In the United States, someone dies by suicide every 11 minutes. In a world of so much strife and darkness, we must make room for hope, love, and light. These 5 books are buoyant reminders even when life is hard, hope is there.
From debut author Lindsey Frazier comes a raw and honest memoir about identity, overcoming trauma, and the sheer beauty that can be found in life if we open ourselves up to love.
Oh Love, Come Close explores the emotional wounds that fragmented a woman’s identity, and the retracing of steps needed to pick up the pieces left behind—her sexuality, spirituality, fidelity, and a complicated past. Frazier unearths her buried wounds and finds that in order to fully live, to fully love and be loved, she has to reclaim all the pieces of herself, no matter how painful they might be.
This searing memoir is at once vivid and dreamlike, and Frazier’s arresting prose will draw readers deeply into this intimate narrative.
Buy it here.
From award-winning author Sara Cormany, Even When is a raw and reflective devotional that ushers readers into God’s presence during difficult times and reminds us that even our hardest stories are written by the hand of a good God.
Even When beautifully weaves together the inevitability of hard times with the unyielding heart of God’s goodness and inspires readers to experience His presence amid the storm in their lives. Each devotion begins with an “Even when…” statement, followed by a poignant personal story, a Bible verse, and a thought-provoking question that will encourage readers to embrace the truth that God is enough—even in our darkest moments.
Vulnerable and authentic, Even When strikes a universal chord and points readers toward the heart of God’s goodness in even the most challenging of circumstances, knowing that even when life is hard, He is always good.
Buy it here.
What if life’s fires can not only be controlled but can also spur new life? In Controlled Burn, Emmy-winning news anchor and reporter Brooke Martin helps readers navigate their own fires with purpose and emerge stronger than before.
Confronted with a fatal diagnosis for their unborn baby girl, Brooke Martin and her husband faced an unimaginable choice, grappling with how to move forward amid a sea of unanswerable questions. Yet, in the midst of unspeakable grief, Brooke’s faith and vulnerability not only laid the foundation for her own healing but also for a global movement toward resilience and recovery.
Controlled Burn: Rising From the Ashes to Forge an Unshakable Faith weaves together invaluable advice, spiritual insights, and raw truths learned from Brooke Martin’s greatest trials, offering readers guidance to walk through life’s fires and come out unburned. Whether in pregnancy, the workplace, marriage, or otherwise, we are bound to experience suffering in life. How we respond can be the difference between our destruction and our growth.
Buy it here.
From mental health advocate Tabitha Yates, Jesus and Therapy is a deeply powerful and essential exploration of mental health within the Christian community. More than just an examination—this book is a heartfelt invitation to begin crucial conversations in the church and offer hope to those who feel isolated and misunderstood.
Tabitha Yates knows firsthand the shadows that mental health struggles can cast, especially within a church setting. During a particularly dark period of her life, she found that the sanctuary she hoped would provide refuge often deepened her pain, leaving her feeling abandoned and unseen. Her own journey through depression, anxiety, and a suicide attempt has uniquely equipped her to understand and assist others who find themselves in similar situations, as well as to guide church leaders in providing meaningful support to their struggling members. Now, Yates works as a mental health advocate to combat common myths surrounding mental health and encourage unifying, healing dialogue within the Christian community.
In Jesus and Therapy: Bridging the Gap Between Faith and Mental Health, Yates combines insights from psychology, personal experience, and Scripture to offer practical steps for confronting and healing trauma. This book is a beacon for those who feel lost in their faith while grappling with mental health challenges. It provides pastors and faith leaders with the tools to approach these struggles with empathy and understanding, while additionally serving as a valuable resource for mental health professionals.
Buy it here.
In this unique look at a one-year journey through counseling told from both sides of the couch, Sandi Brown―the founder of St. Louis’s largest Christian radio ministry, JOY FM―and her counselor, Dr. Michelle Caulk, walk through Sandi’s therapy journey, answering the question, “What do I do when I know God loves me, but I don’t like myself?”
Shame, embarrassment, negativity. The struggle to love ourselves as the joyfully-made women we are has never been more difficult. When Sandi began her journey towards healing and freedom, she thought she was alone in her struggles. By working with Michelle, the two found that scores of women experience a disconnect between how they see themselves and God’s image.
Healing Out Loud captures many of the insecurities the modern woman faces in her walk with Christ. Written in conversational prose, Brown and Caulk’s combined voice creates an accessible path for readers to face their vulnerabilities with biblical insight.
Buy it here.
Also available in Spanish here.
