What To Do When Grief Shows Up
Peace in His Presence
Grief doesn't follow a schedule. It shows up in the grocery store aisle, while looking through recipes, when you hear a certain song. And during the holidays, grief can feel even more intense. In this final episode of the Be Still series, I'm sharing what I've learned about welcoming grief instead of trying to fix it—and how Immanuel (God WITH us) meets us right in the middle of our pain. You'll discover: • Why "small" griefs matter just as much as "big" ones • The REST framework for processing grief when it catches you off guard • How to hold both grief and joy at the same time •...
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The Wonders of His Love: When Christmas Feels Hard
Peace in His Presence
Are you struggling to find joy this Christmas season? Maybe finances are tighter than usual. Maybe there's an empty chair at your table. Maybe you're exhausted from trying to make everything perfect when nothing feels right. You're not alone. In this episode, Michelle shares the beautiful encounter between Mary and Elizabeth - two women holding onto impossible promises - and a personal Christmas story that changed everything she thought about holiday perfection. You'll discover: Why God's promises are unshakeable even when your circumstances feel shaky How to find peace when Christmas...
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The Empty Chair: Coping with Grief During the Holidays
Peace in His Presence
Are you dreading the holidays this year because someone won't be at your table? Maybe someone you love has died. Maybe your kids have grown up and moved away. Maybe traditions are changing and your heart is aching in ways you didn't expect. You're not alone. And you don't have to "get through" this season by gritting your teeth and pretending you're fine. In this episode, you'll discover: ✓ Why trying to plan or control your grief doesn't work (and what to do instead) ✓ How to process grief when it ambushes you unexpectedly—in the grocery store, looking at recipes, or decorating the tree...
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Remember This When You Wonder If You're Enough
Peace in His Presence
Do you struggle with feeling like you're not enough? Are you tired of comparing yourself to others and always coming up short? Does shame whisper that your past, your failures, or your struggles disqualify you from being loved by God? If you've ever wondered "why do I feel like I'm not good enough" or searched for Christian help for overcoming shame, this episode is for you. Today we look at the woman at the well in John 4 - a woman who was hiding in shame, coming to draw water alone at noon so no one would see her. But Jesus saw her. He knew her whole story - five husbands, the man she was...
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When You Struggle With Negative Thinking
Peace in His Presence
Do you wake up to the same negative thoughts every morning? Thoughts like "I'm not enough," "This will never change," or "I'm too broken"? You're not alone, and those thought patterns aren't permanent. In this episode, we explore the story of the woman who bled for 12 years - a woman whose thought patterns ran deep from isolation, suffering, and disappointment. We'll see how one desperate touch changed everything, and how Jesus rewrites our thought patterns with His truth. In This Episode, You'll Discover: Why negative thought patterns feel so permanent (and why they're not) How God's Word...
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When Your Dreams Fall Apart: How God Meets You in the Middle
Peace in His Presence
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...
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How to Process Emotions - What to Do When You Feel Unseen, Unheard, or Unnoticed
Peace in His Presence
Have you ever been told you're "too emotional"? Do you feel unseen, unheard, or unnoticed in your relationships? If you've spent years thinking about your emotions instead of actually feeling them, this episode is for you. In this episode of the Peace and His Presence Podcast, I share my personal story of being told "you will always fail in life because you're too emotional" and how that painful wound led me to spend years stuck in my head, analyzing my emotions instead of processing them. Discover the biblical story of Hagar and El Roi (the God Who Sees) and learn a simple framework for...
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How to Stop Anxious Thoughts at Night: A Practical Christian Approach
Peace in His Presence
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...
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Learning to Be Still: A Prayer for Anxious Hearts
Peace in His Presence
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...
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When Worry Takes Over: Breaking the Anxiety Spiral
Peace in His Presence
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...
info_outlineEpisode 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.