Created to Care: God's Truth for Anxious Moms

by Sara Wallace

Young motherhood is a flurry of activity and endless laundry. But beyond the din of the busyness, a small, persistent voice beckons our thoughts to follow: “What if . . .”

God created moms with a heightened sense of awareness in this precious season. Our hearts are uniquely vulnerable to joy and fear at the same time. Between experiencing real trials and just-as-stressful hypothetical ones, we’re a mess. We need an anchor. We need something to tether our minds to when the waves of anxiety threaten our joy.

If you struggle with anxiety as a mom, Sara Wallace wants you to know you’re not alone. What’s more, God’s Word has specific, practical comfort that will help you to embrace this season with peace and confidence. Sara shows how we can learn to have peace in ten critical areas—from our personal insecurities to the spiritual well-being of our children—and provides practical tips from other moms.

Genres: Parenting, Christian, Nonfiction, Faith, Christian Living

158 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2019

About the author

Sara Wallace is author of the Bible study The Gospel-Centered Mom and has written articles for the Gospel Coalition and RELEVANT magazine. She and her husband have five sons.

Reviews

[Deon · Rating 5 out of 5]

*This is an ARC from the publisher. No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.*

“Visible results are not the measure of your success. Heart change happens on the inside, one tiny step at a time.”

This is an excellent book for any momma who feels they are sinking with worry and who needs some encouragement. Sara offers such practical advice. At the end of each chapter are some thoughts and ideas from other moms. Give this book to any new momma, she will greatly benefit from it!

“We must be faithful to put God’s Word into our hearts and to trust that God will be faithful to use it in our lives.”

Buy: https://amzn.to/2YpM21v

[Rachel Hutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know if I’ve ever related more to a book than this one. Each chapter I kept thinking that she was reading my own mind as she wrote it! All the new insecurities and worries I’ve felt as a new mom have left me an anxious mess with feeling hopeless some days, wondering if I’ll ever conquer these fleshly desires. I have felt very encouraged in reading this book and feel better equipped to battle my anxious thoughts and feelings with the words and promises of God.

[Katie Trotter · Rating 5 out of 5]

100% for any new mom or mom of young kids that are worried about lots! Spoke to some of my deepest thoughts and hardest emotions in being a new mom and gave practical wisdom on navigating these huge emotions and rewriting perspectives to bring it all back to Jesus. SUPER HELPFUL!

[Shelby Semjenow · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of Sara’s books are full of comforting truth and reminders!

[Michelle Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE. LOVE. This is book spoke directly to my soul! I will recommend this to every Christian mom I know. I felt so heard and understood in every page and left with so much hope. Hope in the finished work of the Gospel and hope in the character of God!! Sara did not shy away from truth but also did not put more mom guilt on us moms who are trying everything we can to walk faithfully in parenting. Quite the opposite actually. Oh I am so refreshed and ready to turn my eyes to Jesus and walk faithfully with every moment I have.

I will add this simple quick easy read to an annual plan. Please go read this and be encouraged.

If you are looking for deep theological, cross references, biblical vocabulary/analysis, etc…. You won’t find that here. But you will find the cross and Jesus in all the anxious demands of motherhood.

[W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felt a little talked down to in this book so I was tempted to rate it lower but I think it did have useful passages and chapters that are easily digested. I guess it wasn’t my favorite to read but it was useful and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it as a fast easy read.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gentle and loving approach to anxiety within motherhood. Gospel care and the love of our Father was all over it. I enjoyed this and made many notes I plan to keep coming back to it.

[Lauren DuPrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Created to Care is the latest book by blogger, author, and mom Sara Wallace and it is my favorite book for moms. When it comes to books for Christian moms, it seems like there are many options to choose from. What sets Sara's book apart is that it focuses on specific areas of anxiety that are typically unique to the role of motherhood. Being a visual learner, I really loved the chart Sara included on page 21 which demonstrates the expectations we place on ourselves as moms versus what God actually calls us to. In the Our Expectations column she used examples like, "Feed my child perfect food, Never sin in front of my child, and Make every party Pinterest worthy." In the God's Expectations column she listed examples including, "Train up a child in the way he should go (Proverbs 22:6) and Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Seeing the contrast between these expectations was a good reminder for me to focus on what really matters in my role as a mom. Since reading Created to Care, I have felt so free to make decisions for my children without fear of having to do things the "right" way. I also appreciated Sara examining what Biblical priorities a mom should have. She addressed areas including a mom's relationship with God, her spouse, her children, her home, her local church, and even the topic of self-care. I was especially grateful for the brief section on self-care because it seems to get a bad rap in conservative Christian circles. I found Sara's words regarding this practice to be so encouraging! On pages 64-65 she said, "Self-care sounds logical - but is it biblical? I want to encourage you: not only does God allow us to take a few minutes to recharge, but self-care is actually essential to drawing near to God and being used by him. . . If we seek satisfaction apart from Christ, we will always come up empty." The examples she used for self-care included having your children play quietly in order to spend time reading the Bible and praying. She also added, "Self-care doesn't have to look super spiritual or holistic. Sometimes in means eating a brownie in peace and surfing Pinterest. The point is recharging ourselves for the sake of the work God has given us," (pg. 65). One of my favorite sections of the book, probably because it has personally affected me, is the section on page 77 titled, "How to Give Criticism." Sara offers four points to consider before offering criticism to another mom, "Consider how you can help before offering criticism, Give criticism within the context of relationship, Offer constructive criticism for important issues - not just your opinions, Give criticism the way you want to receive criticism." While reading Sara's deliberation on these four points I found myself wanting to shout a hearty, "AMEN!" Another helpful aspect of this book is the reflection questions provided at each chapter's conclusion. The questions allow readers to dive in deeper to the topics the chapter was exploring and make this book great for individual reading and for group study as well. I have noticed that as a result of reading Created to Care, I'm less anxious about the things that don't matter and more excited about the things that do. My heart found great comfort in Created to Care as Sara reminded me of the truth of the gospel and pointed me back to who God is and what He calls me to do as a mom. Created to Care is one of the most hope giving books for moms and I am pleased to give it my highest recommendation.

[Kristin Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. The author is a mom of 5 boys and is able to write about deep truths in an applicable way that's easy to read. Timely and gospel centered. The author is the sister of Rachel Joy Welcher! No wonder I loved it. This would be a great book to use for discussion with other moms. There are personal application questions at the end of each chapter.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt so seen

I started this book in a dark nursery nursing & rocking a baby who was refusing to nap alone in his crib. I was experiencing great anxiety that I didn’t realize was so bad (& was very different from anxiety I had struggled with in the past), I was feeling alone not recognizing or wanting to admit how I was feeling, & was still struggling to get alone time & enough sleep at night for well over a year since my son’s amazing birth. Even several months later finishing the book we are entering new chapters and new stages of anxiety, loneliness, & still trying to find time to be alone & get enough rest. There were so many times I would walk away from reading this book with tears running down my face (I’m not really much of a cryer). I felt like this lady totally gets where I am and telling me what I need to hear. Not judgment, not condemnation, not impossible commands of “anxiety is a sin, just stop worrying & trust God.” She used Scripture and analogy to show where the rest is in times of worry and stress. She even spoke to things I have been anxious about since learning I was pregnant & that I may not face for many years to come such as school & the teenage years. This book is one that I would like to give all my new mom friends & one that I will try to reread every couple of years.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Motherhood is filled with days of joy but also days of anxiety. We worry about big things and small things alike. What is one to do when they are filled with worry and concern over the lives entrusted to them by God? In "Created to Care", Sara Wallace draws moms who are busy and filled with concern over their children to run to Jesus. She reminds us that we have been created to by God to care for the lives of our children and He has provided hope and stability in the life and work of Jesus. I love how Sara goes back again and again to remind us of the gospel and of the goodness of Jesus in the midst of our mothering. Often times, I struggle with the tremendous weight I carry as I raise my children and it can bring me to the point of deep anxiety and struggle. I am grateful for the way this book thoughtfully and Biblically addressed my struggle and drew me closer to the Savior. It is so good to know that many of my struggles are normal- part of being created to nurture and shape young souls- and that I don't need to remain in my struggle. I can mother my children with the hope of the gospel and the presence of Jesus.
*I received a copy of this book for review purposes. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Erica Devore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed this book more than I realized! When I first received this book as a gift after my first child was born, I never got past chapter 2 because I didn’t think I needed any help and I had my anxiety under control. Another child and a special needs diagnosis with my first born humbled me greatly and rose my anxiety through the roof! I appreciate the wisdom from scripture that this book provides to us anxious mamas. Learning that ultimately no matter how much I worry and try to control my circumstances that God is the one who has it all under control is so freeing! My children are not my own, they are Gods for me to steward. I may not have been able to get past the first couple of chapters the first time, but I’ll certainly be revisiting this book over the years as a reminder of Gods providence and love for my children and for me!

[Kara Esselbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first saw the title of this book, I thought, "Well, I'm not really the anxious type, but I'll read it anyway." I assumed the "anxious mom" was someone who would have panic attacks or helicopter parent because they were worried about their child getting hurt all the time. But, reading this book helped me realize that I am an anxious mom! Every little worry we have as mother, from what our children eat to how well-groomed they are to what are other moms going to think of this decision makes us all anxious moms, and Sara Wallace shows us how God created us to have those worries to make sure our kids are loved and taken care of, and then gave us Christ to sweep the worry away and help us rest in his grace. Sara points us to God and reminds us that His is the only opinion that matters.

[A. Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mom, who suffers with anxiety (both health and spiritual-related), this book was such a good read for me. Although, I don’t agree with Sara Wallace on every point of theology on a personal level, this book is firmly rooted in the Bible. I appreciated her simple style that was full of Biblical truth. We as Moms need to let go of our expectations and rely fully on Christ for outcomes in our children’s lives.
I highly recommend this book.

*I received this book free as a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own

[Sarah Katherine Oliphant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this! Sara felt like an older sister sharing her wisdom - someone who’s been doing this motherhood thing for a while but is still in the trenches with you. It was biblical, compassionate, and practical. It was also very accessible which I loved - I plan to share it with friends who are new Christians or less likely to read a super theological parenting book. My only caveat would be that she doesn’t address clinical anxiety at all and there are some moms that need help from a doctor or therapist in addition.

[Sarah Sayre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many Christian books on anxiety. Many of them are written by authors who seem to have never experienced anxiety themselves. This book was short, sweet, and to the point. Wallace tackled common parenting anxieties without dismissing them and cited biblical truth in each scenario. While the point of this book was focused on some generic and common stressors, I also appreciate that she touched on other hardships such as loss and disability. These topics are ignored or glossed over in many other books on this topic. A solid read I would revisit in the future.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never realized how anxious I was until I had children. Through my first son’s early life, I was anxious about everything. After having my second child the anxiety still lingers especially because he is a risk taker. Sara’s book is a great reminder to place our worries in God’s hands. He is in control of their lives no matter what harm may come to them physically. I appreciate the Biblical references in this book and the personal examples Sara shares. At the end of each chapter she includes other moms’ thoughts and includes questions for you to work through on your own. Whether you are a new mom or a seasoned one that struggles with anxiety, this book is helpful in giving you a new perspective of your fears in motherhood.

*I was given a copy from the publisher. My opinions are my own.*

[Autumn Klepper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on how to filter our parental anxieties through the lens of the gospel...very liberating, truthful, and hopeful book. Full of helpful thoughts on parenting, in light of God’s goodness and sovereignty. I love how this author shares practical, real life examples of the points she is making. Quick, easy read.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear precious mamas, you are created to care. Those anxieties and fears and worries are not intended by God. Sara Wallace does a beautiful job helping moms navigate motherhood with God's peace and grace.

This is a great gift to any mom, particularly those with younger children. It is a boon to the heart and a salve to the spirit of us tired and desperately hungry moms.

[Cheyenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a good and worthwhile read. She has a lot of good things to say and great reminders. The only bit I do not entirely agree with her on is in the final chapter or two when she deals with the raising of children in a more “sheltered” environment. Equip yes, but I think she might go a little too far with her ideas of sheltering.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

As moms, there are so many things to be anxious about. In “Created to Care, Sara Wallace points readers to God’s word.We weren’t created to be anxious for our kids, but to care for them as God cares for us. “Anxiety is one of those ‘good works’ prepared for us. Anxiety skews our ability to see those good works clearly.... God calls us to care and to trust.”

[Jamie H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains so many wonderful reminders for moms who struggle with anxiety. The Biblical advice and real world examples have been so helpful for me. I would definitely recommend it to other moms with those struggles.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Created to Care is a wonderful book of motherhood, reminding us that God has placed these children in our care.

[Katie V · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a blessing for moms. It addresses all the common struggles moms face today. She gently guides us back to our strength and hope in Jesus. It will be my new go to gift for moms.

[Sarah Deurbrouck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic. Simple but profound truths that really are helping me as a new mother. I recommend this book to all new mothers who struggle with anxiety.

[Ashley Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. Very much an overview. Not super practical when it comes to application but I love how Sara talks about the heart of parenting and the solution for anxiety.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really good truths and reminders of who God created me to be as a mama who struggles with anxiety.

[Cassidy DeJong · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very easy practical read on navigating anxiety in motherhood

[Elisabeth Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Wallace just writes relatable, common-sense mothering advice and I am always encouraged and refreshed by her resources.

[Nicole Sawatzky · Rating 5 out of 5]

a small book with some great wisdom. I liked this one. 😊