Tag Archives: panic

Peace Over Panic in a Pandemic


“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

Mic drop. I was reading yesterday in our Lent study (which has taken us through the book of John and cataloged Jesus’ life on earth), and I got to this verse and stopped. 

Jesus shared these words with His disciples just a few chapters before He was nailed to the cross. He was preparing His disciples for a difficult time and knew they needed to experience peace.

The amazing thing about Jesus’ words is they transcend thousands of years and are still timely for us today. Peace. Jesus says He gives peace. And then follows that up with saying we do not need to be troubled or afraid. I think we all could soak in this encouragement during this season of quarantine.

Sometimes experiencing peace feels a lot harder to do than other times. And right now I’ve struggled to find peace in the midst of so much apprehension going on in the world. I find myself scrolling my newsfeed or checking my news app and then my mind shifts into panic mode. 

I admit I have felt stressed when I have left the bubble of my house. Yesterday we ventured to Costco. I haven’t made a trip out to a store in a while and I could feel my anxiety level rise anticipating the trip. My mind began conjuring up theories of how we could possibly contract the virus just so we could get a package of TP. 

Truthfully, being at the store didn’t produce peace. People wearing masks and gloves reminded me times are different right now. My sensitive heart could hardly handle the stress on everyone’s faces.

When I got back in the car after that trip I told the Lord that I needed Him to give me some peace because I couldn’t be so on edge like this for the next several months. I intellectually knew I didn’t need to panic, but it felt like that was how everyone was reacting, so maybe I should follow the trend. (Not exactly healthy, I know…)

And that is when the verse I read a few days earlier popped back in my head. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

I realized after my panicked errand yesterday that I need to be filling my mind and heart with truth to combat the fears that are rising within me. Like for instance, when I got home, I wrote the encouraging words of John 14 on my chalkboard in the kitchen to remind myself daily. 

How about instead of feasting my mind on news and newsfeeds, I turn my eyes to what God says?

It is not lost on me that Jesus said He doesn’t give peace like the world gives. If we’re watching the news or scrolling our newsfeeds, we are told we will find peace when we are done sheltering in place or when a vaccine is made for COVID-19. 

But can we find peace in the midst of a pandemic? Or a quarantine? Or the unknown? 

Jesus says YES. He tells us to not let our hearts be troubled. Now, that doesn’t mean we never have concern. Or we don’t take appropriate precautions or educate ourselves. But I believe Jesus’ words are encouraging us to not live in fear. To not let the fear consume us. To keep a steady diet of truth.

For me to not let my heart be troubled, I’m going to try to fill myself up with what God says about peace. I have begun searching my Bible for encouraging verses that bring me peace. I wanted to share them with you too. When my fear kicks up in the days ahead, these are the words I am going to return to. What about you? What else would you add to this list?

Holding onto peace together,

Michelle 

 

  • “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3

 

  • “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

 

  • “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6

 

  • “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

 

  • “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs on your head are numbered. So, don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29

 

  • Also a song I have been playing over and over: Peace Be Still by The Belonging Co.

 

 

Finding Peace in Panic

Michelle
Michelle

So my parents came by and picked up Sophie this afternoon and I am going to meet them in a couple of hours. But I am not kidding you, right when I closed the door, I had an intense wave of panic come over me – what if something happens to her?? ?  Do you ever feel this? Please talk me off the ledge.?

Michelle
Jessica
Jessica

Absolutely! I do sometimes get the uncontrollable, irrational fear about my kids, and I’m not even a fearful or worrisome person.

Jessica
Ash

This is so me! It’s not a matter of if I worry about her, but how much and how irrational it’s gonna be.

Laura
Laura

Michelle, when I put Jesse on the bus I have this thought. Not everyday or even every week, but every now and then there is that thought about what could happen. But I am learning if we don’t face this fear head on we will not be able to show our kids we trust them to fly on their own. Or that we trust God to take care of them.

Laura
Michelle
Michelle

That trusting God with my babies is the challenging part if I’m honest and some days it is super hard–like right now.  I just keep praying and asking God to protect and watch over her, and asking Him to speak peace to my heart. Oh, and walking around the house in circles. ?

Michelle
Jessica
Jessica

Well, I know what you mean…this may seem random but I’ll be honest that sometimes  I have this heart-stopping fear that pops up randomly about a shooting happening while I’m at church.  That probably makes me sound like a weirdo or totally morbid. ?

Jessica
Michelle
Michelle

I have weird fears about that too!

Michelle
Laura
Laura

I actually don’t think that’s weird. I think that is God’s wisdom to know what to do if something like that happens so you respond quickly and out of a rational plan instead of fear.

Laura
Jessica
Jessica

I’ve never really thought of it that way, Laura.  When that fear comes up, I tell myself that it is possible, but I also remind myself that thousands upon thousands of churches meet every week without any issues at all.

Jessica
Michelle
Michelle

Okay, you just put to words what I am trying to tell myself right now about Sophie. I am realizing I need to acknowledge this fear but also talk myself through the logical side of things. But most importantly, give it all over to God and trust Him with my babies. (But easier said than done, ya know??)

Michelle
Ash

Yes, so hard! But I think It all comes down to trust. It’s that whole I’m-not-in-control-thing that is at the root of my fears. 

Jessica
Jessica

I agree. If something were to happen (God forbid), I realize I have absolutely no control over it. So I usually just say a prayer to calm my mind and God reminds me that I can’t live in fear because I can trust Him. God doesn’t want me living in fear and missing out on the great stuff this life given to me has to offer.

Jessica
Ash

Yes! When I’m struggling with trusting God in the middle of my crazy worries, I remind myself of the verse in 1 John that says that perfect love casts out fear. God’s love for us is perfect and He loves Millie even more than I do. That helps me get off the worry train because I can rest in that love. 

Michelle
Michelle

So good. I talk to Sophie all of the time about being brave and I need God to continue to help me be brave. I feel like it’s another layer of fear that God wants me to uncover and trust Him with. I thought I already did that. ? ☺️

Michelle
Ash

Well, I’m learning the journey to bravery is a lifelong process! And how many times are we learning God’s truth right alongside our kids?

Jessica
Jessica

So true. I think being brave involves a choice to invite God in. It’s not just something you acquire and you’re good with it. It requires a conscious effort each time you are faced with fear.

Jessica
Laura
Laura

And when you’re faced with the fear, What’s your strategy to fight back? I tend to fight fear with practicality. If the enemy tries to give me something to fear, I say, ok, let’s say that happens, what would I do? If I have a plan or better, God has wisdom to show me a plan, then there’s no foothold for fear.

Laura
Ash

And also it seems like part of fighting fear is not letting it influence all of our decisions or how we live our lives. It seems there’s a connection to the truth we have in our heads that then takes root in our hearts!

Michelle
Michelle

Y’all are wise friends.☺️

What keeps going through my mind is something I heard Beth Moore say— go to the end result. Obviously with the fear of losing a child I don’t even want to think about it but her point is God will walk you through every step even the very worst thing.

And I think it was also her who said that God doesn’t give you the grace to walk through something that is just a fear in your mind because you’re not actually walking through it. But if you do go through a hard thing (like my cancer) God will give you the grace and strength you need to walk through it. Now to transfer that to my heart.

Michelle
Laura
Laura

Right!! Have you ever read The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom? Her father said the same thing. That God keeps our “train ticket” with Him until just before we get on the train. The ticket is grace and the train ride is the circumstance. So put that in heart: you’ll never get on a train without a grace ticket from Him!

Laura
Michelle
Michelle

I really needed to hear that truth today . Thank you so much, friends!! ❤

Michelle

 

Soaking in the Truth

Scripture to encourage you:

  •  “There is no fear in love because fear has to do with punishment and the one who fears is not made perfect in love.”1 John 4:18.
  • “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” Philippians 4:6-7(MSG)
  • “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
  • They will have no fear of bad news;  their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.  Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear…” Psalm 112:7-8

Music to inspire you:

Readings to come alongside of you:

 

Living Out the Truth

Ideas to try:

  • Pray! That’s obvious but the number one strategy to help me in my fearful moments is calling on God to help me. You could try  a prayer like this:    “Father, give me your peace now and ensure me of Your care for my child(ren). Build in me a supernatural confidence in You, so I can trust You with all things. And allow my child(ren) to see You working in me.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
  • Write out the Scripture verses above and put them in a place you will see often. On my very anxious days, I take the notecards with me everywhere I go and repeat the verse as many times as I need to get into my head.
  • Text or call a friend and ask them for prayers. I have found just asking for prayer takes the power out of some my panic.
  • If you find yourself dealing with fear often, take an inventory of how you are spending your time and what role those activities might be having on your fear.  I know when I am most fearful it is usually when I am most connected to watching news media or scrolling often through social media.

{These suggestions are ideas from novice moms. Sometimes our life situations need more. In that case, seeking out professional help is the right call.}