Anna Duggar's First Post Since Josh's Sentencing Proves She's Sticking By Him

The conviction of Josh Duggar on charges related to child sexual abuse has an ongoing effect on his family. Once a united household, the "19 Kids & Counting" family has divided over the disgraced oldest child. What the Duggars think about Josh's prison sentence depends on whom you talk to. His parents, Jim Bob and Michelle, have stood by his side, with Michelle even petitioning the sentencing judge for leniency. His siblings are another story. Sister Jinger and her husband have called Josh a hypocrite, and sister Jill and her husband have stated on their website that prison may be the only hope for Josh to reform his ways.

But perhaps the person most affected by the ordeal is Josh's wife, Anna Duggar. The couple married in 2008, and quickly went on to start a large family of their own; their seventh child, Madyson, was born in October 2021 in the midst of her dad's trial. With no work experience and a relatively low net worth (per Life & Style), Anna is reportedly dependent on her in-laws. 

Given that Josh also has a past history of allegedly molesting several of his own sisters (via The Washington Post) and reportedly using the Ashley Madison cheating site (per The New Yorker), many are wondering if Anna might leave him. 

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

On June 23, Anna Duggar broke her social media silence by posting to her Instagram Stories on her birthday. "Officially 34," she wrote, adding that she was "road tripping to visit my bestie." But she also wrote "Fourteen years since I said YES!" — referring to her engagement to husband Josh Duggar — and stated that her driving playlist consisted solely of the song "Even If," by the Christian band MercyMe. Per AZ Lyrics, the song is about holding on to faith through difficult times, even when it seems that prayers for help are going unanswered. Anna quoted a portion of the verse: "You've been faithful, You've been good/All of my days/Jesus, I will cling to you/Come what may."

The message was clear: Anna is staying with her husband and trusting that God will provide for her for the next 12 years while he serves his time. This isn't getting her much sympathy on the Duggar Snark Reddit board, some of whose members wondered whether Anna's "road trip" was actually a conjugal prison visit. "Anna has chosen to be a martyr for [Josh], it would seem," one commenter wrote. "Instead of taking this glaring red flag as cause to reevaluate her life, her marriage/who her husband is and the safety of her children, she is going to see this season in life as a test of her faith and endure this hardship and make the best of the situation. She is beyond help or reasoning."