12 Advent Scripture Affirmations for Mamas with Depression & Anxiety

Brace yourselves. It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

It gets me every year. The rushing and planning and list-making. The nursing of sick children back to health so that they can participate in all the festivities and get sick again (because hello, this is the worst cold and flu season ever!). The expectations and the cooking and the visiting. Even the merry-making.

And I find myself turning more and more into the Grinch (I must stop Christmas from coming — but HOW?) and less and less like the peaceful, joyful, generous person that Advent is supposed to help me become (the Blessed Mother = #adventgoals).

Advent this year is particularly difficult, to be honest. Life with five kids is the busiest it’s ever been, and there’s no pause button in sight. I’m perpetually feeling the Catholic-mom-guilt of wishing I had more time and energy to really dive into the season and do all the liturgical living things that I “should be doing.” (Getting on Pinterest is a terrible idea! Trust me. Don’t do it.)

The closer we get to Christmas, the more I find myself dreading it. I’m supposed to feel joyful anticipation, and instead I’m full of anxiety.

What is wrong with me?!

Well, it turns out that those of us who struggle with depression and anxiety often feel worse at this time of year. (Did you think you’re the only one? You’re not!) High expectations to be jolly when we feel anything but can really weigh on us and make our depression or anxiety skyrocket.

What can we do about it?

So here’s the deal. What we think really affects how we feel. It’s been proven by research, but it’s also something we just intuitively know to be true. How often have I felt my anxiety or hopelessness significantly increase after chanting some super negative song in my head?

I can’t do this. It’s too hard.

What if I fail? 

I’m not strong (or fill-in-the-blank) enough for today.

Everyone else does it better than me. I’m totally incapable.  

I will fail. Things won’t change. I just give up.

If you were an outsider listening in on this sad little monologue, you’d tell me I’m a pessimist and just need to snap out of it! But, it’s not that easy. Those of us plagued with depression or anxiety really, truly believe these lies, which leads us to feel more depressed and more anxious…and the vicious cycle is hard to break.

But the Lord doesn’t want this for us, His beloved daughters! He wants to speak life into our hearts and minds. He wants to revive our souls.

There’s a lot that goes into healing from depression or anxiety — therapy, medication, lifestyle changes, and more — and each suffering person has a unique path to walk in order to get there. But here is something that you can do today, right now, to begin. 

It is possible to combat the negative noise, transform it with affirmations of God’s loving presence, and quiet your soul for the coming of the King.

12 Advent Scripture Affirmations for Anxiety and Depression

{All Scripture verses taken from the Mass readings for Advent 2018.}

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever. / Psalm 118

The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. / Isaiah 29

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? / Psalm 27

Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me! / Matthew 9

Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. / Luke 1

The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy. / Psalm 126

God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. / Isaiah 12

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. / Luke 1

For you are my hope, O LORD; my trust, O God, from my youth. / Psalm 71

Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled. / Luke 1

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. / Psalm 89

Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak; say to those whose hearts are frightened: be strong, fear not! Here is your God…He comes to save you. / Isaiah 35

My friends, this Advent, may we replace the negative mantras in our minds with these beautiful, life-giving words. Let every heart prepare Him room.