Over the years, I have read numerous books that have been helpful during the healing journey. Here, I will share what I believe are among the best. This is not a comprehensive list; there are many other excellent books. If any seem interesting, you can search Amazon to find a copy.

First, several books that address important aspects of Christianity and Healing:

Rebuilding the Real You by Jack Hayford. Based on the book of Nehemiah, it provides an awesome illustration of what healing – even while struggling – looks like.

Praying God’s Word: Breaking Free from Spiritual Strongholds by Beth Moore. Moore provides a list of various topics, including rejection, depression, and many others, and provides extensive lists of scriptures to address each, stories from others who have dealt with the stronghold, and some prayers about the topic.

Grace and Forgiveness: Learning to Give the Gift of Forgiveness to Others and Ourselves by John and Carol Arnott. I have read this one three times; it is an excellent study on what forgiveness is, and is not; and has stories that show the benefits of choosing to forgive.

Outsmarting Yourself: Catching Your Past Invading the Present and What to Do About It by Karl Lehman, M.D. Lehman offers excellent insights into why we react the way we do, even when we are unaware; and how to pray to the roots of what is going on.

Walking with God through Pain and Suffering by Timothy Keller. Keller asks the really hard questions, and this book helped me through a time when I hated God because of the pain I had been through. It didn’t make it “all better” but it did provide insights and an understanding of the struggle that goes beyond the normal quick “pat” answer.

The Cry of the Soul: How Our Emotions Reveal Our Deepest Questions About God by Dan Allender and Tremper Longman. Allender’s books are always good, and again, he asks great questions that don’t minimize the impact of abuse, and shares how others have dealt with them.

Secular (Non-Christian) Books that Promote Understanding Healing

Becoming Yourself: Overcoming Mind Control and Ritual Abuse by Allison Miller. All of Miller’s books are excellent, and this is an outstanding workbook/self-help guide for survivors.

Coping with trauma-related dissociation: Skills training for patients and therapists by Suzette Boon, Kathy Steele and Onno van der Hart. Published by therapists, for therapists but with information helpful for survivors, it is a thick book filled with information about dissociation and how to work towards healing.

I would love to hear from others who read this blog on what books have been helpful to you, to share with others.