A letter to the mom who is feeling anxious

Dear sweetest Mama, 

Can we talk about something that so many mothers, myself included, face every single day?  Maybe this is something you’ve been struggling with for a while that you have kept to yourself and you’re feeling like it’s time to get it out in the open? 

Anxiety. 

We are going to talk about it and I’m going to fill you in on something I wish someone would’ve told me a long time ago.  

You need to know that you’re absolutely not alone in this.  It’s estimated that around 264 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.  Women are nearly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in their lifetime. I had no idea that what I was dealing with was even anxiety for a long while.

It took going to a doctor, telling him the symptoms I was having, and him making the official diagnosis for me to finally understand what was even going on in my body.  That was the day I learned that anxiety doesn’t always look like hyperventilating and trembling like I thought.

If what you’re experiencing is keeping you from living the life you were created to live, I need you to understand there is no shame in going to see a doctor and asking for help. 

God gave doctors the wisdom and knowledge to help people.  It’s perfectly okay to let someone know you’re not feeling okay.

Jesus came and lived among men so He could understand what being human was like.

“But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor-Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom my Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything I have told you.”

John 14:26 AMP

He, if anyone, understands anxiety and He wants us to cast our worries upon Him.  He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within us so we know that we have that ever present help in any kind of need we are having.  He is our Comforter, our Peace, our Advocate, our Provider, our Redeemer, our Restorer.. He is our Savior!  He wants us to run to Him with our problems so He can work them out. 

We cannot do anything in our own strength.  We only see what is right in front of us but He sees it all.  Beginning, middle, end.  Start to finish.  

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who have been called according to His purpose,” and because you’re breathing, you have a purpose. 

He has a plan for your life. 

His plan isn’t for things to be chaotic and for you to stress and worry about things. 

Sister, He is telling you to give it over to Him.  All of it. 

He can’t work anything out that you’re not willing to let Him have.  Sometimes you have to pull that ole cliché out and let go and a let God do whatever it is only He can do.  He only has your best interest at heart.  He will never allow you to walk through anything alone.  He will never allow you to walk through anything that He won’t use for good.  Today, please understand, He is good.  He does all things well and as hard it may be, you have to trust that He is good.  

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Matthew 11:28-29

A yoke is a wooden crosspiece that is placed on the necks of two animals to pull an object.  Unless both animals are working together the object can’t be moved.  Once we come to Jesus, He will give us rest.

That’s a promise from Him.

When we take His yoke upon us and learn from Him we have to be willing to work with Him.  Which means giving Him complete control to do whatever it is He has to do in our lives. 

No matter how hard that is to do, that’s the only way we can find rest for our weary, burdened souls.  

Sister, He is a gentle Father who loves you enough to help you through whatever it is you’re facing.  Cast your cares upon Him.  He is such a big God. 

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."

2 Peter 1:3

Love, 

A mama who understands

See also: Please don’t tell struggling moms to “enjoy every moment”.

What about you?

Tell us in the comments your thoughts and feelings. Feel free to pray for your fellow moms in the comments.

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