Finding Solace in Jesus: Overcoming Fear & Anxiety When Tragic Events Happen.

Devastating news arose the afternoon of afternoon of June 15th. Although it was the prayer and discussion the next day at church, I was serving in nursery and had no idea this had happened. For me, I did not hear about it until much later, sitting around the table with my family celebrating Father’s Day. Suddenly, like many others, I was shaken to my core. This hit too close to home. This is a tragedy that brings unbearable heartbreak. A place where families are meant to feel safe, where summer bucket list plans begin, and where memories are made was instantly shattered. I pray and share in the sorrow for the families, the heartache for the community, and the fear for our future and what this means for our children.

As we process our emotions after this devastating tragedy, we are faced with a choice. We either let the fear overtake us; to paralyze us to not live our lives, or we can choose to overcome that fear by finding solace in Jesus. Here is how Finding Solace in Jesus: Overcoming Fear & Anxiety When Tragic Events Happen is the best choice.

How to Start finding Solace in Jesus: Overcoming Fear & Anxiety When Tragic Events Happen.

So, how do we do it? How do we rely on God’s words to help cope with the pain, fear, and anxiety of this ever-present darkness; this tragic darkness that is everywhere in the world? How do we trust that He is with us in this deep fear and pain?

The answer? We find hope in Jesus alone, draw solace from His strength – not our own, and we cling to His every word as if it were our very own. It’s hard to just gain solace without pursuing God. Solace found in Jesus is a heart posture that we learn over time. In the place of any tragedy or heartache, the first place to start is by turning to the Lord and lamenting.

Lament and Be Honest with God:

In Webster’s dictionary, “to lament” means to mourn, to express one’s deep grief, or to express regret or disappointment over something.

Start by being honest with God about your emotions. Pour out your heart to Him, expressing your pain, fear, anxiety, and anger. Fall on your face and weep for the injustice and pain that we encounter every day. Remember, He sees and understands our struggles and that is where our hearts should start. Psalm 139, Isaiah 26:3, Proverbs 15:3

When we lament to the Lord, we are clinging to God’s relationship and covenant with us, trusting that He sees us, acknowledges the injustice, and will handle everything in His time.

This is a process and takes time. It involves meeting with the Lord and laying all your worries, fears, and anxieties at the cross. I remember when my father died in a very tragic way. He took his own life just three months after I gave birth to my son during the COVID pandemic. Writing that today still brings a sense of disbelief. I continue to struggle with pain and sorrow at times, but that’s the beauty of having a relationship with God. I can keep coming to Him, lamenting through the pain, and progressing on this healing journey. In the moments when I doubted I would make it through, lamenting and prayer were my greatest tools for overcoming anxiety and grief.

Seek His Presence Through Prayer:

As I mentioned, prayer was a major way I overcame one of the hardest seasons in my life, it’s also a key part of finding solace in Jesus when all around you feels unsafe and unsure. During that time, when I was overwhelmed with grief and didn’t even know how to pray, I just cried and trusted that God would hear my heart and my plea. I knew this because, when I couldn’t pray, He sent people to pray for me. I had multiple dear sisters in Christ come around me and pray on my behalf when I was unable to. One friend would call me every night around 6 PM to listen, let me cry, and pray with me.

I share all of this because prayer is a powerful tool that we have to use. Because of Jesus, we have direct connection to God and all we need to do is focus our hearts and talk to him. Even when words fail, continue to seek God through prayer. Cry out to Him, knowing that He hears your heart. Surround yourself with a community of believers who can pray for and with you when you can’t find the words.

Lean on Your Faith/Church Community:

Allow your brothers and sisters in Christ to support you. Their prayers, presence, and encouragement can be a powerful source of comfort. You do not have to take on this anxiety or fear on your own! I cannot be a stronger advocate for leaning on and doing life with your church community! I am a testament to the support and love I received from my fellow sisters in Christ during times of fear, anxiety, pain, and hurt. If you haven’t yet connected, an easy way to start is by joining a Bible study, life group, or visiting the connect desk at your church. You will not regret it; in fact, the Bible calls us to be in community and you will find your faith strengthened when you do life with fellow believers. Proverbs 27:17, Hebrews 10:24-25

Learn and Meditate On Scripture & Trust in the sovereign God :

Cling to His promises in the Bible. Meditate on verses that speak of His faithfulness, love, and protection. Let His word be a source of comfort and strength.

When you commit God’s faithfulness to memory through scripture, you will learn to trust in His sovereignty and “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8 ESV). By burying and hiding scripture in your heart, you will have faith that God sees the injustice and pain in the world and will handle everything in His perfect timing. Trust that He is with you, even in the midst of deep fear and pain.

Scripture To Commit To Memory:

Psalm 55:22: “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”

Deuteronomy 31:6: “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Psalm 27:1: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Psalm 23:4: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Hebrews 13:5b-6: “…For he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’”

Psalm 91:1-2: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’”

2 Timothy 1:7: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Psalm 46:1-3: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”

Psalm 4:8: “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O’Lord, make me dwell in safety”

Give yourself grace and time:

I am going to be honest- It is hard. It is hard to sit here and write, trying to overcome this kind of fear, especially when its so close to my home and the shock effect hasn’t even worn off yet. With two little ones under the age of 4, the mere thought of them being harmed shakes my world. As parents and caretakers, we take such extra care to ensure they barely get any bumps, bruises, or scrapes on a daily basis. Now, we face the overwhelming task of trying to protect them from the kind of tragedy that happened on Saturday. I’m not going to lie—it is incredibly hard.

Give yourself grace and time to process your emotions. Healing is a journey, and it’s okay to take it one day at a time. It’s perfectly okay to stay home for some time when tragic and devastating events occur in the world. It’s okay to cancel plans and take time to slow down. Give yourself permission to process, grieve, and lament with God in the safety of your own space. It’s okay. Often, we feel the need to keep pushing forward and stay busy, but sometimes this isn’t beneficial, especially for mothers. If you need to hear this, if this resonates with you, give yourself permission to cancel plans, slow down, and allow yourself to lament before God. Allow yourself that time to heal, but make sure you do not stay there, keep seeking God and remember our hope found in Him.

Conclusion:

I write this not to diminish the grief, pain, sorrow, or heartbreak that accompanies a tragedy like the one at the splash pad. Instead, I write to offer a beacon of hope in this tragedy and for mothers suffering with constant fear and anxiety. My prayer is that this would be a beacon of light to point you back to finding solace in Jesus alone. Because when we seek hope and solace from the world, the world will let us down. This is the nature of our sinful and fallen world, it cannot give us peace. It is crucial that we place our hope firmly in Jesus Christ for our future. There is nothing more steadfast or secure than Him.

If you or your family were affected by this unfortunate tragedy, I am praying for you and would love to offer specific prayers for your needs. If you are a mother shaken by fear, know that I am praying for you and would love to pray for you personally. Additionally, if you simply need someone to pray for you, I am here for you as well.

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I also want to take this time to share that if you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior and have questions or need someone to talk to, I am here for you. There is absolutely nothing more steadfast or secure than the love of Jesus Christ and I would love to share my testimony of how that is true.

This post is all glory to God. The one who is my True Shepard and Good Father forever. Psalm 23.

Hugs Mamas,

Cassie