Healing What You Can't Erase: Transform Your Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health from the Inside Out

by Christopher Cook

Pastor and leadership coach Christopher Cook presents a path to healing from traumatic life experiences that doesn't rely on willpower, but rather on the daily transformative power of the Holy Spirit.

The pain that happened to you is real . . . and it matters immensely.

The notion of healing what you can’t erase is not about ignoring the devastation of your past or putting a glossy, positive spin on current tragedy. That plastic version of faith isn’t actually faith; it’s unbelief.

Healing What You Can’t Erase offers a far better solution—a road map for moving forward through the losses and scars by allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to transform us . . . spirit, soul, and body.

Through story, instruction, action steps, and guided questions, you’ll discover
• why transformation beats willpower and self-help
• how to recognize and heal a broken spirit
• well-researched, biblically grounded strategies to revitalize your mental and emotional well-being
• how inside-out integrated transformation changes your spirit, soul, and body

Whether you’re wrestling with the loss of a marriage, a fractured friendship, a betrayal at work, or a chronic illness, there is hope. No matter your pain or traumatic experience, the Holy Spirit can heal and restore you to the life God created you for.

Genres: Christian, Faith, Nonfiction, Self Help, Health

272 pages, Hardcover

Published March 19, 2024

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Christopher Cook is a leadership coach, author, and podcast host focused on transformation and wholeness. With an aptitude for strategy and execution, his ability to unearth clarity out of complexity drives his mission to help individuals and organizations thrive in their true identity. His work has appeared in outlets such as SUCCESS Magazine, and he has spent over a decade coaching leaders in both the marketplace and non-profit sectors. His weekly podcast, Win Today with Christopher Cook, equips wellness-minded listeners to move beyond the limitations of self-help, and instead, toward an integrated life of wholeness from the inside out. Pulling from his own experiences with adversity and personal transformation, these efforts, embodied by his passion for mental health, emotional health, and spiritual maturity, along with his educational credentials in business administration, leadership, and ministry, have led to helping people experience healing and transformation in their spirit, mind, and body.

Reviews

[Kayla Higginbotham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can appreciate books that offer good insight, information, or ideas, but most of the time I walk away with just that - a good thought or idea. No actual roadmap of how to apply it to everyday life. This book is *not* that. It is saturated with and focused on practical application. One reviewer’s words were, “Razor-sharp focus…a clear-cut path to find healing.” I think many people in many different spaces would benefit from reading it. I can see this being a book that isn’t just helpful for me, but will overflow in walking with others, too, as they try to take steps towards healing.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I spent six months reading this book. Well, actually, I wasn’t reading it most of the time. Why? Because this is a processing book. And that takes time.

Books about healing, where you look at what’s hurt you and try to process and heal, require emotional energy. I didn’t have that every day. I also cried a lot through this and so I have to read when people aren’t around or I have the time to compose myself.

Then there are the prompts at the end of the chapters. (Which I greatly appreciated.) I didn’t always have the time to sit with them and work through things when I reached the end of a chapter. All of these things contributed to the long read time.

So what did I actually think of the book?

I think this is a great book… when you’re ready to start living again. If your grief and hurt are fresh, I think this book will make you angry. I know it would have for me. The author is very compassionate and gentle but this is a book for the point when you decide you’re tired of how things have been and you want a change.

He makes it accessible without giving you a direct roadmap because there is no such thing. He gives guidance and suggestions and examples from his own life. I think one of the most encouraging aspects, thought it might sound discouraging at first, is that he didn’t write this book until 8-10 years after his world fell apart. I’m at year 3 or 4. I tend to get frustrated at my lack or progress but hearing his story and seeing how long it took him to get to where he is helps me see that this can’t be rushed. Maybe this book will help cut off a year or two but it’s not a recipe for overnight healing. It just encourages you that healing is possible and gives you tools to assist in that goal.


Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and a favorable review was not required.

[MsV]

"Healing What You Can't Erase: Transform Your Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health from the Inside Out" by Christopher Cook is a profound journey into the depths of healing and self-discovery. Cook's insightful exploration delves into the complexities of overcoming past traumas and embracing a path towards holistic well-being. Drawing from personal experiences and extensive research, the author offers practical strategies and transformative insights for healing wounds that seem impossible to erase. With a compassionate and empathetic approach, Cook guides readers through the process of uncovering inner resilience, cultivating self-compassion, and embracing the power of forgiveness. "Healing What You Can't Erase" is a beacon of hope for anyone grappling with the lingering effects of past pain, offering a roadmap for reclaiming mental, emotional, and spiritual health from the inside out. This book is a must-read for those seeking profound transformation and lasting healing in their lives.

[Michelle Castaneda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Healing What You Can't Erase: Transform Your Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health from the Inside Out by Christopher Cook is an incredible book. This book gently steers hurting people towards Scripture and a loving Father. I love how it deals so carefully with different issues and always points to Scripture. This is a book to share with others. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

[ElizaBeth Marie Trook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed his perspective on the healing process and will be trying his ideas. I think his approach is well thought out and should work for some. I would recommend this book to others suffering from PTSD or other mental health issues.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt like he was talking directly to me.

[Nyla Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Healing What You Can't Erase: Transform Your Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health from the Inside Out by author Christopher Cook is a Christian Mind & Body Health, Self-Help book. This hardcover book is 272 pages and divided into three sections: The Breaking, The Building, and The Beckoning.

The author uses scripture throughout his writing. He offers insight and help for those dealing with traumatic life experiences. It is an inspiring book that discusses healing through the power of the Holy Spirit. This book is not just for those hurting or grieving, but it also offers insight to those that care and love the hurting ones.

The author’s style of writing is easy to understand. Having three different sections makes it easy to return to where additional help is needed. This is a book to refer back to time and again.

I recommend this to anyone hurting or grieving as well as their loved ones. It is a helpful alternative to deal with heartache and sorrow. It receives 4 out of 5 stars from me. A copy was provided by NetGalley, but these are my honest words.

[Molly Mercer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! We know Jesus came to save us, but he also came to heal our broken hearts and wounded souls, and I don’t think the church hears about that part near enough. Christopher’s early life story is heart wrenching, but reading about his journey of heart transformation is encouraging, hopeful, and packed with Truth. Heart transformation happens by renewing the mind with God’s Truth, and Christopher gives practical and applicable ways to get in a habit of doing that.
I’ve also enjoyed listening to his podcast, “Win Today” and will be on the lookout for any other books that he writes.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely transformative!!! One I will often recommend in my future therapy practice, for sure! You know a book is good when it’s so full of so many truth bombs, you have a note in your phone overflowing with them after finishing! If you are a Christian who has suffered so much loss that feels as if it’s become your very identity (🙋🏻‍♀️) and you desperately want to break free and heal… run, don’t walk, to get your hands on this book!!! 10000 stars! ⭐️

[Rachelle Cobb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think many people may find this book helpful; I just wasn’t one of them. The author delves deeply into his own life story (including the tragic, slow loss of his mother to cancer and his own subsequent, separate diagnosis) which I found hard to read. His SEED method for taking every thought captive and replacing it with truth is good, but I confess I skimmed the rest of the book.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best book I’ve read on this subject

We can wallow in our hurts, or lay the blame on someone else, but in the end it won’t help us. Children of God constantly need to focus, abide in Christ and what he has done for us.

[Amy Hinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was very well written and very timely in my own life. I listen to the audiobook but want to purchase the hardcopy so that I can re-read it and underline what stood out to me.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I Thought About the Book:

I enjoyed it! The author discussed his battle with pain and trauma while giving readers practical tips to move forward from their trials.
Our responses to trials and pain will positively or negatively impact our emotional health. The book focuses on how to have a healthier response to suffering.
This book was a good reminder of needing to surrender our life daily to Christ, letting go of the control we think we have, and giving it to the one who does.


What Stood Out:

I appreciated the author's willingness to note the ineffectiveness of self-help culture. While some of these tools are not bad, they do not produce lasting change. The author drills home the importance of heart transformation and the consistent need to depend upon the Holy Spirit.

The author notes that grief and pain are not something we get over, but we can move forward. He notes the importance of feeling grief and mourning our losses. The author states we will remain stuck in our past when we do not allow ourselves the space to mourn.

Transformation does not happen in a day; it happens daily. I thought this was an important point. We live in a society where everyone is looking for quick fixes. Transformation takes time and consistency.

At the end of the book, the author details a method for helping readers to renew their minds. "What we focus on flourishes." We need to set our minds on what is true. Though we experience pain and anxiety, we do not have to let it control us. We can stay afloat in the pain when Jesus is our anchor.

Book Descriptors:
Memoir feel
Practical Tips
Biblically Sound

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review

[Christina Harwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another DNF
Christopher Cook has experienced unimaginable trauma and I’m not not discounting his path to healing at all, but I made it about 25% in and just found it increasingly frustrating that he continues to set aside the science of trauma. Trauma completely hacks your entire nervous system (and the rest of your body too) and sometimes it isn’t as simple as just “letting go” of what hurt you in order to heal. If it were that easy then the demand for self help books wouldn’t exist. There is so much more to trauma recovery than what is covered in this book.

[Lia · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF right at the first chapter, the multitude of christian ideals was a turn off to continue reading the book- I'm eccletic in my faith, and it's a struggle reading like there's only "the holy spirit" and one god, I have read other books written by christian people that used more geral ideals of faith, so they can be read by someone, no matter what religion they follow. This one? Too specific for me.

[Jane Riordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

No disrespect to the text here, but perhaps I read this when I was much further through the healing process than I realised and so didn't relate to much of what was being suggested and said.

Based on the idea of healing from the inside out and not relying on one's own understanding, but looking to the Lord, gaining an understanding of the impact on us of hurt and shame.

I am sure this would have been a good read much earlier in my journey.

[Windi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most thought provoking, hope inspiring books I have read, other than the Bible itself. A solid roadmap to transoformation and renewing of the mind through surrender and identifying the Truth ….. not to be mistaken for “your” or “my” truth.

[Caryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kept putting this one aside. It was a slow read because I wanted to absorb it.