100 Books Like Courage, Dear Heart

I bought this book, thinking it would be about Andrew Peterson’s creative process as he writes songs. Well, yeah, it’s about that. It’s also about his struggle with depression. He talks candidly about how he hid from others, wept, and thought he was worthless. And as I read his descriptions of his depression… I knew I was not alone. This is an intimate look at a singer and the darkness he battles. Thankfully, it’s not only brutal about depression, but also points to the light we have in Jesus. 

Being a Christian often means “faking it” on Sunday mornings. We’re all fine then. So often we internalize that and show a smile to the world when all we feel is shattered inside. This books gives voice to the darkness that so many Christians feel but don’t know how to express. Like the other books on my list, though, it also points to real hope. It also includes a list of resources in the back of the book. 

This book isn’t specifically about depression, but it helped me with my depression so, so much. Much of my depression was based on thinking I had to get people to like me, I had to accomplish so much, I had to… But this book reminded me in powerful ways that it’s not about what I do. It’s about what Jesus has already accomplished. This book will help with a lot of the “other things” that can make depression worse, so you can work directly on depression without having to worry about other spiritual pressures. 

And sometimes it helps to know you’re not the only one who struggles. This is Pastor Todd Peperkorn’s struggle with depression. He writes about how hard it has been for him, including his struggle with suicidal thoughts. This is not a happy sunshiny book. It’s one that sighs and moans with pain. Peperkorn is very forward about how he’s hurt, and how Jesus has helped. As a pastor, it helped me see that I’m not the only one in ministry with this struggle! 

A heartfelt and poignant tale of faith and perseverance with authentic details sure to resonate with historical fiction fans, this tale of grace and forgiveness is both tender and endearing. In many ways, reading this book was like going home. I was delighted to see the historical details during the search for Booth (something I spent months researching as I dug through the trial records for my own series). It's a beautiful story of grace and forgiveness.

What are the stages of a disciple’s optimal development? The theoretical path starts with a person not following Jesus and ends with that person helping their own disciples make disciples of Jesus. Having a reliable model that traces the course of a disciple’s development benefits a disciple maker practically, because people have different capacities, needs, and challenges at different stages as they grow.

The most persuasive and useful model yet proposed might be found in this brief book by Harrington and Wiens, who adapt to individuals the Exponential organization’s five-level typology of churches.

This book is a refreshingly honest and empowering guide to self-discovery and finding strength within. Through candid anecdotes and practical advice, Rachel Hollis invites readers on a journey of self-reflection and personal growth, inspiring them to embrace their authenticity and pursue their dreams with confidence.

One of the most compelling aspects of the book is Hollis' relatability. She fearlessly shares her own struggles and insecurities, offering readers a glimpse into her own journey of self-discovery, which is extremely important and what makes this so relatable. By sharing her vulnerabilities,  a safe space for readers is created so that they can explore their own doubts and fears, empowering them to break free from self-limiting beliefs and embrace their true selves.

The book is filled with strategies for overcoming obstacles and achieving personal fulfillment. It provides practical advice on topics such as goal-setting, self-care, and cultivating healthy relationships, empowering readers to take… show more.

I picked up a copy of this book at a time in my life when I was feeling less than, left out, and lonely. After experiencing the sting of multiple rejections, I had forgotten who I was—a person of incredible value.

But I was encouraged as I read Lysa TerKeurst’s story of being abandoned by her father, which resulted in a deep sense of rejection, and how she was able to heal by embracing her identity as a dearly loved child of God.

Lysa’s personal narrative was interwoven with practical advice in such a caring way that I felt like I was having coffee with a dear friend.

If you are struggling with your sense of belonging, I highly recommend this book. 

Valerie Burtons gives great guidance enabling and encouraging change through the simplest form of your thoughts. Understanding how you think can lead to your success, she outlines the discovery that encourages and enable empowerment within ourselves. Her holistic approach through positive thinking and transparent coaching enable the cultivation of positive perspectives for all of life’s lessons. 

I’m so impressed by the sense of closeness, the claustrophobic setting, and the relationships Endo evokes in this novel.

The intensely atmospheric language perfectly matches the storyline, which involves Portuguese Jesuit priests arriving in seventeenth-century Japan, where they are martyred in devastatingly cruel and grotesque ways. But that’s not to say there isn’t beauty in the novel, either.

I found joy in the historical details, setting, and the rendering of individual lives—the characters’ anguish and existential crises speaking to me through imagined centuries and deft translation.