Our guest today on the Everyday Faith Podcast is Rheanna Arfsten, a wife, mom, and co-founder of Freedom Culture and The Occupy Freedom Podcast. Wherever Rheanna goes, the freedom of God is in her wake. As you read this blog and listen to our interview, you’re going to be encouraged by her stories, perspectives, and tenacity in the place of prayer. And whether you’re experiencing mom anxiety yourself, or simply want to come alongside a mom near you who’s experiencing anxiety, this blog is for you.
Have you received Jesus into your heart yet? If not, today is your day! Learn how to surrender your life to Jesus and receive the hope that He offers in our blog: This is For You!
Spontaneous Salvation & Supernatural Restoration
Though Rheanna’s upbringing was full of brokenness, God had plans for restoration and healing. While growing up, her parents were active addicts, and her home environment was traumatic and inconsistent. But at the age of 22, Rheanna and her husband were invited to a Church service, and they both spontaneously gave their lives to the Lord. Since then, they’ve seen the Lord do the miraculous: Jesus has healed their minds, redeemed the time, and empowered them as ministers of the Gospel, bringing freedom and restoration to those they meet.
Renewing Mindsets About Motherhood
One of the best ways to overcome mom anxiety is to address your mindset about motherhood and renew your mind with the word of God. During our conversation with Rheanna, she shared four things that God taught her as she learned to embrace motherhood and surrender to God's perspective.
1. Learn how to love and be loved by God: Receiving the love of God is a necessity as a mom. Moms everywhere are pouring out their love to others, but receiving God's love first is essential to your health and longevity as a Christian mom. Even though it may feel impossible to set aside time to meet with God as a mom, it’s one of the best ways to allow God to speak truth and renew your mind about motherhood, children, and boost your self-esteem to you see yourself the way God sees you.
Related Post: 7 Bible Verses to Encourage Your Mom (And 3 Words She Needs to Hear)
2. Discover what God thinks about children: Did you know the Bible says that children are a blessing from the Lord? As you’re on your journey to overcome mom anxiety and receive the joy that Jesus offers, renewing your mind with the truth about children is key.
Discover more about God’s heart for kids in our blog: What Does the Bible Say About Children?
3. Remember that you are a child of God, before you are a mom: Sometimes it’s easy to forget your identity as a mom. You take care of everyone else, and in the swirl of the day and the back-to-back grind of the week, you can quickly forget what God says about you and what He thinks about you. God's love will help you overcome mom anxiety as you discover your identity as a child of God, first, before your role as a mom.
Learn more about God’s heart for mothers in our blog: Celebrating Mothers: Honoring God’s Vision for Women
4. Embrace motherhood as discipleship: As Jesus begins to renew your mind, transform your perspectives, and give you supernatural grace for each day, you’ll find yourself recovering from mom anxiety and embracing motherhood as a holy form of discipleship. Moms everywhere are shaping the minds, perspectives, and beliefs of the next generation. As a Christian mom, you are truly doing God’s work as you show your children the love of Christ, teach them how to love others, and equip them with the skills to bring heaven to earth. Your work is eternally important as a mom, and Christ sees your daily sacrifice.
Related Post: How to Hear the Voice of God
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. - Colossians 3:1-2
Overcoming Depression & Anxiety as a Mom
As Rheanna’s kids started growing up, she started to struggle with depression and anxiety. The Lord told her the first thing to do when she woke up in the morning was to start diving into thanksgiving and gratitude to overcome the heaviness. During this season, Rheanna started to learn more about the character of God in the scriptures and His faithfulness towards her as a mother.
The idea of being transformed by God is something that Rheanna is eager to tell every mom. If you start engaging with the circumstances of life from the vantage point of God transforming you into the image of Christ, everything changes. For women who are wrestling with mom anxiety, it’s essential to yield to the transforming power of God and let Him bring you into the new season, where He will author freedom for you.
But now, O Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand - Isaiah 64:8
6 Bible Verses About Freedom From Mom Anxiety
Anxiety, depression, overwhelm, and fear may be common for moms, but God wants to provide breakthrough, healing, and a way out of the storm. As we see with Rheanna’s story, God brought her freedom, wholeness, and joy through the Bible, gratitude, and encounters with God. Our team at Ask About My Faith is praying for you to experience the breakthrough you’ve been praying for as you read these 6 Bible verses about how to heal mom anxiety.
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
When you’re experiencing mom anxiety, it can feel like chaos is surrounding you. Hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts, and fear can become your reality. However, God wants to provide a way out for those experiencing mom anxiety. In Philippians 4:6-7, we see that God doesn’t want anyone to experience anxiety, but he does want everyone to present their requests to Him and be overflowing with thanksgiving. The return on investment? As you give God what you’re feeling anxious about, He will fill you with the peace of God that transcends all understanding.
Learn more about how joy and peace can be possible, even in chaotic times: Can I Have Joy & Peace in Difficult Times?
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy - Psalm 94:19
Mom anxiety can stop you in your tracks. One moment you’re fine, and the next, you’re worrying about something bad happening to your child or comparing yourself to a mom you saw on TikTok that afternoon. God wants freedom for you. This Bible verse about mom anxiety shows us that God offers consolation, comfort, and joy in exchange for the anxiety that comes up in our hearts. It also says in the Bible that God gives a spirit of praise instead of the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3). If you’re experiencing mom anxiety, take a moment today – even if it’s just 5 minutes – and let God minister to you through His word.
Related Post: 21 Bible Verses for When You Feel Anxious or Worried
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you - 1 Peter 5:6-7
This Bible verse for mom anxiety comes from the book of 1 Peter. It’s comforting to know that God cares for you. Because of His eternal love, you can cast all your worries and cares on Him. Even when you feel alone walking through mom anxiety, Jesus promises to be with you.
Learn more about God’s promises: God’s Promises for You | 26 Bible Verses to Build Your Faith
"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." - Isaiah 41:10
God is with every mom experiencing mom anxiety, and this Bible verse for moms experiencing anxiety shouts a clear message: do not fear. Despite the fact that there are many dangerous things in the world, God asks us not to fear. During bouts of mom anxiety, your imagination can spin up scenarios that make you feel out of control, but God’s remedy is simple: address fear and receive His love instead. No matter what storms come, God will strengthen you, and God will help you.
Hear a real-life story of God doing the impossible: How to Have Faith in the Fire
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” - Matthew 6:34
This Bible verse for mom anxiety is a direct quote from Jesus that encourages moms to forsake worry and cling to God instead. None of us can add a single hour to our life by worrying (Matthew 6:27). When mom anxiety pops up, try praying through Matthew 6 and give God your worries. Over time, you’ll find mom anxiety getting smaller and God’s faithfulness getting bigger.
Related Post: What Do I Do When God Feels Far Away?
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. - 2 Corinthians 12:9
If you’re experiencing mom anxiety, you can feel exceptionally weak. You’re doing everything you can: taking care of the kids, trying to keep the house in order, doing your best to maintain relationships with friends and your spouse, and trying to stay in connection with God all at the same time. When mom anxiety appears, remember to run to God in your weakness. God has a grace that is sufficient in all circumstances, and His power is somehow perfect in weakness. Even though you may feel overwhelmed by mom anxiety, God will empower you, strengthen you, and give you grace for the day.
Related Post: How to Overcome Fear & Experience God’s Power
Conclusion
During our talk with Rheanna, we learned so much about the power of prayer, how to surrender to God, and how moms can overcome anxiety and live each day for God. Rheanna encourages the moms out there: your life is more than the laundry to fold, the people to feed, the house to clean, and the tasks to get done. Your life is meant to be lived in full connection and relationship with God. For more of Rheanna’s wisdom, head to part 2 of our interview with her on YouTube!
