Author: Christine M. Chappell

Rethinking Nostalgic Postpartum Advice

Rethinking Nostalgic Postpartum Advice

Posted by | Aug 26, 2024 | |

There are many well-meaning pieces of advice that mothers might hear during their postpartum journey. A common one I heard was, “They grow up so fast. Enjoy every moment!” In those exchanges, I usually replied to the nostalgia with an affirming nod and smile. But silently, I’d wonder if that was even possible. How could I enjoy every moment of such a depleting and disorienting time? For me—and for other women I’ve spoken with—the challenges of postpartum motherhood were far more multi-faceted than the demands of newborn care. Continue Reading →

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The Gift and Skill of Praise in Lament

The Gift and Skill of Praise in Lament

Posted by | Jun 7, 2024 | |

What words come to mind when you think of lament? Perhaps grief, loss, distress, oppression, injustice, conflict, suffering, affliction, or even guilt? It makes sense for sorrow-laden words such as these to be so closely tied to the term. After all, lament is the tongue of tribulation. And since Godward cries tend to be squeezed from our hearts by unwanted hurt and hardship, it’s understandable if words like praise or gratitude seem miles away when we think about the topic. It’s not human nature to thank the Lord in our duress. Such a notion may feel uncomfortable to some or completely insensitive to others. Continue Reading →

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2023 IBCD Ministry Update

2023 IBCD Ministry Update

Posted by | Dec 13, 2023 | |

When I joined the IBCD team back in January 2020, I didn’t know the organization was about to head into uncharted territory. None of us could have predicted the impact a global pandemic would have on our lives and communities. But thinking back to that difficult year and the wake of transition that followed, I’m all the more thankful for where IBCD is today by God’s grace. Continue Reading →

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Why I Wrote Midnight Mercies: Walking with God through Depression in Motherhood

Why I Wrote Midnight Mercies: Walking with God through Depression in Motherhood

Posted by | Sep 12, 2023 | |

I offer Midnight Mercies specifically to depressed mothers because there are so few biblical counseling resources that give voice to their experiences of despair. Suicide attempts among pregnant and postpartum women are rising steadily. That “mommy needs wine” to cope with stress and sorrow has become a highly marketable and socially acceptable message. As a mother whose story includes the experience of suicidal ideations and the use of alcohol in depression, I want to bear witness to Christ’s light in the dark night of the soul. I want to testify to God’s mercy in the midnight of motherhood. Continue Reading →

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Connecting Depressed Moms to Biblical Lament

Connecting Depressed Moms to Biblical Lament

Posted by | Aug 30, 2023 | |

Are you counseling a mother who feels depressed, discouraged, and desperate to feel better again? Those are common sentiments to hear from a woman who feels imprisoned by the darkness she’s in. Maybe she yearns to be strong and stable, but she can’t shake the sense that she’s failing at life. She’s not “rising to the occasion” as she hoped. She’s frustrated with herself for not “suffering well.”Among all the other mental, physical, relational, financial, and circumstantial loads she carries, she also feels crushed by a burden to perform—as if faithfulness means faking her way through her feelings. Continue Reading →

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