Peace in His Presence: Hope for the Anxious Heart

You've been worrying about them for months. Maybe years. And here's what all that worry has fixed: nothing. Not their pain. Not their situation. Not the ache in your chest that shows up every time your phone rings. You know worrying doesn't fix it. You know that. And yet you cannot stop. You replay the conversations. You brace for the next phone call. You carry their pain home with you and set it right down on your kitchen table like it belongs there. Friend — this episode is for you. What This Episode Is About In this episode of the When You Cannot Fix It summer series, we're talking about what happens when you love someone so much that their pain becomes yours — and your nervous system simply will not rest until it's resolved. This is the invisible backpack. And most of us have been stuffing it full for years. We talk about why we do this — not just out of love, but because sitting with someone else's pain is deeply uncomfortable. We talk about the real neuroscience behind why your body replays their story again and again. And we talk about what to do instead — practically, not just spiritually. This isn't about caring less. It's about learning to carry less. What Christian Women Are Searching For — And What Jesus Says So many Christian women are carrying burdens that were never theirs to carry. Worry that belongs to God. Pain that belongs to someone else. Problems they were never designed to solve. Maybe you recognize yourself here: • You absorb the emotions of everyone around you — phone calls leave you heavy for days • You replay conversations looking for the thing you could have said that would have fixed it • You live under what I call "doom clouds". • You cannot rest until everyone around you is okay • You tell yourself you're just being a good friend, a good mom, a good daughter — and you're exhausted That is not weak faith. That is not a character flaw. That is a nervous system that has been working overtime — protecting you and the people you love. And Jesus meets you right there. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." — Matthew 11:28 He is not saying — stop worrying and then come. He is saying — come. Weary. Burdened. Carrying what isn't yours. Just come. The Story Behind This Episode Years ago I had a friend who was carrying some of the heaviest things a person can carry. She would call me and I would listen — and I was always honored to listen. But here's what I didn't realize I was doing. Every time we hung up the phone, I felt a deep ache in my heart. I replayed what she had told me. Not just praying about it — thought looping. Spinning. Trying to figure out a way to fix her pain. And here's the honest truth of why we do this. We tell ourselves we are trying to help. And we are. But we also want to fix it so that we feel better too. Because sitting with someone else's pain is uncomfortable. And when we take it on, we feel it too. It took me a long time to learn this: sometimes people stay stuck. And carrying their stuckness is not helping them. It is absolutely exhausting you. I also share in this episode about the doom clouds I was living under with my kids — how they would call me from college, unpack the hard things, and then go live their best lives while I sat back in Iowa under the weight of what they had already set down. This is not a tidy lesson from the other side of healed. This is a real story from a woman who is still learning to lay it down. What You Will Discover in This Episode If you are a Christian woman struggling with worry, anxiety, or the exhausting need to fix people you love — here is what this episode will give you: • Why your brain absorbs other people's pain — and why that is not a spiritual failure • The simple neuroscience behind why replaying someone's story puts your body in fight or flight again and again • The invisible backpack — and what you have been quietly stuffing into it • The one question that has changed everything: What am I trying to carry that is not mine? • A practical way to bring what you are carrying to the foot of the cross — and actually leave it there • An introduction to the Joy Pause — learning to stay present with what is actually here instead of time-traveling into worry Scriptures Referenced in This Episode 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." Not some of it. Not just your own anxiety. All of it — including the worry you absorbed from someone else's phone call. Philippians 4:8 "Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — think about such things." After you lay it down — what do you pick back up? Not the replay. Not the what-ifs. Truth. His promises. What is actually lovely and real right now. Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Free Resource — Weary Traveler Reflection and Prayer Guide I made something for you. It is completely free. The Weary Traveler: Rest for the Over-Carrying Soul Reflection and Prayer Guide will walk you gently through eight reflection questions and a prayer of release — right to the foot of the cross with whatever you are carrying today. If you are already on my email list it is on its way to you. If not — download it free right here. 👉 [Prayer Guide] Ready to Go Deeper? Sometimes a podcast episode is a beautiful starting place — and sometimes what you really need is someone to sit with you. Someone to hold space and actually listen. That is what I do as a Master Certified Christian Life Coach. I would love to invite you to pull up a chair. I'm calling these sessions At the Kitchen Table with Michelle. It's a free consultation call — no strings attached, no pressure, no obligation. Just a conversation, some practical faith-based coaching tools, and a safe place to start. 👉 At the Kitchen Table with Michelle — Book Your Free Call About Michelle Diercks Michelle Diercks is a Master Certified Christian Life Coach, speaker, and the author of Promised Rest and Promised Hope published by Concordia Publishing House. She is the host of the Peace in His Presence podcast and lives on a farm in Eastern Iowa with her husband Troy. Michelle helps anxious Christian women find peace through faith, neuroscience, and practical coaching tools — not from a place of having it all figured out, but from right beside them in the middle of it. Subscribe and Share If this episode spoke to something you've been carrying — would you share it with one woman who needs to hear it? You never know whose invisible backpack is packed a little too full right now. Find Peace in His Presence on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and everywhere you listen. New episodes dropping all summer. We are going on this journey together — one week at a time, one thing at a time, learning to lay it all down. You were never meant to carry all of this, friend. And you don't have to. Connect with Michelle 🌐 michellediercks.com 📖 Promised Rest and Promised Hope — available wherever books are sold

Are you in the middle of a broken dream right now? Wondering if God sees you, if healing will ever come, or if you'll survive this pain? In this episode, discover how God meets you exactly where you are—in the pacing, the tears, the unanswered questions. Learn how your brain creates thought ruts during grief and how God's Word can create new pathways to peace. Your broken places might be exactly where God's light will shine brightest. What You'll Discover in This Episode: If You're Living with a Broken Dream Right Now: You'll learn: Why your brain keeps replaying the same painful thoughts (and what you can do about it) How to recognize the "thought ruts" that are keeping you stuck in grief You'll discover: That showing up matters—even when you can't feel God's presence yet How God uses the "ordinary" (like Sunday worship) to do extraordinary healing work Why your breaking might be the beginning of something more beautiful than your original dream That healing isn't linear, instant, or neat—and that's okay You're not failing because you're still hurting If You're Wondering If Healing Will Ever Come: You'll gain hope that: God doesn't look at your broken pieces and shake His head in disappointment Your service, calling, or purpose isn't over just because this dream died Time + God's presence = transformation (even if it takes 26 years) The cracks in your story might become the most beautiful part God is doing Kintsugi work in your life right now—filling your broken places with His gold If You Need to Remember God's Faithfulness: You'll be reminded: God was faithful in your past—even when you couldn't see it at the time To look back and notice where He met you in your wilderness That He's been rewriting your thought patterns through His Word all along Your story isn't finished yet—God is still making all things new The places where you felt most broken are now where you have the most compassion for others This Episode Is For You If: ✓ You're grieving a ministry dream that didn't turn out the way you hoped ✓ You've experienced church hurt and wonder if you'll ever heal ✓ You're stuck in thought spirals about what you "should have" done differently ✓ You feel like a failure because your calling looked different than you planned ✓ You're exhausted from trying to hold everything together ✓ You need permission to grieve without rushing to "get over it" ✓ You're wondering if God can still use broken people (spoiler: He specializes in it) ✓ You're pacing your own kitchen table right now, processing pain too big for words ✓ You need to hear that you're not alone in the messy middle What Makes This Episode Different: This isn't about: Quick fixes or 3 easy steps to healing Pretending everything's fine when it's not Spiritual bypassing your real pain Comparison (her healing vs. your timeline) This IS about: God's patient, faithful presence in the long journey Permission to be human while trusting God Real tools (thought work, Be Still prayer, Scripture) that help Honest faith that makes room for grief AND hope Remembering you're God's beloved daughter, even in the breaking You'll Walk Away With: 🧠 Understanding of how your brain works: How "thought ruts" form and why they feel so permanent How God's Word literally rewires your neural pathways Tools to recognize when you're spiraling vs. when you're healing 💎 The Kintsugi Perspective: What this Japanese art teaches about redemption Why your cracks don't need to be hidden How breaking and mending are part of your story, not failures in your story Permission to see beauty in what feels ruined 🙏 Practical Prayer Tools: The Be Still Prayer using God's name "Yahweh Rafa" (The God Who Heals) How to receive what God offers when you don't feel worthy Where to find God when you can't sense His presence How to sit with grief without letting it become your identity 📖 Scripture That Anchors: Psalm 147:3 - "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" How to let God's Word create new pathways when old thoughts won't stop Why showing up to receive His gifts matters (even when you can't feel it working) Your Reflection Journey: As you listen, consider these questions: About Your Story: What dream are you grieving right now? What thought ruts has your brain created about what happened? Where have you been pacing your own "kitchen table"? About God's Presence: Looking back, where was God meeting you when you couldn't feel Him? What "ordinary" places has He used to do extraordinary healing work in your life? Where are you receiving His gifts right now (worship, communion, His Word)? About Your Future: What if your broken dream isn't the end of your story—just the middle? What if the cracks are exactly where God's light will shine brightest? What new thing might God be making that you can't see yet? Here's the Truth You Need to Hear: Your broken dream doesn't mean: ❌ You failed ❌ God is disappointed in you ❌ Your calling is over ❌ Something's wrong with you ❌ You should have done it differently ❌ You're too broken to be used Your broken dream might mean: ✓ God is doing something you can't see yet ✓ The gold is being prepared for your cracks ✓ Your most compassionate ministry is being birthed through your pain ✓ You're learning to trust instead of control ✓ Your story is becoming one only you can tell ✓ You're exactly where God can meet you most intimately What Happens Next: After you listen to this episode, you might: Feel seen and less alone in your grief Have language for what you've been experiencing ("thought ruts!") Notice where God has been present all along Feel permission to grieve without shame Have hope that healing is possible (even if it takes time) Want to look at your own story through the Kintsugi lens Feel ready to receive what God is offering you today Take the Next Step: If this episode resonates with you: 📧 Book a Free 50-Minute Coaching Session You don't have to walk through this alone. In our time together, we'll: Explore the thought patterns keeping you stuck Discover where God is meeting you right now Create practical tools using God's Word to build new neural pathways Hold space for your grief while moving toward hope These sessions alone have helped so many women. [Schedule here: Link] A Note from Michelle: Friend, if you're listening to this episode in the middle of your own broken dream—while you're pacing your kitchen table, crying in your car, or wondering if you'll survive this—I want you to know: You're not alone. God sees you. Your dream falling apart doesn't mean YOU'RE falling apart. The cracks are where the light gets in. I've been where you are. I know that soul-deep exhaustion of holding everything together. I know what it's like to wonder if God is even there when your prayers aren't answered the way you begged. And I can tell you from 26 years on the other side: He was there. He is here. He's doing Kintsugi work in your life right now, even if you can't see it yet. Your broken places are becoming your most beautiful. With love and hope for your journey, Michelle Featured Scripture: Psalm 147:3 - "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Revelation 21:5 - "I am making all things new." 2 Corinthians 12:9 - "My power is made perfect in weakness." Resources Mentioned: 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 Website About Peace in His Presence: This podcast is a space where we pause together, take a deep breath, and rest in the truth of who God is and who we are in Him. Each episode walks through God's Word and real stories of His redemption, learning how to be still, notice His presence, and live from His promised joy. Your host, Michelle Diercks, is a Christian life coach, speaker, and author passionate about helping women move from anxiety to peace, from control to trust, and from broken dreams to beautiful purpose. Currently completing Master Coach certification, Michelle integrates faith, neuroscience, and practical tools for transformation.

How to Stop Anxious Thoughts at Night: A Practical Christian Approach Episode Description Do anxious thoughts keep you awake at 3 AM? Does your brain replay worst-case scenarios on repeat? You're not broken—your brain is just stuck in worry ruts. In this episode, I share a powerful coaching tool called a thought download, combined with biblical truth about God as your refuge, that will help you see your anxious thoughts clearly and start creating new neural pathways through God's Word. In This Episode You'll Learn: What thought ruts are and how they keep you stuck in worry patterns The neuroscience behind anxious thinking (and why it's not your fault) A 4-step thought download tool to get racing thoughts out of your head How God's Word literally rewires your brain to create new pathways Why El Shaddai (God Almighty) is your refuge when thoughts feel overwhelming The connection between thoughts, feelings, and actions (the creation cycle) Episode Highlights: [02:00] The Target story: How a simple mistake during COVID sent me into a catastrophic worry spiral [04:30] Understanding thought ruts: Why your brain keeps traveling down the same anxious pathways [06:00] Meet El Shaddai: The name of God that means "God Almighty and Sufficient" [07:30] The 4-step thought download tool that helps you process anxious thoughts [12:00] How to create new neural pathways through Scripture meditation The 4-Step Thought Download Tool: Set your timer for 10 minutes - Create a container for your thoughts Write continuously without stopping - Pour out everything, even the ugly thoughts Remember who's with you - El Shaddai holds space for your tangled thoughts Notice the patterns - What ruts do you see? Control? Worry? Shame? Key Scripture Referenced: Psalm 91:1-2 - "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty" Philippians 4:6-7 - God's peace guards our hearts and minds when we pray instead of worry 2 Corinthians 12:9 - "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" Struggling with Anxious Thoughts? Here's How I Can Help: 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 Website Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/brock-hewitt-stories-in-sound/happiness License code: E0ZCA2UDHWIGGI98 Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/brock-hewitt-stories-in-sound/through-darkness License code: 33GV8YJPLGMDFUEE

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: 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 Website

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

A short bonus episode.

Show Notes: In this episode: - Middle-of-the-night worries and uncertainty in life's transitions - Michelle shares her journey through Troy's health challenges - Reading from "Promised Hope" about finding refuge in God's promises - Introduction to Christian Life Coaching and its transformative impact - Special invitation for a complimentary 30-minute discovery call (Feb 20-28) Key Points: - Dealing with aging parents, adult children, and health challenges - Learning to find peace in God's promises during uncertain times - How thoughts create feelings and actions - Overview of the Unshakeable Hope group coaching program Resources Mentioned: - Book: "Promised Hope: Finding Peace in God's Faithfulness" - Scripture: Psalm 62:5-8 - Website: michellediercks.com/contact Special Offer: Schedule your free 30-minute discovery call (Feb 20-28) to: - Learn more about the Unshakeable Hope group coaching program - Experience a mini coaching session - Ask questions about Christian Life Coaching Connect with Michelle: [Website and social media links] Would you like me to add or adjust anything in these show notes?

Episode Overview: Guest host Sharla Fritz interviews Michelle about Chapter 4 of her new book "Promised Hope," exploring the concept of God as our rock in times of uncertainty. Notable Quotes: - "Even though my world felt shaken, I knew God could see beyond the uncertainty of this moment. God held everything together." - "Jesus as our rock will never be taken away. It cannot be destroyed." - "If he's helped me in those ways in the past, won't he continue to do that in the future? And the answer is yes." Key Discussion Points: - Michelle's personal experience with her husband's hospitalization led to deeper reflection on God as our rock - The contrast between temporary foundations (money, health, relationships) vs. God as our unshakable foundation - The concept of "Selah moments" - sacred pauses to ground ourselves in God's presence - Story of Michelle's childhood experience with "fool's gold" and learning valuable lessons about true treasure Scripture Focus: - Psalm 62:5-8 - "He only is my rock and my salvation..." - Psalm 18:1-2 - David's personal declarations of God as his rock, fortress, and deliverer Practical Application - The Five R's of Reflection: 1. Rejoice - Practice gratitude and praise 2. Release - Let go of things we're holding too tightly 3. Reframe - Look at situations through the lens of God's character 4. Remember - Recall God's past faithfulness 5. Rest - Find peace in God's promises and presence Book Details: - Title: "Promised Hope: Finding Peace in God's Faithfulness" - Structure: 8 weeks of study, with 5 daily readings per week - Suitable for: Individual devotion, small groups, Bible studies, book clubs - Available at: CPH.org/promisedhope and Amazon Additional Resources: - Free first chapter available at CPH.org/promisedhope - Order on Amazon Tired of feeling stuck in winter weariness? Join me for this transformative workshop where you'll discover: ✨ Why your thoughts might be keeping you trapped in weariness ✨ How to begin shifting from overwhelm to hope ✨ Simple tools to experience more joy in your daily life ✨ The peace that comes from resting in God's faithfulness When: Monday, January 27th at 7:00 p.m. CST Registration - Limited Spots Available! Please sign up for the workshop below to be added to the email list to receive the information. Important: Please check your spam folder if you don't receive your confirmation email. Click here ➡️ to sign up for the workshop!