When Carole Leathem's husband, Bill, first began his battle with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts, she had no idea years of rejection and identity issues would come to a head. After all, when you're the wife of a senior pastor, there are certain expectations that come with it. Imperfection and mental illness are not among them. Managing depression in marriage and setting relationship boundaries brought pain, uncertainty, and rejection, which were nearly unbearable. Whenever Carole surrendered to God, he showed up time and time again.
As Carole searched for practical help, she shares, "My husband's mental health was the most important issue. I read every Mental Health book for adults, Depression books for adults, relationship books for women, especially, any marketed as religion books, I could find." She discovered very few books addressing depression and anxiety in men. She found the words anxiety; Christian were two words mental health books or anxiety and depression books failed to address.
Through beautiful storytelling and raw transparency, Carole chronicles her journey of overcoming the abuse, addiction, and chaos that had plagued her family for generations. She also shares the new adventure of caring for a spouse who struggles with mental illness. Full of heartache, hope, and new beginnings, Are You Ready to Find Joy in Your Messy Life, shows how she learned to experience joy no matter the circumstances. Carole's story testifies God is a personal God, who loves our imperfect selves perfectly and without conditions and sees our trials as gifts. Life may be messy, but as Carole reveals, the joy of Christ can still reign.
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