This past week, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released a surgeon general’s advisory focusing on the mental health and well-being of parents. The advisory states, in part, “Parents and caregivers today face tremendous pressures from familiar stressors, such as worrying about their kids health and safety and financial concerns, to new challenges like navigating technology and social media.” It continues, “I am calling for a fundamental shift in how we value and prioritize the mental health and well-being of parents. I am also outlining policies, programs, and individual actions we can all take to support parents and caregivers.”

As a father of five, with our youngest now 16, I can attest to the challenges of raising children. But make no mistake — raising children is a labor of love, and nothing is more rewarding than knowing that you are shaping the future with every step you take. Dr. Murthy addresses the many stressors of parenting, both old and new. They include financial concerns, economic instability, time demands, and worries about children’s health and safety. Additionally, he mentions modern challenges like parental isolation, managing technology and social media, and cultural pressures. The advisory suggests a shift in culture, policies, and programs to ensure parents and caregivers can thrive.

But it’s essential to scrutinize what this administration means by these changes. Over the last few years, we’ve seen radical ideologies — particularly regarding gender identity — infiltrating classrooms and creating divisions between parents and their children. Under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the policies promoted by this administration keep parents in the dark about what happens at school — which, by the way, only adds to the stress that Dr. Murthy talks about.

One of the recommendations in this advisory is to increase government access to children at even a younger age, through early childhood education and daycare. While this may be well-intended (or at least sound well-intended), the idea will only fuel a parent’s stress in the teenage years. Why? Because a child’s worldview is largely formed between the age of 15 months and 13 years. Under this construct, the government is going to shape the minds of your children in those early years. And nothing causes more stress for a parent than seeing their child reject the values they have prayerfully tried to instill in them.

The government, through its policies, plays a significant role in the current stress levels parents face. Now they propose more government to solve the problems they’ve created. It’s time for a collective response: No, thank you.

The Bible offers sound advice for parents. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” The bottom line is, we should never outsource the upbringing of our children. If we want to confront the daily challenges of parenthood, prayer is crucial. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.”

God’s plan brings peace in contrast to the anxiety created by more government intervention. I encourage you to pray, vote, and stand. Our future, your children’s future, and your own peace of mind depend on it.

Tony Perkins is president of Family Research Council and executive editor of The Washington Stand.