On Josh Duggar's 28th birthday, Thursday, March 3, Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar shared a heartbreaking message to their son on social media, reminding him of their love and sharing that they pray for him "every day."
"Today is our son Josh's birthday. The heartache of the past year cannot surpass the joy 28 years ago on this day when we first became parents!" an emotional Michelle and Jim Bob wrote on their family's official Facebook page. "We love you Josh and believe your best days can be ahead of you. We continue to pray for you every day."
As reported by The Gospel Herald, Josh has remained at Reformers Unanimous in Rockford, Illinois, since August of last year. He checked himself into the faith-based rehabilitation facility after admitting to cheating and a pornography addiction amid reports he had active accounts on Ashley Madison, a website created to facilitate adulterous affairs.
"I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife," he said in a statement at the time. "I am so ashamed of the double life that I have been living and am grieved for the hurt, pain and disgrace my sin has caused my wife and family, and most of all Jesus and all those who profess faith in Him."
Just a few months earlier, it was revealed that Josh had molested five girls, including sisters Jill Dillard and Jessa Seewald, back in 2002, when he was 14 years old. The eldest Duggar resigned from his position at the conservative lobbying group Family Research Council in light of the revelations.
In her December interview in Jill & Jessa: Counting On, Josh's wife, Anna, revealed how she is coping with the pain that her husband of seven years has brought her.
"In my heart, when I got married, I vowed to God first and then to Joshua, 'For better or for worse. 'Til death do we part," Anna said. "I pray that through all of this that I would be an extension of God's love to Joshua, that I would love him and forgive him and wait patiently and allow God to work through our hearts."
She added, "I pray through all this that I would be an extension of God's love to Joshua and that I would love him and forgive him and that I would wait patiently and allow God to work in our hearts. My prayer and my heart's desire is for our marriage to be restored."
In a statement on the Duggar family's blog, Anna explained that while 2015 was the "most difficult year" of her life, "God has drawn near" to her.
Anna also revealed that she and the couple's four children visited Josh last month at the rehab center. "Just recently I visited Josh. It was an important step on a long difficult road...I trust that God will continue to show His love and tenderness toward us and bring beauty from ashes-somehow-as only He can do. Please continue to pray for me, Josh and our children."
While the Duggar family's hit TLC show, 19 Kids and Counting, was cancelled as a result of the scandals, TLC in February announced plans to turn the Jill & Jessa: Counting On special into a full series, premiering Tuesday, March 15, at 9 p.m. EST.
