Anxiety is everywhere.
It’s the silent struggle that so many women carry behind smiles and busy schedules. It may feel like a relentless pressure in the chest, a mind that won’t rest, or a heart that anticipates the worst.

Our culture calls anxiety normal. It’s talked about as if it’s just a part of modern life. It is something to accept, manage, or medicate. And while there can be extreme cases where medical intervention may be appropriate, we must not ignore a deeper, more foundational truth:

Anxiety is first and foremost a spiritual issue.

As a board-certified mental health coach with a degree in psychology, I fully understand anxiety as a clinical diagnosis. I recognize the real psychological and physiological symptoms that many women face. There are times when professional help and even medication are necessary, especially in acute or trauma-related cases. But in most situations, especially for Christian women, anxiety reveals a deeper heart issue: a struggle to trust in God’s care, His provision, and His sovereignty. The world offers coping mechanisms. God offers transformation through trust in Him.

In Philippians 4:6–7, we read:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

This is not a gentle suggestion. It is a command. “Do not be anxious about anything.” And it’s not a cruel or cold command, either. It’s a loving invitation from a Father who wants us to live free, grounded in peace that only He can give.

When we give into anxiety, we are often forgetting who God is.
We’re saying (even unknowingly), “God, I don’t believe You’re in control.”
Or, “I’m not sure You’ll take care of me.”
It is, at its core, a lack of trust in the sovereignty, goodness, and care of our Lord.

But Jesus gently reminds us of God’s faithfulness in Luke 12:24–27:

“Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!… Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”

The birds don’t stress about their next meal. The flowers don’t worry about how they’ll bloom. And yet, God sustains them beautifully.

How much more will He care for you, daughter of the King?

Anxiety doesn’t shrink when we repeat positive affirmations.
It doesn’t dissolve with distraction or hustle.
It fades, truly and deeply, when we trust in the Lord with our whole heart (Proverbs 3:5).

So what can we do instead of worrying?

• Pray honestly. Pour it all out before the Lord. Be specific. He already knows, and He cares.
• Give thanks. Shift your gaze to what God has done. Gratitude will quiet fear.
• Remember His character. He is sovereign. He is good. He is near.
• Let go of control. You are not the savior of your home, your kids, or your future. He is.

When we do this, Philippians 4 tells us something amazing happens:

The peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Not just any peace, but the supernatural, divine peace that doesn’t make human sense.

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Sister, you were not made to live in fear.
You were made to walk in peace. Our peace does not come because our life becomes predictable and easy, but because God is unshakable.

If you’re weary from carrying anxiety alone, let’s talk.
At A Fruitful Home, I help women like you walk through fear with faith, grounded in Scripture, guided by truth, and rooted in God’s love.

Reach out anytime for biblical coaching, for wives, moms, and women desiring the peace of Christ.

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You are seen. You are valued. You are held in the palm of our Father’s hand.
Let the birds remind you. Let the flowers preach.
He is faithful.

Today, my family sat down to read 1 Peter, chapter 3. It’s not the first time my daughters have heard this chapter, and yet, as we read it again, I could still see them bristle, especially about verses 1-2:

“Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct.” -1 Peter 3:1-2

It’s a hard saying. And let’s be honest: it cuts across everything our culture holds dear. In a world that teaches women to push back, fight for control, and never yield an inch, this passage sounds foreign, and even offensive.

And yet, God’s Word is always true. Always good. Always just.

Even when it confronts our flesh.
Even when it contradicts the world.
Even when it makes us uncomfortable.

When we live according to God’s ways, however hard or countercultural, they always lead to joy, peace, and life.

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The Quiet Power of a Godly Wife

1 Peter 3:1-2 isn’t about women being weak, or voiceless, or less valuable than men. It’s not about ignoring sin or becoming a doormat. It’s about strength under control. It’s about the inner life of a woman who walks so closely with Jesus that her presence preaches louder than her words.

Peter is speaking to wives whose husbands “do not obey the word”, so in other words – men who are spiritually hard or indifferent. He doesn’t tell these women to nag, argue, or manipulate. He tells them to let their conduct speak. To let their respectful and pure behavior bear witness to the beauty of Christ.

That kind of strength…Christlike strength…has the power to melt even the hardest heart.

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It Goes Against Our Flesh

Submission is a word we’ve tried to erase from modern vocabulary. It feels like weakness. It grates against pride. It stirs up every worldly instinct that says, “I shouldn’t have to do this.” “I deserve better.” “I’m smarter than him, so why shouldn’t I lead?” “I’ll submit to him when he starts treating me better.”

Even my girls, who have heard this teaching since infancy, feel it. I felt it so strongly myself as a young woman, and I still struggle against it at times today. The flesh resists God’s design. But the Spirit reminds us: His design is for our good.

Submission is about trusting God enough to live His way, even when it’s hard. It’s about modeling the heart of Christ, who humbled Himself and entrusted His future to the Father (1 Peter 2:23). It is not about waiting until your husband deserves your respect and submission, but rather submitting to him as unto the Lord. This is about obedience to Christ.

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A Word of Caution—and Hope

Let me be very clear: This does not mean staying physically present in an abusive situation. If you are fearing for your physical safety, then leaving for a time may be necessary, and this is not a betrayal of submission. If you find yourself in this situation, please go to your church elders and ask for help!

But for the many women who are walking through difficult, spiritually dry marriages, this verse offers real hope. You don’t have to fight for control. You don’t have to change your husband with well crafted arguments and convincing words. It’s not about making sure you say just the right thing to make him change. You can honor God by simply walking in obedience, cultivating inner beauty, and trusting that your conduct is a tool in God’s hands.

You do not have the power to change your husband by outward force. But you do have the power to walk by the Spirit in your own life.

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Let Your Life Preach

If you’re a wife walking this road, take heart. God sees you. Your faithfulness is not in vain. Your dignity and gentleness are not unnoticed.

• You are not powerless.
• You are not forgotten.
• You are not without influence.

You are living a quiet sermon to your spouse and children, and God may use it to transform a heart.

Keep walking in His ways, even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.

Because God’s way is always best.

How the Gospel Transforms Our Speech and Restores Our Relationships

As a Christian coach and counselor, I’ve sat with countless women in the midst of relational heartache. There are wives struggling to communicate with their husbands, mothers overwhelmed by tension with their children, and friends drifting apart because of unresolved words. In all these situations, there’s a common thread: communication gone awry.

That’s why War of Words by Paul David Tripp felt so refreshing to my soul. Not only did I find it theologically rich and practically wise, but I also found myself thinking, “This could solve so many of the problems I’ve encountered over the years as a ministry wife.”

Whether you’re in a messy season or just want to grow in godly communication, this book is a treasure chest of insight and hope.

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Words Belong to God

From the very first chapter, Tripp reorients our view of communication. Words aren’t just tools we use however we please. Our words belong to God. He created language, and He intends for us to use our speech as His ambassadors. That truth alone shifts the weight of how we think about conflict, correction, or even casual conversation.

One of Tripp’s foundational insights is that “word problems are really heart problems.” When we speak harshly, manipulatively, or impatiently, it’s not just a slip of the tongue, but rather it’s a window into the deeper affections of our hearts.

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Gospel-Centered Conversations

Tripp doesn’t give a list of quick fixes or communication techniques. Instead, he invites us to walk in gospel transformation, speaking with grace and humility as people who have been redeemed.

Each chapter unpacks Scripture deeply, like Ephesians 4 and 2 Corinthians 5, and ties it directly to our daily interactions. He shows how our words can either build up or destroy, and how repentance, forgiveness, and the pursuit of reconciliation must saturate our speech.

What struck me most as a long-time believer is how personally convicting and encouraging this book was. Despite decades of walking with Christ, I found so many ways I needed to bring my speech under the Lordship of Jesus, especially in the moments of tension, impatience or misunderstanding.

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Practical Help for Real-Life Conflict

As a coach, I’m often searching for resources I can confidently recommend to women navigating conflict. War of Words is now one of the top books on my list. Tripp includes:

• 11 gospel-driven steps to win the “war of words”
• Real-life stories (often humorous and humbling) from his own marriage and ministry
• Reflective questions at the end of each chapter for deeper application
• Tools for confessing sinful speech patterns and embracing new ones rooted in the Spirit

What makes this especially helpful is how practical yet theologically grounded the book is. You can feel the biblical conviction in every chapter, but you also walk away knowing how to change.

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A Few Golden Nuggets

Here are just a few truths I’ve carried with me:

• “Words belong to God, but he has lent them to us so we can know him and be used by him.”
• “God calls each of us to live and speak as his ambassadors. We are on the job 24 hours a day.”
• “My words are always an expression of the abundance of what rules my heart.”
• “Peace in relationships doesn’t come from silence. It comes from redeeming talk.”

Isn’t that powerful?

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Why This Book Matters for Christian Women

So many of the wives and mothers I coach are hurting. They’re hurting not just because of what was said to them, but because of how long those words have remained unhealed. War of Words helps untangle these deep knots with truth and grace.

And it’s not just for “other people.” Even as a woman who counsels others, I was deeply convicted. This book helped me:

• Reflect on my tone with my husband and kids
• Repent of careless or defensive speech
• Renew my desire to be an ambassador of grace, even in hard conversations

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Final Thoughts

War of Words is a must-read if you’re serious about letting God sanctify your speech. Whether you’re navigating marital conflict, parenting challenges, or even tension in friendships, Tripp’s gospel-centered wisdom will guide you.

It’s a book I’ll be returning to again and again – not just as a counselor, but as a fellow pilgrim in this world being shaped by grace.

If you’re in a season of relational tension, or if you simply want your words to reflect the heart of Christ more clearly, please consider this book. It just might change your home, your relationships, and your walk with our Savior as ambassadors to this dying world.