Deeply Rooted

Identity, Belonging, and Trusting God

• Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely – Lysa TerKeurst (An insightful exploration of rejection, identity, and finding security in God’s love.)

• Identity Theft: Reclaiming the Truth of Who We Are in Christ – Edited by Melissa Kruger, Contributions by Jen Wilkin, Hannah Anderson, and others. (Addresses common misconceptions about identity and grounding oneself in scriptural truth.)

• The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness: The Path to True Christian Joy – Timothy Keller (A concise and powerful exploration of finding identity in Christ instead of in the opinions of others.)

Suffering, Resilience, and Spiritual Growth

• Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering – Timothy Keller. (A profound look at suffering, pain, and the hope found only in God.)

• A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God's Sovereignty – Joni Eareckson Tada. (Personal, vulnerable reflections on trusting God through chronic pain and hardship.)

• Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts – Jerry Bridges. (Classic work exploring God’s sovereignty and goodness in the midst of life’s difficulties.)

Emotional and Spiritual Health

• Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It's Impossible to Be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature – Peter Scazzero. (Explores the integration of emotional health and spiritual maturity from a biblical perspective.)

• Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers – Dane Ortlund. (Deeply comforting portrayal of Christ’s compassion for our struggles and sins.)

• When People Are Big and God Is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man – Edward T. Welch. (Addresses the fear of man and the power of living with a God-centered identity.)

Building a Deep, Rooted Faith

• None Like Him: 10 Ways God Is Different from Us (and Why That's a Good Thing) – Jen Wilkin. (Helps readers anchor themselves in God’s unchanging nature, providing stability and peace.)

• Rooted: Theology for Growing Christians – J.A. Medders & Brandon D. Smith. (Encourages readers to grow deeper spiritual roots through solid theological foundations.)**

Practical and Encouraging Devotionals

• New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional – Paul David Tripp

• The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms – Timothy & Kathy Keller

Therapeutic resources (not specifically grounded in Reformed Theology)Attachment and Relationships:

• Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? Julie Smith. (explanation of “feelings are not facts” and emotional reasoning)*

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• Hold Me Tight - Sue Johnson and Kenneth Sanderfer. (Integrates EFT with Christian theology, focusing on attachment, emotional bonds, and connection with God and partner)

• Anatomy of the Soul: Surprising Connections between Neuroscience and Spiritual Practices That Can Transform Your Life and Relationships - Curt Thompson, M.D.(Explores neuroscience, attachment theory, and spiritual formation from a Christian perspective.)

• Try Softer: A Fresh Approach to Move Us out of Anxiety, Stress, and Survival Mode—and into a Life of Connection and Joy by Aundi Kolber(Combines psychology, spirituality, and trauma-informed care, guiding readers toward emotional resilience rooted in God's care.)

• The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves by Curt Thompson, M.D.  (Addresses shame and identity struggles, using neuroscience and biblical truths to reshape personal narratives.)

Identity, Emotional Health, and Christian Psychology:

• Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You by Dr. Henry Cloud (Offers practical guidance for emotional healing, healthy boundaries, and identity anchored in Christ.)

Anxiety, Perfectionism, and Boundaries:

• The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brené Brown (Though secular, widely used by Christians for understanding vulnerability, shame, and authentic identity.)*

• Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend (Provides biblically grounded therapeutic principles for managing boundaries, anxiety, and people-pleasing.)

• The Anxious Generation – Jonathan Haidt (a well researched and evidence based summary of anxiety in children leading to parenting tactics to create more resilience in children)*

Neuroplasticity and Mind Renewal:

• Switch On Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health by Dr. Caroline Leaf (Combines neuroscience with Scripture, exploring neuroplasticity and the renewing of the mind.)**

• Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life by Craig Groeschel (Practical, therapeutic, and scriptural strategies for changing thought patterns and overcoming negative thinking.)**

* not necessarily a Christian resource

** I have not read this book yet. Looking forward to diving into it😊