She wrote me on my Facebook page: “What about the mothers that do stay home but still end up with depression and anxiety. I agree with your teachings and push myself to do ALLLL the housework, cooking, taking care of the kids alone but something has to give. I would do ANYTHING to actually enjoy what I do because I want to please God. But this depression and anxiety are very crippling, and I wish it would just go AWAY. I read my Bible. I pray all day long but my heart is just broken by it all. Any encouraging words? I know all the Bible verses about it and try my best to live by it but each day gets darker and darker.”

I replied: “Do you know an older, godly woman who can come by your side and encourage you on a regular basis? God promises us a ‘sound mind’ but it takes daily renewing your mind with Truth (God’s Word) and taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

“Life on this earth is hard. It’s full of trials and sufferings but God asks us to trust and obey Him. His plan for you is to be investing your life into your children. There are great blessings in obedience.

“Remind yourself daily that the joy of the Lord is your strength and that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you! I say this because I was very ill all of the years of raising my children and these are what I did to keep from falling into deep depression.”

Another woman then asked me this: “Not all of us have older Christian women who have raised us or mentored us. Some of us are on an island alone in a lot of ways. I am a stay-at-home mom (new to me) and I have no one. What do you advise for women without family and a husband who works all the time to provide? What do you advise we do for mental breaks? After all we are human, and we aren’t robots. I am struggling myself with just being run down and anxious.”

I responded: “I didn’t have any wise, older women mentor me through my many years of suffering plus I had a husband who was gone almost half the year for work. I decided early on that just because I was absolutely miserable didn’t mean I was going to make my children’s lives miserable. It was a conscious decision, and I disciplined myself to not allow my emotions and how I felt to control my behavior or what I said. It takes practice but I knew that God promises us a sound mind and that His Spirit works mightily with us. The bottom line was that I trusted and believed God. He got me through many difficult years; for He promises us that His grace is sufficient. Also, begin being thankful. Sing hymns and praise songs. You can’t be depressed when you are dwelling on the good, being thankful, and praising the Lord in song.”

I also encouraged them to eat as healthy as they can. Cut out the sugar and seed oils. Eat brain food like good proteins and fats. Go outside and get sunshine as often as possible. Take walks even it is with your children. Dwell on the good and the lovely. Be anxious for nothing. Cast your cares upon the Lord for He cares for you. Lastly, remind yourself often that godliness with contentment is great gain!