discussed: Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 63:7-8 - "My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me" Memorable Quotes from This Episode: "If chocolate solved problems, mine would be gone - both the chocolate AND the problems!" "You're not broken. You're just tired from doing a job that was never yours." "Your anxiety isn't love. It's exhaustion wearing a responsibility costume." "Stop trying to be God. You're terrible at it, and He's not hiring." Whether you're a mom worried about adult children, a woman trying to manage everyone's emotions, or someone who just can't seem to stop trying to control outcomes, this episode offers hope and practical tools for finding real safety - the kind that doesn't depend on perfect circumstances. Connect with Michelle: Website: michellediercks.com Newsletter signup: [link] Book: Promised Hope: Finding Peace in God's Faithfulness        

Hope for When You Can't Fix What Feels Broken

Hope for When You Can't Fix What Feels Broken Show Notes Episode Summary Has your heart ever felt so broken that you didn't know how you were going to move forward? In this deeply personal episode, Michelle shares a story from her book Promised Hope about a season when her heart felt completely shattered - and what God did in that broken place. If you're struggling with overwhelming heartbreak, whether from recent tragedies like the devastating Texas floods, personal loss, church hurt, or circumstances that feel impossible, this episode offers hope and a path forward when everything feels unfixable. What You'll Hear in This Episode The Kitchen Table Story Michelle shares the raw reality of resigning from her job as Director of Christian Education just one month after her wedding, and how she and her husband Troy processed overwhelming grief by walking circles around their farmhouse kitchen table. When Everything Falls Apart at Once Sometimes life doesn't give us just one devastating blow - it's tragedy upon tragedy. Michelle explores what happens when we're carrying not just our own heartbreak, but the pain of an entire community (over 200 people left their church during this season). The Fog of Grief What it really feels like when you're "trying to wade through deep fog" and don't know how to move forward. Michelle describes the physical and emotional weight of compound grief. God me them in Worship How God met them week after week at a sister church through His Word, the Lord's Supper, and a loving pastor who told them "you'll know when you're ready to serve again." "Mended" - A Prayer for the Brokenhearted Michelle closes with a beautiful prayer she wrote years later about bringing our brokenness to God's house and leaving mended by His gifts of hope, love, joy, grace, peace, and strength. Key Quotes from This Episode "We kept stumbling into the same painful realization: we couldn't fix anything." "We can't mend our own broken hearts. We try - we pace, we overthink, we cling to control - but the pieces won't fit back together by our own hands." "God is the giver, and you're the receiver. You can go to the Lord's house just as you are." Why This Episode Matters Right Now With recent tragedies like the Texas flooding that took the lives of precious children at Camp Mystic, many of us are carrying heartbreak that feels too heavy to bear. This episode speaks to anyone who: Feels overwhelmed by current events and personal circumstances Is processing church hurt or spiritual trauma Has experienced multiple losses or "compound grief" Wonders where God is in the midst of overwhelming pain Needs permission to simply receive (not serve) during a difficult season Is looking for hope when everything feels broken Scripture References Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden..." Psalm 34:18 - "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted..." Resources Mentioned Books: Promised Hope: Finding Peace in God's Faithfulness by Michelle Diercks Promised Rest: Finding Peace in God's Presence by Michelle Diercks  Connect with Michelle: Promise Notes Newsletter - Weekly encouragement and hope Free 50-Minute Consultation - Christian life coaching for those who need someone to walk alongside them during difficult seasons Website: michellediercks.com   Discussion Questions for Small Groups Have you ever experienced a season where multiple heartbreaking things happened at once? How did you process those emotions? Michelle describes feeling like she was "wading through deep fog." What metaphor would you use to describe overwhelming grief? What does it mean that "God is the giver and we are the receivers" in worship? How might this perspective change how we approach church when we're hurting? Michelle and Troy had to learn to simply receive rather than serve during their healing season. Why is this often difficult for Christians? How can the church better support people who are carrying "compound grief" or multiple heartbreaks? Takeaways It's okay to not know how to move forward when your heart is shattered Sometimes we need to simply receive God's gifts rather than try to serve God meets us in worship even when all we bring is our brokenness Healing happens in community, not isolation Our broken places can become our most beautiful offerings Tags #Hope #Heartbreak #ChurchHurt #Grief #Healing #ChristianEncouragement #Faith #PeaceInHisPresence #PromisedHope #Worship #GodsPresence #ChristianLifeCoach #Mended #Brokenness