Well, “they said” get ready for the biggest snow storm we’ve ever had. But I’m sitting here in my office on the Fixer Upper Farm and looking out the window at the tiniest dusting of white across the property. You gotta love the south …
But it’s Friday so yay!!
Today, I’m honored to introduce you to my beautiful friend Nichole. She’s an amazing encouragement to me and the story she’s sharing with us today is one of real-time-rawness. As you read, please whisper a little prayer for Nichole’s mom.
And she’s got a great giveaway the end! Be sure to leave a comment here on the blog to be entered.
Here’s Nichole …
Finding Peace When Fear Surrounds Me
Our family has spent the last month waiting on test results.
My Mama is a lung cancer survivor (9 years in May, praise God) and she was hospitalized with pneumonia in December.
The tests they ran showed some abnormalities and the preliminary suspicion was metastatic bone cancer.
I wish I could tell you I laid all this at the Throne of grace and trusted God every minute since.
The truth is, I’ve spent a lot of sleepless nights lying on a tear soaked pillow waiting for the knots of fear in my belly to untie themselves so I could breathe.
I don’t want my Mama to have to fight this battle again. I don’t want to shave her beautiful head again and I don’t want to sit next to her while they pump poison into her veins to kill the cancer before it kills her.
My heart wrenches at the very thought of reliving these memories, but they were playing over and over again in my mind.
This was part of the problem. I was spending more time thinking about the “what-ifs” than praying and trusting God with what is.
Friends, when we allow ourselves to focus on the possibilities we create in our minds and take our focus off the God of the impossible, we allow fear to shove aside His Truth in our hearts.
In order to break this cycle, we have to allow ourselves to be so consumed with God’s Love that we leave room for nothing else.
But how do we do this in the midst of the storms raging in us and around us?
We pray.
I’m not talking big elaborate prayers, y’all. Sometimes the greatest peace comes in the moments when all we can squeak out between sobs is the name of Jesus Christ.
Just know this:
No matter how our prayers sound to us;
He hears. He sees. He answers.
I pray you find peace as you allow this Truth to settle in your heart today.
Below is a scripture God used to calm my spirit over these last several weeks. I hope he uses it to calm you in whatever storm you may be facing.
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 (NIV)
Share your experience and/or prayer request in the comments below and you’ll also be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to Fashion and Compassion. Fashion and Compassion offers handcrafted jewelry that connects caring consumers with oppressed women artisans in Charlotte, NC and abroad to bring dignity through economic empowerment.
Hold fast to His Truth, friends, and trust He will carry you through.
Peacefully,
~Nichole
Thanks so much Nichole!!
Nichole will email the winner of the giveaway on Monday! Be sure to connect with her:
Website: www.hisbeautymyashes.com
Facebook: Nichole Stern
Twitter: @nicholestern
Instagram: @nicholestern
55 Comments
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Five years ago I was sitting in a hospital room praying for my Mom’s life and crying. Mother taken to the ER with sepsis and no one expected her to live…..except Mom and God. While there, a major ice storm moved in and my Dad went home to keep the wood stove burning and the house from freezing up. Eleven days later we took her home. Today she is sitting in her recliner studying her scripture and enjoying the first sunshine of the week. Thank you Jesus for the blessing of a Godly Mother.
Wow, Sue! What a beautiful testimony of healing! Thank you for sharing!
This gives me encouragement as I prepare to have some tests done in a few weeks. I have been so fearful, a paralyzing fear, and allowed my mind to wander to scary places. Thank you for sharing your story. This is one of my favorite verses !!
Thank you Kimberly – praying God’s peace over you as you go through what lies ahead.
This was a beautifully written piece and I am so excited to sign up and follow you. I am truly sorry for the struggle that your mom is going through and your family. Thank you for sharing and putting in words what is so hard.
Carrie- thank you so much for your sweet encouragement.
Each day since losing my middle daughter and then my husband is truly a journey of faith. I am also raising my 9 and 7 year old grands and I am truly grateful for this post today. Sometimes, I am confident and assured that everything is going to be alright because I know that my Heavenly Father knows and hears and sees and then there are times like today when I feel anxious and uncertain about our future. Thanks for this beautiful reminder to just focus and keep my eyes upon Him
Praying for you tonight Roberta!
This message went straight to my heart. My family recently and unexpectedly said goodbye to a family. He passed away without us knowing until the phone rang. We are also waiting to hear news about a mass in one of our fur kitties. It’s been a year already. Thank you for reminding me to stop thinking what if and start thinking what is. And give it back to God.
Praying God’s peace for you and your family tonight Amber!
Please pray for our daughter. We are dealing with disobedience, anger and bullying her siblings that is a result of trauma she experienced in her life prior to being adopted. Only God can heal her heart and she has to choose to allow Him to.
Also pray for wisdom for us as parents. Does she need more one on one time than we can provide in a large family? So many hard decisions to make!
Praying for you and your family, Amy!
I need prayer for my son who went thru a divorce and went thru 2 years of depression. He knows the Lord but hasn’t gone back to church since this has happened. He and his wife were in church and when she left him , I think he has a tainted few of Christianity in church. He is struggling but I want him to see the truth and know God can do all things.
Praying for you and your son, Janice.
Often I speak aloud….’Jesus’ and the simple act of speaking His name is calming to me. Retaining and returning my focus on HIM without fail, calms any storm. Thank you for your words of encouragement and this gift offer.
All God’s blessings to you, your Mama and your entire family.
Thank you Alana!
I love that verse! Reciting it over and over until my anxiety ceases is good for me!
xoxoxoxoxo
OMG, this message is so on time and something I truly needed this a.m. Last evening our dear friend was taken via ambulance to the hospital with breathing issues….turns out he has double pneumonia, possible sepsis, and now they are saying he had an acute heart attack….in ICU on breathing tube and heavily sedated. I am passing this email on to his wife, my BFF. Thx SO much for this timely post!
Praying for you and your friend, Kathy!
I love what you said “thinking about the what if’s, instead of praying what is”..That is a great nugget of wisdom. I am praying for you and your mom Nichole.
Thank you Angie for your prayers and encouragement!
There have been times when I wondered if my prayers were eloquent enough. Then, I was reminded that I don’t need fancy prayers. When I am exhausted from pain or heartache, I just speak His name… Jesus…. and a calm and peace come over me. Thank you for sharing your heart. Blessings to you and your family.
Thank you Melissa!
Fear can take hold like a vise grip. It is my prayer that fear no longer has a hold over me but I trust in the One holding me.
Amen, Pam! Praying in agreement with you!
Thank you for sharing your story! Those verses, Philipians 4:67-, were the same verses that supported me during my divorce. It was a divorce that I didn’t want but God led me through it. God was my strength on days when I had none! He blessed me so much during that painful process. Now I am able to help others going through the same process.
Brandi,
Thanks for your honesty on here. I’m lifting you up in my prayers. My sister is currently going through a divorce that no one ever saw coming. People are in shock when they hear of her husband leaving and there just seems to be more questions than answers. It breaks my heart to see my sister have this be her and my nephew’s new reality, but here we are. I have no idea most times what to say or do but I hope she knows our family loves and supports her. It’s tough as her older sister when I just want to take care of her. At some point, God’s beauty will prevail from this as she holds onto her faith, just as I know will be the case for you.
God bless you,
Shanda
Shanda,
I am just now seeing your comment! You are correct, “God’s beauty will prevail”!! I know this to be true! I went through my divorce over 10 years ago but I have not forgot the lessons that God taught me! Some days it is so hard to understand the “why” it is happening and then to face the unknown. But I do know, that God will be with your sister and nephew every step of the way!! I will be praying for her and her son!
Love in Christ,
Brandi
Praying for you Brandi! Thank you for your courage in sharing your heart here and your commitment to help others who are going through similar situations!
Thank you for being so honest, you have been a real encouragement to me. I have been asking God to,heal,me of Psoriatic Arthritis for many years now. I’ve had several surgeries as this disease attacks joints, tendons and ligaments. I have struggled with fear and with feeling like God doesn’t love me. But I know,that He does love me and even if He never heals me I will declare Him the God that heals, saves and delivers!
Thank you for your sweet words Debbie.
Praying for you tonight!
I love that you are so honest and open! Even being so close in location I had no idea and am praying for you dear friend and your mom! I have never personally deal with cancer or with a close family member but have been beside several friends as they or one of their loved ones fight for their lives. Prayer is one thing I can always offer and at times the best thing. Our God loves to hear us pray in time of battle or in time of Praise. I have also found that as I get closer to Him I find those praises more in times of battle than ever before! Keep safe in this icey weather and know your in my prayers!
Thank you sweet Jenn! Love you guys!
Prayers for your sweet mama and family.
My prayer request is for a friend who has severe facial distortion that just came on out of the blue. Someday we will all be healed of our illnesses and what a glorious day that will be.
Rest in His love.
Praying for your friend tonight Jeannie. Jehovah rapha- God our healer touch her and heal her quickly and completely.
Nichole, my heart hurts for you. I’ve been where you are and it is so hard. I went through the same thing with my mom (only breast cancer) and it is so scary. The difference is my dad was going through chemo at the same time for non-hodgkins. So they would sit side by side as the chemo went in. There were always 2 or 3 of us kids there waiting for them and then helping when they got home. God is good because it’s been 10 years and they are both still cancer free. They are 91 and 88 and just came back from a cruise.
My prayers are for your mom and for you during this time.
Linda- thank you so much for sharing this and for your prayer! What beautiful encouragement your parent’s story is to me tonight!
There are many times that words don’t come to mind…it is then that I whisper His name, Jesus. At times, they brings me more peace than the longer prayers.
Lifting up a prayer for you and your Mama.
Thank you Lori. There is such power in the name of Jesus.
Praising Him for this tonight!
I’m a cancer survivor too. I love the scripture you quoted..it is very calming. All the best to you & your mama.
Yay Doris! I love hearing about other’s victories over cancer!
Thank you for your heartfelt honesty and important message. Paul’s letter to the Philippians has been coming at me from every angle lately, in various ways and forms. I need to take a step back from the fray and reach out in prayer rather than brainstorming answers to challenges.
Thank you Amanda- so glad this blessed you!
Thank you, Nicole, for your beautiful heart felt words. They spoke to a deep place within me. I spend too much time in the “what ifs ” and not enough time in prayer. Thank you for the reminder to be in His Truth. God bless you and be with you and your mother at this difficult time.
Thank you Julie for your encouragement and prayers! Lifting you up tonight and asking God to help you see Him at work in you and around you!
Dearest sister in Christ Nichole , Thank you for sharing your story with us. Ive been battling pneumonia for the pas t couple months and finally diagnosed December 18th…theres still an underlying cause which im now traveling to Wilmington, NC to a pulmonologist for further testing and hopefully soon answers or diagnosis…Im joining you and will include your mama and your family in my prayers to our most powerful Father for answers and for Him to place his healing hands on our heavy hearts and lead us to answers and comfort. Just know you have an entire Church in Ash, N C praying for your mama also. GOD’S GOT OUR BACKS 🙂
Kelli- thank you so much for your prayers. Praying for you tonight and asking God to encourage you as you walk through this time of uncertainty.
Thank you for sharing. Great scripture verse!
Thank you for stopping by and commenting!
Nichole I am so sorry you are walking through this. I can imagine all you are going thru and how your heart hurts. I walked through much with my Mom after we lost Dad. It’s so hard to see them suffer. Stay strong sweet one. I’ve added you and your Mom to my prayer book this morning. Lifting you up. Praying for strength and peace in the days ahead.
Your Mom is blessed to have you as a daughter. From experience sweet friend, you will hold on to these times knowing you did all you could do for her. Continue to make the moments matter.
HUGS!
Sweet Debbie- you are such an encourager. Thank you so much!
Dear Nichole,
Thank you for your honest and moving words! The depth of your spirit was shining beautifully as I read your words.
I will be praying for you and your sweet Momma!
With Love and Blessings,
Leigh Ellen
PS. Nicki, thank you for hosting Nichole – loved her heart here!
Thank you so much for your sweet words of encouragement!
Nichole,
Thank you for sharing your fears and concerns for your Mama. My prayers are with your Mama and family as you go through this journey. Fear is a way Satan attacks me, especially when it comes to my family. My Mama has been showing signs of dementia. This has been such a struggle for our family as we try to figure out how to help her and support her when she seems to deny the need for help. We are struggling and it breaks my heart. Enters Satan and all of his fear tactics. I wish he wasn’t so good at it, but I keep praying and trusting in God for His guidance and wisdom. Satan will not win here but prayers are appreciated.
Blessings!
Shanda
Thank you for your prayers Shanda- praying for you and your family tonight and asking God to give you peace as you walk through this with your Mom.
XOXO
Nichole
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