Peace in His Presence: Hope for the Anxious Heart

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.

✨ 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

💙 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

[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

"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."

📖 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

🌐 Website: [Your website] 📧 Newsletter: [Newsletter signup]

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

"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."

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

• Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden..."
• Psalm 34:18 - "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted..."

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

1. Have you ever experienced a season where multiple heartbreaking things happened at once? How did you process those emotions?

2. Michelle describes feeling like she was "wading through deep fog." What metaphor would you use to describe overwhelming grief?

3. 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?

4. Michelle and Troy had to learn to simply receive rather than serve during their healing season. Why is this often difficult for Christians?

5. How can the church better support people who are carrying "compound grief" or multiple heartbreaks?

• 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

#Hope #Heartbreak #ChurchHurt #Grief #Healing #ChristianEncouragement #Faith #PeaceInHisPresence #PromisedHope #Worship #GodsPresence #ChristianLifeCoach #Mended #Brokenness

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.

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Website: michellediercks.com

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.

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

In this powerful episode of the Peace in His Presence podcast, Michelle Dericks explores how choosing strategic silence can become a source of strength when facing false accusations and shame. Drawing from her personal experience with false accusations and the biblical story of Rahab, Michelle reveals how El Chay (The Living God) fights our battles and brings redemption from the most broken places in our lives. As Mother's Day approaches, this timely message offers hope for anyone carrying burdens of shame, inadequacy, or painful circumstances they didn't choose.

• Facing a situation with false accusations and choosing silence as a spiritual strategy
• Learning to surrender her defense to God rather than defending herself
• Finding peace in God's Word and worship during a difficult trial
• Experiencing God's faithfulness as truth eventually came to light

• A woman with a shameful past living in Jericho during impending destruction
• Recognizing the power of the God of Israel and choosing to trust Him
• Hanging a scarlet cord as her thread of hope amid uncertainty
• Being rescued from the rubble and redeemed into God's lineage

• El Chay specializes in transformation and redemption
• Our struggles actually strengthen our ability to help and serve others
• God's grace covers our sins and His love is bigger than our problems
• The power of sharing our stories of redemption to help others

"As the deer pants for water, so my soul longs after you, O God." - Psalm 42

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you." - Isaiah 43:1-2

This message of redemption applies to various life situations:

• For mothers: Finding freedom from parenting mistakes and regrets
• For those falsely accused: Trusting God with your defense
• For those in broken relationships: Finding healing and restoration
• For anyone facing setbacks: Discovering God's redemptive purpose

El Chay meets you right in the middle of your rubble. He doesn't require perfection but offers redemption. Your struggles actually strengthen your ability to serve others as you experience God's redemption firsthand.

If what I've shared today about El Chay who redeems us from brokenness resonates with you, I'd love to continue this conversation. I offer complimentary 50-minute consultation calls where I can listen to what you're going through and help you see a path forward through the lens of God's promises.

Ready to release the shame you've been carrying? Follow the link in the show notes to schedule your complimentary consultation today.

• Michelle's book: "Promised Hope"
• [Schedule your complimentary consultation call with Michelle]

In this transformative episode, Michelle Diercks explores how we can discover deep, lasting peace even during life's most uncertain seasons through understanding the powerful Hebrew name of God "El Chay" (the Living God).

• 00:00 - Welcome and introduction to finding peace in uncertainty
• 01:06 - Addressing the mixed emotions of life transitions
• 02:05 - Introduction to El Chay (the Living God)
• 03:00 - The Israelites' journey into the unknown promised land
• 04:11 - Michelle's personal story of being lost in fog during campus security
• 07:41 - How the Living God walks with us through every uncertain step
• 08:36 - Identifying thoughts that cause anxiety during transitions
• 09:54 - Creating your "stones of remembrance" for future challenges
• 11:18 - Isaiah 43:1-2 as an anchor during uncertain times
• 13:06 - Summer Sessions coaching opportunity introduction
• 16:12 - Closing thoughts on God's presence in uncertainty

In today's episode, Michelle dives into one of the most powerful aspects of faith during seasons of change and uncertainty: the presence of El Chay, the Living God. Whether you're watching your child prepare for college graduation, facing a career change, or navigating any significant life transition, this episode offers biblical wisdom and practical guidance.

Michelle shares the story of Joshua taking leadership from Moses as the Israelites prepared to enter the promised land - a perfect example of stepping into the unknown with God's guidance. God's powerful words to Joshua, "Be strong and courageous...for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go," remain equally relevant for believers today facing their own uncertain territories.

Through Michelle's vulnerable personal story of being lost in fog during her campus security job - alone, without backup, in an unfamiliar area - we experience how the Living God meets us in our moments of complete helplessness. Her testimony of feeling God's presence during this frightening experience offers a powerful reminder that even when we feel lost, we're never lost to God.

This episode provides practical spiritual exercises to help you navigate uncertainty:

• Thought Identification Exercise: Learn to recognize anxious thoughts that spiral during transitions and replace them with God's promises
• Creating Stones of Remembrance: Discover how to document past experiences of God's faithfulness as anchors for future challenges
• Scripture Memorization: Use Isaiah 43:1-2 as a powerful declaration during uncertain times

• Joshua 1:9 - "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened. Do not be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
• Isaiah 43:1-2 - "Fear not for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you."

• Promised Hope: Finding Peace in God's Faithfulness by Michelle Diercks - [LINK TO BOOK]
  • This episode draws specifically from Chapter 5, which explores the name "El Chay" (The Living God)

• Parents watching children transition to new life stages
• Anyone facing significant life changes or decisions
• Those struggling with anxiety about the future
• Christians seeking deeper understanding of God's presence in uncertainty
• Anyone needing encouragement during a difficult season

Michelle is offering "Summer Sessions" coaching - a flexible 8-session package available through September 6th. Unlike standard coaching packages with rigid timeframes, Summer Sessions can be used anytime throughout the summer months, working with your unpredictable schedule.

This transformative opportunity is perfect for:

• College students preparing for a new academic year
• Recent graduates starting careers
• Parents navigating empty nest transitions
• Individuals feeling stuck or uncertain about next steps
• Anyone seeking intentional preparation for fall transitions

During these personalized sessions, Michelle uses powerful coaching tools to:

• Identify what's keeping you stuck in uncertainty
• Process difficult emotions in healthy ways
• Replace anxiety with God's unshakeable promises
• Create practical action plans for your next season

With only 8 spots available, secure your complimentary 50-minute consultation today: [LINK TO CONSULTATION]

In this special Good Friday episode, Michelle invites listeners to reflect on Jesus's sacrifice on the cross and the profound meaning behind His final words, "It is finished."

• Michelle explores the physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering that Jesus endured on the cross
• The meaning behind Jesus's powerful declaration "It is finished" (tetelestai in Greek) as a victor's cry
• Reflection on how Jesus's sacrifice paid our debt in full and secured our salvation
• The assurance that, through faith in Jesus, believers will never experience separation from God
• An invitation to experience Easter joy that can fill our hearts every day

Michelle introduces her new Facebook group, "Selah Sisters," created as a gathering place for women to:

• Pause, reflect, and rest in God's promises (based on Romans 15:13)
• Share insights from Michelle's books "Promised Rest" and "Promised Hope"
• Learn Christian life coaching principles

Click here to join the Facebook Group

In this special Holy Week episode, Michelle Dericks offers a powerful reflection on Jesus's time in the Garden of Gethsemane. Through scripture and personal insights, Michelle helps listeners understand the depth of Christ's suffering and the incredible love behind His sacrifice.

Luke 22:39-46 (with references to parallel accounts in Matthew 26 and Mark 14)

• Jesus experienced extreme anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane, knowing the immense suffering He was about to face
• His agony was so intense that His sweat became like drops of blood (a condition called hematidrosis)
• Jesus took upon Himself not just our individual sins, but the sins of the entire world throughout all time
• Even in His deepest grief, Jesus submitted to the Father's will: "Not my will, but yours be done"
• God sent an angel to strengthen Jesus for the battle ahead
• Jesus endured this suffering because of His deep love for each of us

"If you are facing a trial or suffering in any way, please know that Jesus steps into your suffering with you and helps you to bear your burden. He will give you His strength to face each moment. You will never be alone."

Michelle has created a new Facebook group called "Selah Sisters" based on Romans 15:13. This community is designed as a gathering place where women can:

• Pause, reflect, and rest in God's promises
• Encourage one another
• Share insights from Michelle's books "Promised Rest" and "Promised Hope"
• Learn Christian life coaching principles

Click here to sign up for the group

A short bonus episode.

Episode Summary: Michelle Diercks shares personal insights and biblical wisdom about handling difficult relationships and overcoming bitterness. She discusses lessons learned from Dr. Edie Wadsworth's life mentoring program and her journey toward better relationship management.

Key Points: - Relationships with people are only as good as our thoughts about them - The importance of choosing which thoughts to dwell on - How bitterness and resentment primarily hurt ourselves - Biblical perspective on forgiveness and relationships - Managing recurring hurt from people who haven't apologized

Scripture References: - Ephesians 3:14-20 - Prayer for spiritual strength and understanding Christ's love - Ephesians 4 - Instructions on kindness, compassion, and forgiveness

Notable Quote: "I'm never going to look at someone that God doesn't love just as much as He loves me."

Upcoming Program: - Small Group Coaching Program: "Unshakeable Hope" (Click here) - Consultation calls available February 20-28, 2025 (Click here to schedule) - Program starts March 2nd - Free 30-minute Zoom consultations offered

Contact Information: - Website: michellediercks.com/contact - Available for both group and one-on-one coaching inquiries