Finding Peace through Trauma and Anxiety: 1 year later
How do you find peace in the midst of trauma and high-anxiety situations? This account was drafted following a seizure of my 20-month old son in December of 2023. One year later, I rejoice in the healing God brought our family and remember how I found peace in the cloud of anxiety. The act of looking back in remembrance helps us be strong the next time we encounter suffering because we can attest to God’s faithfulness. I pray this story gives you tools and strength to turn to peace.
The healing power of Breath Prayer and the use of Breath Beads became very real to me after my 20 month old son experienced a seizure for the first time. As a parent, there’s nothing worse than seeing your children suffer. Watching his little body shake, go limp, and witness the light from his eyes be frozen was the longest three minutes one could imagine. The event was followed by paramedics flooding the entryway of our home, an ambulance ride, hospital admission, and medical tests. This is a lot for anyone to process, let alone being 35 weeks pregnant with baby number three.
We were fortunate to be released the same night with a clear CT scan and a healthy boy. In the hours and days following, however, the emotional impact of that event was ever present. Thankfully, the plan of care was to wait and see. Our case had a clear trigger from a Christmas light projector and chances were good that this was a one time event on a little developing brain. That fact, however, didn’t change my motherly heart of concern to be watchful over every movement during playtime or listening to every little noise at night over the baby monitor. It was in this time that I needed to run to Scripture, run to Prayer and run to Jesus to turn from living with an anxious heart to the position of resting in faith and in peace.
I praise God for writing Scripture on the tablet of my heart. Scripture that the Holy Spirit brought to mind during this stressful time was a story in the Gospel of Mark when a father came to Jesus asking for the healing of his son having seizures caused by demon possession (Mark 9:14-37 NIV). The father asked Jesus to help if He can. “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-24 NIV). And Jesus healed the boy with prayer. He appreciated the father’s faith and confession that he also struggled with doubts. Jesus granted the healing to bless his belief and increase the faith of the father and all those who witnessed the event.
The other Scripture that came to mind while fighting this anxious heart of mine was knowing that Jesus said he gives us Peace. Jesus doesn’t leave us alone to walk through this life, he sends us a piece of himself, the Holy Spirit - the advocate, the teacher, the helper to reside in our heart and guide us into all truth (John 14:15-31 NKJV). I needed Jesus' gift of peace and truth. And hence, I wrote this Breath Prayer. It brought me to tears to recall these precious scriptures. This breath prayer, like them all, is concise and helpful to repeat in the moment of anxiousness and fear. This prayer calmed my heart, renewed my mind and returned my body to peace:
“Inhale: I do believe
Exhale: Give me Your Peace”
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-24 NIV)
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27 NKJV)
This is a great breath prayer for anyone asking for healing themselves or for another. If for another, you may choose to substitute “I” for saying, “We do believe.” Like water that escapes a container and floods the surrounding, imagine belief and faith filling as you inhale through your nostrils, into lungs, expanding through your heart, and radiating through your fingertips and toes and through the crown of head. Let faith flow through and beyond your body.
And as you exhale imagine His perfect peace washing over you, like a wave being completely covered from head to toe. Allow this full body experience to bring harmony to your heart, soul, mind, and bring you strength. It’s the power of Jesus through Scripture and Prayer that brings healing and peace. May this and the other Breath Prayers bless you!
Final notes being a year out from this traumatic experience that caused post traumatic anxiety and how I turned back to peace.
Scripture: immerse in the Word. Allow your mind to be filled with truth instead of fear.
Breathe & Pray: Repeat scripture in the rhythm of slow breathing to reduce the physical effects of strength, continually renew your mind with the truth of scripture, and help stabilize your emotions.
Talk to Jesus. Communing with Jesus by praying and reading also means listening for the Holy Spirit to speak truth to you.
Ask others for prayer. Inviting my spiritual mentor and church elders to pray over my son and anoint him with oil was not only helpful in the healing of my son, but medicine for calming my own heart as well.
“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:14-16 NIV
If you’ve been around church for awhile, this may sound like the Sunday school answer to read your Bible and pray more, but I hope you try the practical tool of Breath Beads. This tools gives you a practical way to turn from anxiety in peace one breathe at a time.
Scripture coming to mind about your situation? Write your own breath prayer!
Share your story of using breath beads and breath prayers…
