Motherhood

FamilyLife Today Interview with Dave & Ann Wilson

"What does it look like to follow God when the weight of life feels unbearable? In this deeply personal and hope-filled conversation, Christine Chappell shares her journey through depression—not around it—and how the Lord met her not with pressure to “get better,” but with presence. If you or someone you love is struggling to see a way forward, this episode offers honesty, grace, and a steady hand to hold."
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3 months ago

Walking with Your Teen Through Depression: The Homeschool Mom Podcast

Recently, I had the opportunity to join Janelle Knutson on her show, The Homeschool Mom Podcast, to discuss my minibook, Help! My Teen is Depressed. If you are a homeschooling mother in need of resources, biblical support, and encouragement, I recommend checking out Janelle's website and following her on social media!
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5 months ago

Rethinking Nostalgic Postpartum Advice

Nostalgic postpartum advice is certainly permissible, though it’s not always beneficial or edifying (1 Cor. 10:23). But when we take care to know a mother’s world before speaking to it, we can help her feel seen and understood. We can better encourage and build her up in Christ—whether she’s enjoying the season or not (1 Thess. 5:11).
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8 months ago

God’s Grace for Mom’s Unmerry Holiday

While the reasons for these seasonal struggles will vary from family to family, the need to depend on God’s sustaining grace remains the same. Thankfully, he doesn’t begrudge your neediness but welcomes it wholeheartedly! God knows that holidays can be hard days—that you can only endure them if he daily bears you up. Here are three specific ways that God ministers his grace to you during your unmerry holiday.
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11 months ago

Gospel Rest for Downcast Moms: 2024 CCEF Conference Audio

Audio recordings from the 2024 CCEF National Conference are now available for purchase! Get access to my session, "Mercy in Darkness: Gospel Rest for Downcast Moms," and explore the care and compassion of Christ for mothers who are walking through depression.
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12 months ago

Postpartum Depression: The Soul Care Podcast

In this episode, we explore the challenges of postpartum motherhood, and the need for grace and understanding in the face of struggles. We also emphasize the significance of acknowledging both physical and spiritual aspects of mental health, the impact of societal expectations, and the necessity of lamenting and grieving.
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12 months ago

A Dios no le sorprende tu depresión posparto

Cuando te sientas invadida por el dolor de la maternidad, es bueno recordar que Dios te ve y te rodea. Hay recordatorios muy necesarios sobre esta realidad en el Salmo 139. Mientras el escritor se maravilla ante la omnisciencia y omnipresencia de Dios, podemos ver por lo menos tres aplicaciones relevantes a la experiencia de la depresión posparto.
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1 year ago

God is Not Surprised by Your Postpartum Depression

When you feel overtaken by sorrow in motherhood, it’s good to remember that you are seen and surrounded by God. There are much-needed reminders about this reality in Psalm 139. As the writer marvels at God’s omniscience and omnipresence, at least three relevant applications to the experience of postpartum depression unfold.
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1 year ago

4 maneras de ayudar a una mamá deprimida

Con un estimado de 800,000 madres en los EE. UU. diagnosticadas con un trastorno de salud mental materna cada año, y con una gran mayoría de ellas sin posibilidades de obtener ayuda profesional, el cuerpo de Cristo no puede quedarse de brazos cruzados. Incluso como laico, puedes ofrecer a una madre deprimida el cuidado necesario e irremplazable en Cristo.
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1 year ago

3 palabras de ánimo para madres deprimidas

Si le preguntara a una madre que lucha contra la depresión: "¿Cuánto tiempo más te sentirás tan mal?", su respuesta probablemente no sería “Sólo una o dos horas más. ¡Ya casi termino!” La depresión no funciona de esa manera. Los estados de ánimo melancólicos no suelen desaparecer. Las soluciones rápidas tienden a quedarse cortas cuando el dolor nos quita las fuerzas; los clichés bien intencionados generalmente tampoco dan en el blanco (Prov. 17:22; 25:20). Y cuando las supuestas palabras de ánimo empiezan a oírse más como regaños pasivos, puede parecer que nadie tiene nada útil que decir, como si tuviéramos que valernos por nosotros mismos en esta oscuridad.
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1 year ago

His Mercies Are More: Haven Today Broadcasts

Laundry. Meals. Crying children. Motherhood is busy. But if dark clouds of depression roll in, the weight can start to feel unbearable. Where do you turn? All week on Haven Today, David Wollen will be joined by author and mother, Christine Chappell, for a series called His Mercies are More.
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1 year ago

Depression and Motherhood: Parenting with Ginger Hubbard

"Are you a mom struggling with feelings of hopelessness and anxiety? Would you like biblical guidance and practical help for battling depression from someone who’s been there and understands? Join Ginger Hubbard and Katy Morgan, along with special guest Christine Chappell, as they discuss how we can abide in Christ and lean on him to sustain us through seasons of darkness."
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2 years ago

Voices of Encouragement • Video Compilation

In this video recording from the 2023 Midnight Mercies Virtual Summit, we hear closing remarks from Christine as well as encouraging words from a variety of respected authors, bible teachers, pastors, and experienced biblical counselors such as Brad Bigney, Cameron Cole, John Crotts, Iain Duguid, David & Krista Dunham, Zack Eswine, Gloria Furman, Alasdair Groves, Nancy Guthrie, Brad Hambrick, Marty Machowski, Esther Smith, Curtis Solomon, Paul Tautges, Steve Viars, Mark Vroegop, Ed Welch, Lauren Whitman, and Rush Witt.
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2 years ago

Domestic Abuse with Joy Forrest

Joy recalls the depths of despair and hopelessness she felt while navigating an abusive marriage and shares how God mercifully met her in the midst of a traumatic event.
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2 years ago

Prodigal Children with Camille Cates

In this video recording from the 2023 Midnight Mercies Virtual Summit, Camille reflects on the heartbreak of grieving over a wayward child and how God has mercifully met her in the midst of her sorrow.
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2 years ago

Stillbirth with Jackie Gibson

In this video recording from the 2023 Midnight Mercies Virtual Summit, Jackie reflects on the stillbirth of her daughter and recounts how God mercifully met her in the midst of her grief.
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2 years ago

Free Resources for Depressed Moms

This post contains articles, audios, videos, and downloads which were published during the launch of Midnight Mercies. All of these resources are free to access and available to freely share.
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2 years ago

Child Illness & Miscarriage with Katie Faris

In this video recording from the 2023 Midnight Mercies Virtual Summit, Katie reflects on the fears surrounding her children's genetic illnesses along with the grief of miscarriage, and recalls how God mercifully met her in the midst of one of the most overwhelming seasons in her life as a mom.
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2 years ago

Child Loss with Sharon Betters

In this video recording from the 2023 Midnight Mercies Virtual Summit, Sharon reflects on the sudden tragic loss of her son and recalls how God mercifully met her in the midst of depression and grief.
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2 years ago

Chronic Illness with Vaneetha Risner

In this video recording from the 2023 Midnight Mercies Virtual Summit, Vaneetha reflects on her progressive journey through chronic illness and remembers how God has mercifully met her in the midst of her limitations in motherhood.
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2 years ago

Postpartum Depression with Christina Fox

In this video recording from the 2023 Midnight Mercies Virtual Summit, Christina Fox reflects on her discouraging journey through postpartum depression and remembers how God mercifully met her in the midst of it.
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2 years ago

Parenting Challenges with Sarah Walton

In this video recording from the 2023 Midnight Mercies Virtual Summit, Sarah reflects on her journey through traumatic parenting challenges and shares how God has mercifully met her in the midst of them.
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2 years ago

Unexpected Divorce with Shannon McCoy

In this video recording from the 2023 Midnight Mercies Virtual Summit, Shannon reflects on her journey through depression in the wake of divorce and shares how God mercifully met her in the midst of it.
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2 years ago

4 Ways to Help a Depressed Mom

Surely somewhere in your close proximity, there’s a mother suffering from depression. As she attempts to beat back the darkness, you wonder how you can care for her. As featured at The Gospel Coalition.
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2 years ago

When the Clock Strikes Midnight: 3 Encouragements for Depressed Moms

If you’re feeling desperate for encouragement as you walk through the darkness of depression, I’d like to pass along a few statements which ministered to me. The Spirit used each of these fitly spoken words to give me strength and insight on my journey. By God’s mercy and grace, I pray they will serve you just the same. As featured at Risen Motherhood.
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2 years ago

BCC Blog: Why I Wrote Midnight Mercies

My intent is that any mother who knows what it’s like to groan, "I feel depressed" will find comfort and counsel in these pages. As featured at the Biblical Counseling Coalition.
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2 years ago

How Do I Talk to My Kids About Sorrow?

Forewarning our kids about the realities of sorrow can forearm them to face it by faith. Christ said these seasons would come, and that we would find comfort, hope, and peace by looking to him when they do.
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5 years ago

Hope + Help for Identifying Abuse with Darby Strickland

In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, Christine Chappell interviews Darby Strickland about her book, Is It Abuse?: A Biblical Guide to Identifying Domestic Abuse and Helping Victims. During the conversation, Darby explains why domestic abuse is easy to miss and easier to minimize and shares why abuse merits the biblical label of "oppression." Darby also addresses question such as: • What damage does it do to label a situation as "abusive" when it isn't? • How can people helpers become more sensitive to identifying physical abuse, especially when victims are typically hesitant to ask for help? • How can we tell if what is taking place in the marriage bed qualifies as sexual abuse? • What do people helpers need to keep in mind when helping a victim bring their story to the attention of the local church? • What are some questions people helpers can use to better get to know the victim and to assess the emotional, spiritual, and physical damage they have sustained?
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5 years ago

Hope + Help for Discouraged Parents with Marty Machowski

In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, Christine Chappell interviews Marty Machowski about his book, Parenting First Aid: Hope for the Discouraged. During the conversation, Marty explains why parents sometimes feel isolated when walking through challenges involving their children, and offers practical insights on how to handle heated exchanges in the home. He also discusses the importance of keeping an eternal perspective when parenting trials come, comforts listeners with the reminder that God understands what they are going through, and exhorts discouraged parents to reflect on key gospel truths that can persevere them through seasons of heartbreak or disappointment.
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5 years ago

8 Facebook Live Videos on Counseling & Christian Living

I'm thankful to have had the opportunity to host a number of helpful conversations via Facebook LIVE over the past three months on a variety of topics related to Christian living in general, as well as biblical counseling in particular. This post offers the collection of previously recorded Facebook LIVE conversations in one spot, where you can watch the replays! Scroll below to view the guest names and topics addressed.
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5 years ago

Comforting Our Kids Through Hard Times • Women Encouraged Podcast

In today's episode, Christine M. Chappell joins Bethany for a conversation about how to give our kids true, biblical comfort when they’re hurting. This isn’t about empty platitudes or band-aid fixes, but rather acknowledging our children’s suffering while pointing them to the trustworthy and eternal promises of God. Christine and Bethany discuss how we should respond to our children in these situations, and take a look at the comfort God’s word offers.
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5 years ago

Hope + Help for Storms in Marriage with Jeff & Sarah Walton

In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, Christine Chappell interviews authors Jeff & Sarah Walton about their book, Together Through the Storms: Biblical Encouragements for Your Marriage When Life Hurts. During the conversation, Jeff shares biblical truths that sustained him during sudden job loss, as well as practical wisdom for men striving to be leaders of their home in the midst of future uncertainties. Sarah reflects on the walking through periods of hopelessness, living with chronic illness, and the grief that comes when life doesn't look like we expected. Together, Jeff and Sarah offer gospel hope for marriages strained by circumstantial difficulties, showing couples how to cling to Jesus—and to each other—through the storms.
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5 years ago

Hope + Help for Pregnancy with Gloria Furman

In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, Christine Chappell interviews Gloria Furman about her book, Labor with Hope: Gospel Meditations on Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood. During the conversation, Gloria helps women see topics such as pregnancy, infertility, miscarriage, birth pain, and new life in the framework of the larger biblical narrative, infusing cosmic meaning into their personal experience by exploring how they point to eternal realities. She also reflects upon the forgiveness and mercy Christ offers post-abortive women, shares biblical comforts to pregnant women who are fearful about their impending labor, and highlights the importance of spiritual mothering as a high calling for those who do not have flesh-and-blood children of their own.
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5 years ago

Hope + Help LIVE for Parents of Depressed & Anxious Teens

In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, we’re premiering Hope + Help LIVE, a periodic segment of the podcast that features unscripted, live recorded interviews previously broadcasted on Facebook. This conversation features authors Jessica Thompson and Joel Fitzpatrick. During the live chat, we talk about the various ways our respective households are navigating the coronavirus pandemic, and offer encouragements to parents of depressed and anxious teens who may be struggling to care for their child in today’s quarantine contexts.
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6 years ago

How Is God Working in My Teen’s Depression?

If you’ve found yourself caring for a depressed teen, maybe you’re wondering what God is up to in the midst of this heartbreaking time. While we cannot know all the ways that God intends to work in your teen’s despondency, the Scriptures do tell us what his goal is for you in this season.
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6 years ago
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