Peace in His Presence

• 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

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

  _*]:min-w-0 !gap-3.5"> 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.

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

  div]:bg-bg-000/50 [&_pre>div]:border-0.5 [&_pre>div]:border-border-400 [&_.ignore-pre-bg>div]:bg-transparent [&>div>div>:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&>div>div>:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8"> _*]:min-w-0"> 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     div]:bg-bg-000/50 [&_pre>div]:border-0.5 [&_pre>div]:border-border-400 [&_.ignore-pre-bg>div]:bg-transparent [&>div>div>:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&>div>div>:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8"> _*]:min-w-0">    

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• 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  

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• When Worry Won't Stop: How God Renews Your Mind

    Do you find yourself caught in a cycle of worry that seems impossible to break? In this episode of the Peace in His Presence podcast, Michelle Diercks shares her personal journey with anxious thoughts and reveals powerful biblical truths about breaking free from worry patterns. Through personal stories, scripture insights, and practical tools, Michelle explains how our brains create "worry ruts" and—most importantly—how God's Word provides the pathway to renewing our minds. Discover how neuroplasticity aligns with biblical truth and learn specific practices to transform your thought life. In This Episode You'll Learn: The science behind why our brains get stuck in worry patterns (50,000-60,000 thoughts daily!) The critical difference between healthy concern and unhealthy worry Key scriptures that address thought life transformation (Philippians 4:8, Romans 12:2) How modern neuroscience confirms what scripture has taught for thousands of years Practical tools to redirect anxious thoughts through scripture meditation A powerful prayer framework for surrendering worries to God Scripture Mentioned: Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable..." Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Matthew 6:25-34 - Jesus' teaching on worry and God's provision Isaiah 26:3 - "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you." Psalm 23:1 - "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing." Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God." 2 Corinthians 10:5 - Taking captive every thought Philippians 4:6-7 - Prayer and the peace that transcends understanding John 15 - Abiding in Christ Resources: Promised Rest: Finding Peace in God's Presence - Michelle's first book explores eight names and characteristics of God that reveal His peace-giving nature. Promised Hope: Finding Peace in God's Faithfulness - Michelle's second book focuses on God's faithfulness in all circumstances. Free consultation call - Contact Michelle about Christian life coaching to help with anxious thought patterns Peace in His Presence Podcast - Subscribe for more episodes about finding peace in God's promises Connect with Michelle: Website: michellediercks.com About Michelle: Michelle Diercks is a Christian life coach, speaker, author, Bible teacher, and Women's Ministry retreat leader. Her books "Promised Rest: Finding Peace in God's Presence" and "Promised Hope: Finding Peace in God's Faithfulness" have helped women discover God's peace even through life's uncertainties. As host of the Peace in His Presence podcast (recognized as a Top 50 Mom Podcast by Podcast Magazine for three consecutive years), Michelle reaches listeners in 95 countries with encouragement from God's Word. She lives on a farm in Eastern Iowa with her husband, and they have two sons who are studying to become pastors. Did This Episode Resonate With You? If you found this episode helpful, please share it with someone who might be struggling with worry or anxious thoughts. Remember, be still and know that He is God. Until next time, may God's peace guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Keywords: worry, anxiety, thought patterns, neuroplasticity, renewing mind, biblical peace, worry ruts, Christian mental health, anxious thoughts, scripture meditation, Bible study, God's presence, Michelle Diercks

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