Blessed Are the Spiraling: How the Chaotic Search for Significance Can Lead to Joy Through Life’s Shifting Seasons

by Levi Lusko

ARE YOU GOING TO COPE, QUIT, OR COME ALIVE IN A BRAND-NEW WAY?

The whirlwind of chaos and confusion barreling toward you has likely caught you completely off guard. Maybe you're navigating a season of transition—a career shift, a major life adjustment, or just an unshakable sense of disorientation. When the things that once brought fulfillment no longer seem to work, when the familiar feels foreign, and when life feels like it's slipped out of your control, you're actually in the perfect position for God to lead you to greater heights.

Am I still enough if I don't succeed? Is this season going to last forever? Am I too old to make a change, start over, or dream again?

Levi Lusko wrestled with these questions, and what he discovered on the other side wasn't despair but surprising delight.

With a rich blend of personal stories, biblical insight, and hard-won wisdom, this book will help you

-find your footing in the disorienting chaos and tap into steady, unshakable joy amidst life's storms;
-step off the treadmill of success-chasing and embrace the true significance that comes from knowing that your worth is fixed and your future is secure;
-challenge the lie that your best days are behind you by getting your bearings, retooling, and reframing for a vibrant future; and
-channel the energy of your spiraling into something meaningful and life-giving, propelling you to a new level.

This could be your new lease on life.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Faith, Self Help, Christian Living, Audiobook, Spirituality

Audiobook

Published April 1, 2025

About the author

Levi Lusko is the founder and lead pastor of Fresh Life Church, located in Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, and Utah and everywhere online. He is the bestselling author of Through the Eyes of a Lion, Swipe Right, I Declare War, Take Back Your Life, Roar Like a Lion, and The Last Supper on the Moon. Levi also travels the world speaking about Jesus. He and his wife, Jennie, have one son, Lennox, and four daughters: Alivia, Daisy, Clover, and Lenya, who is in heaven.

Reviews

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

TITLE: Blessed Are the Spiraling: How the Chaotic Search for Significance Can Lead to Joy Through Life’s Shifting Seasons
AUTHOR: LEVI LUSKO
PUB DATE: 04.01.2025

ARE YOU GOING TO COPE, QUIT, OR COME ALIVE IN A BRAND-NEW WAY?
The whirlwind of chaos and confusion barreling toward you has likely caught you completely off guard. Maybe you're navigating a season of transition—a career shift, a major life adjustment, or just an unshakable sense of disorientation.

THOUGHTS:

I was admiring this book cover art and my first thought was how absolutely beautiful the color and photography was - but as i looked at it more closely, I realized that it is a photograph of a twister. Blessed Are the Spiraling is exactly just that. It is finding the beauty in the peace, joy, and fulfillment in our lives, when it is the most chaotic, unfulfilling, and even in times of despair.

I enjoyed learning about ways to refocus life, knowing your self-worth, learning to recharge for a more positive outlook, and more. I found this book to be a great gift for someone who is going through a lot of life chaos and may need just the right encouragement - this book is like an embrace from a friend.

[Katie Betts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blessed are the Spiraling by Levi Lusko
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When life feels chaotic and disorienting, it’s easy to wonder if change is possible or if your best days are behind you. Blending stories, biblical wisdom, and practical guidance, this book invites you to find joy in uncertainty, embrace true significance beyond success, and reframe your future with fresh hope and steady purpose.

I had no clue what direction this book would take, but after hearing Levi preach at Passion 2025, I knew it would be filled with vulnerable stories, clever analogies, and genuine wisdom. What he set out to write as a reflection on moving from fearless young leader to seasoned sage actually offers the very depth of wisdom he thought he’d only reach later. His love for the craft of writing and his desire to give something of value shine through every page. At times, a few explanations feel slightly muddy—not from a lack of understanding, but from ideas that could have been tied together more seamlessly with time. Still, his raw honesty about anxiety and his challenge to exchange success-driven motivation for heavenly joy will move you.

This is a book for anyone—yes, even those like me who think a midlife crisis is far off—who has placed too much value in earthly status, success, and control, and instead needs to seek joy in God’s wisdom.

Thank you @thomasnelson for the eARC 🤍 this book is going to help so many.

Perfect for you if you like:
Deconstructing cultural definitions of success
Learning to release control
Wise, practical guidance in seasons of transition
Honest reflections on anxiety and burnout
Tattoos

Similar to:
Live No Lies by John Mark Comer
The Cost of Control by Sharon Hodde Miller
Winning the War in Your Mind by Craig Groeshel

[Elaine Lucky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, raw, & real. I read the book and watched the messages the author/pastor gave at Fresh Life Church in Montana coinciding with chapters from the book. Highly recommend

[Juliette Beckham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly have always loved anything Levi Lusko publishes, since I saw him speak at a Passion conference years ago - but this one??? Takes first place. Here recently, I feel like life challenges have really started to “spiral” and this book was a good refresh to reset my mind / thoughts and really dial in on what’s important and how to conquer through them. Really appreciated this read. ❤️

[Devin Post · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took my time reading through this book so that I could rest and meditate with what the Lord was speaking through it. As I currently walk in a season of transition, this book served as a reminder of where my true hope and identity is found.

In this season of transition, I have learned how misplaced my identity was. The Lord used this book as both a whisper of encouragement in the midst of my spiral, and of conviction of how I was looking to the world to do what only Heaven can. “When we proclaim that something other than heaven will do what only Heaven can do, we set ourselves up for disaster” (254).

Transition, although hard, is sweet. Refining. Holy. The Lord uses transition to take us deeper, so that we may learn to cling to Him tighter. When our treasures are stored in Heaven rather than earth, I wonder if maybe we learn to look forward to transition rather than cower to it?

The main idea is this: “just as we rely on Jesus for salvation, we also rely on Him for our daily security, sense of direction, and deep, abiding peace. When we find ourselves feeling lost, slipping and falling down a mountain, we can cry out and He’ll come to us. We don’t have to wander on the mountain afraid” (258). Every end is a new beginning. The King of Kings holds our every end and every beginning in His hands— cling to Him.

[Sami Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book found me (thanks to an Annie Downs podcast interview) at the exact moment I needed to read it - a shifting season if there ever was one - and I loved it. Easy to read, resonant and practical. The chapter What a Friend I’ve Found was masterful but it was all worth the price of admission for Lusko’s Afterword. I’m still crying after reading about the end of his dad’s life and the most impactful thing was the way his counselor taught him to sort grief in to bins. Beautiful.

[Dana Hashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some favorite ideas for me: 1) it's not a wall it's a stair step, 2) become Yoda, 3) a low visibility position doesn't make you less valuable, but maybe more, 4) create margin, 5) when remembering a loss think about a) what I have lost, the presence and grieve it, b) what I haven't lost in lessons and memories so cherish it, and c) what I can't lose in the future.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting and good read!

[Olivia Chittick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. Genuinely have never been moved by words like Levi has moved me. This book is a must read - literally my first recommendation to anyone looking for a new read.

[Jonathan Moye · Rating 3 out of 5]

When he was sharing his own story this book was extremely moving

[Linnea Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a blessing to us! Jeph said he could have written the first few chapters himself, except his wife’s name is Linnea, not Jennie 😂 It was really amazing for Jeph to read it during his spiral, and amazing for me to get a better feeling for what he’s walking through.

[Deb C · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good, Levi’s vulnerability was so “not performative,” which is rare to find. Excellent writing & story telling

[Cheryl Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to have access to an advance copy of this book. It came at just the right time. Written in a warm conversational style, the book invites the reader into a paradigm shift in how we view the hardest moments in life. Rather than bouts of self-blame, unrelenting darkness, or hopelessness, those difficult times can be the set up for growth and advancement in a life of faith. This is NOT, however, a self-help book full of trite platitudes. Each chapter is grounded in scripture and the author’s own experiences. His insight and wisdom did not come cheap, and the profound concepts born out of his experiences and walk with God are life-changing. This is a book to savor and study, one I’m sure I’ll return to over and over.

[Bethanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. So encouraging and thought provoking. It is enlightening in that we all spiral. Before this book I would have thought that wasn’t me, but now I see I’ve spiraled in small ways countless times even on the daily and had at big spirals too. We all do. This book is amazing. And I loved how in the audio book Levi Lusko gives extra tidbits just to listeners! That part was super fun!

[Stacey Cochran · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just ok for me. I enjoyed his stories, but didn't see the connecting thread. The pop culture references got to be distracting.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Michele Morin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Blessed Are the Spiraling, Levi Lusko employs personal stories and biblical wisdom to reassure his readers that life’s shifting seasons can be a place of building rather than breaking. When he reached middle age, he began to suffer from panic attacks. Questions about his significance and his future stormed through his mind and sent him spiraling.

The death of his daughter, combined with a grueling schedule of travel and ministry had taken their toll on his body and spirit. The pandemic completed the perfect storm, but Lusko’s spiraling anxiety sent him in the right direction of seeking new strategies for a new season.

He wisely points readers to the church as the natural context for navigating both our days of growth and success and our days of diminishing capacity. Somewhere along the way, Christians bought into a narrative of continual success, gleaming smiles, and answers to prayer that show up just in the nick of time. Lusko counters this fairy tale with bracing reality:

“Our only goal in life can’t be incremental improvement, for that is a losing battle. It is more about seeking to thrive in every season, whatever limitations we may have, and depending on God through all the transitions and crises.”

Blessed Are the Spiraling covers heavy topics with a light touch. I smiled when I encountered pop culture Easter eggs sprinkled throughout, and I really enjoyed Lusko’s fresh interpretation of familiar scriptural themes. I bookmarked his musical recommendations and checked them out on YouTube.

The truth we all need playing on repeat in our minds comes from God’s Word: Everyone will encounter transitions that knock us off balance. We prepare for them in advance by accepting the grace of each new season and then running faithfully, loving our people well, and keeping our eyes on eternal rewards.

[Cameron Rebarchek · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the things I have always appreciated about Levi Lusko's books is that is well-read and has a great way of pulling in interesting stories and facts in a powerful way. Blessed Are the Spiraling is not exception, and when that is coupled with Lusko's own personal, vulnerable, at times gut-wrenching stories, it can be a powerful one-two punch.

Lusko shares not just one story but several incidents where life felt as if it were careening—spiraling—toward chaos. And, yet, somehow, there is beauty and grace to be found within the spiral. The book is divided into two parts, which explain (1) how to find your bearings in the midst of the chaotic season and (2) how to move forward living in your God-given identity. At one point, Lusko writes, "I dare you to view your challenges as opportunities to trust God in new ways. To believe that your hard times are not there to destroy you but to deepen you. And if you do—and you keep on doing it for years—you will become a deep well for others." This, I believe, is the main thesis of Blessed Are the Spiraling. We often seek how to get out of a chaotic season; Lusko challenges us to seek what God wants us to learn out of the chaotic season.

Again, throughout, Lusko turns to biblical examples who persevered through the spiral and found blessing from God, but I felt Levi's own stories of struggling with sin, anxiety, the loss of a daughter, the loss of a father, and so much more, really brought a powerful personal touch to his points. If you find yourself disoriented by this season of life, questioning whether you need to just suck it up, quit, or for a way to press ahead, this is an excellent read for you.

I received an advanced readers' copy from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Books in exchange for my honest review.

[Rebecca Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book met me right where I was—somewhere in the middle of a spiral. But instead of trying to stop it, Levi Lusko invites us to bless the spiral—to slow down, stare it down, and ask if maybe, just maybe, the direction we feel lost in is actually leading us somewhere higher.

Growth, he reminds us, isn’t always linear. It’s jagged, stair-stepped, and often marked by pit stops in pain, moments of doubt, and unexpected redirections. But in those moments, God isn’t distant—He’s near, placing a picture beside our bed of who we already are in Christ. Not based on what we’ve earned, but on what He’s given.

Some of the truths in this book just wrecked me (in the best way):
📌 “When you sing in the pit of despair, there can be breakthrough in what is trying to break you.”
📌 “God’s righteousness isn’t based on you. It’s placed on you.”
📌 “I cannot bless when I’m trying to impress.”

Levi weaves scripture, real-life stories, and unforgettable metaphors (like Tiger Woods’ 10-step pity party or the mom who planted a picture of identity near her child’s bed) to remind us: Obedience is our job. Outcome is God’s.

He challenges us to shift our measurements—not by decades or followers, but by heartbeats and heartthrobs. To live light-handed. To subtract so there’s room for better things. To turn toward the Son, knowing our shadows will fall behind us.

This book isn’t just about spiraling—it’s about re-framing how we view failure, redirection, calling, and the quiet work God does in the middle of it all.

If you’re in a season that feels messy, uncertain, or slow—read this.
It’ll remind you that spiraling doesn’t always mean falling. Sometimes, it means you’re rising… just differently than expected.

[Shari Summers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blessed Are the Spiraling by Levi Lusko is one of those rare books that finds you right where you are — especially if you’re in that mid-life space asking, “What now?” Lusko writes with an honesty and vulnerability that feels like a deep breath of fresh air. He shares about a time in his own life when panic, anxiety, and uncertainty took center stage, and he doesn’t shy away from the hard parts. Instead, he walks us through what he learned while working through those spirals — and in doing so, he offers incredible hope and perspective for anyone feeling the same.

This book isn’t just about surviving a difficult season; it’s about rediscovering purpose in the middle of it. Lusko reminds readers that life changes, roles shift, and dreams evolve — but our value and purpose remain. His words help you reground, refocus, and reimagine what God might be doing in this new stage of life, even if it looks a little different than before.

For anyone feeling the pull of transition, uncertainty, or anxiety about what’s next, Blessed Are the Spiraling is a must-read. It’s honest, hopeful, and beautifully written — a companion for anyone learning to embrace the changes and find peace in the process.

Thank you to NetGalley and Levi Lusko for the advance reader copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

My rating system:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Absolutely loved it! I’d read it again… if my TBR pile weren’t already taller than me. Highly recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Really great read! Thoroughly enjoyed it and would happily recommend it to others.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Glad I read it! A solid read, and I might check out more from this author.
⭐️⭐️ – Just okay. Not terrible, but I kind of wish I’d picked something else.
⭐️ – Nope. Didn’t connect with it and wouldn’t recommend.

[Cindy Davis- Cindy's Book Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blessed Are the Spiraling is the first book I have read by Levi Lusko, but it will not be the last. This book is completely relatable, yet it's hard to find the right words to write a review.

"Spiraling comes in all shapes and sizes and can show up when least expected. Blessings and burdens are both heavy and can be easily confused."

The book is divided into two sections, Part 1: Get your bearings, face your shadow, and strategize for this season. Part 2: Live from your God-given identity, focus on true treasure, and prepare to end well. I loved the creativity of the chapter titles, "Become Yoda," and "Albert Einstein's Dirty Little Secret." There are so many great nuggets of truth tucked into each chapter.

"As we get closer to the end of the journey, we (hopefully) better understand what is truly meaningful. There is significance in the spiral. It is not meaningless. The goal is to get closer to the center as you go around and around in smaller and smaller circles."

I have 40+ tabs in this book and many more highlights. It is not a book to be rushed, but a book to be savored. I appreciated the conversational style the author uses. I felt like I was having a conversation with a wise friend, one who has been there and done that. A friend that is challenging me to think through my current circumstances and examine what things I am allowing to have space in my life, and if they should be there.

Thank you to Front Gate Media for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

[Shelby Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In exchange for an honest review, Thomas Nelson has given me a free ARC of Levi Lusko’s “Blessed Are the Spiraling”. #ad #sponsored

This is a powerful, timely book that speaks directly to the chaos and overwhelm so many of us experience. It’s not just a book about struggle—it’s about what to do in the middle of it. Lusko masterfully redirects our focus from our circumstances to our Creator, reminding us that even when life feels like it’s spiraling out of control, God is steady, present, and at work.

One of the most impactful parts of the book is Lusko’s reflection on the apostle Paul. Paul’s greatest treasure wasn’t anything the world could give him—it was Jesus. And as Lusko so beautifully puts it, “Death didn’t take him away from his treasure; it brought him to it.” That perspective shift is life-changing. When our eyes are on Jesus, even suffering, uncertainty, and loss lose their power to shake us.

Lusko also provides a simple yet profound visual that transformed my perspective—breathing. “Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Do you feel that? It’s His peace.” That moment of intentional stillness is more than just a breath—it’s God’s presence filling our lungs, grounding us in His unshakable peace.

This book could not have come at a better time. Lusko’s personal stories, deep biblical truths, and raw honesty make it a must-read. Whether you’re in the middle of a storm or just trying to keep your footing in everyday life, Blessed Are the Spiraling is a reminder that God is right there, holding you fast. It’s out tomorrow, April 1st—I can’t recommend it enough!

[Jules]

If you’re struggling with feeling like you’ve hit a wall, you may be in between seasons of life, and/or you don’t know what purpose you serve…this book will help you reconstruct your view on life and hopefully affect your mentality positively.

Maybe the wall you’ve hit is actually a stair leading you to greater things…

I’m sharing some quotes that really resonated with me.


—“The wall you’ve hit is a chance to grow.”
—“You are not the only one fighting a difficult battle.”
—“Every act of subtraction is also an addition. Breathing room.”
— “Comparison is a distraction to what matters. And it always destroys joy.”
__________

I myself am struggling to figure out what I want to do work wise. This book gave me more confidence to trust the process and God’s plan. You can switch things up. Everything goes round and round and you should be doing what you love but also hopefully something that will help others.

There’s no point in having all materialistic things when it doesn’t go with anyone the end of this life.

Your goal should be to live to the fullest, help others and love one another.

Don’t push things off for 5 years or say you’ll get to it later. Little by little start to make a change. You’ll see a difference sooner than you know it!

I didn’t understand some of the stories from the Bible in this book since I haven’t read it all the way through but it was nice that Levi included quotes and verses in the Bible to relate to current day issues.

[Andy Troeger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how God uses the seasons of our lives to guide us toward Him. I would consider myself someone who has spiraled at least a few times in the past, and every single time I've come out the other side with more faith and more confidence that God can actually use me for things. That's a credit to Him, not me.

From that perspective, it was really easy to connect with Levi's stories and his messages. Levi's willingness to be vulnerable and unfiltered as he shares the highs and lows in his own journey really helps the reader desire to search within to better understand their own relationships -- with themselves, with others, and with God.

I think this book will connect with a wide audience, in part because it refers to the seasons of life. Whether you're spiraling right now or not, I think this book has lessons certainly for any believer or seeker of truth.

If we let Him, God can write amazing stories with our lives. God truly uses our spiraling as part of His sovereign plan. He wants us to seek Him out. I appreciate Levi's willingness to share his stories vulnerably with us, in the hopes that we'll let God write our stories through the shifting seasons of life!

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Reasons for Five Stars ⭐️
1) I watch Fresh Life via YouTube and saw Levi speaking about his book and related to many things as I am going through my own “mid life spiraling”, so to begin with this is very relevant to those who are in the “ what now” season of life.
2) I found this to be relevant also if you are a Christian and have been for a while and you need a refresher that God hasn’t forgotten or forsaken you.
3) As with all of Levi’s books he is relevant to the times. He writes with spiritual knowledge and humor.
4) This book took me much longer than others to read. I took my time to take in the season that I’m in right now and get what God wanted me hear through the author’s words. The chapter There’s an Angel on my Porch Swing had me in tears. So much of what Levi went through is exactly what I am going through. I appreciate his honesty.
5) This book gives wisdom and detailed scripture references that will help you understand that God is for you. What you are going through can be used for His glory and there is so much more waiting for us on the other side. Don’t give up!!

[Graham Gaines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished this on a night shift. This is a pretty good book. There's some cringey stuff, which I find often in books by megachurch pastors. But he also is more trauma-informed than other authors I've been reading. So this was a nice change of pace. I'll take some cringe with sensitivity to trauma any day over super serious books with little sensitivity to trauma.

I was not expecting the afterword to hit me as hard as it did. I mean, it's about the death of his dad so it shouldn't have surprised me. But reading the words "You are never ready to not have a father" (p 266) hit me like a ton of bricks. My body viscerally reacted. Because if a 38-year-old man is not ready, how much more unprepared was my 3-year-old self?! There's a lot packed in there, maybe it'll come out in a blog post idk.

I enjoy most of Levi's work. Last Supper on the Moon I refused to read cause like what even is that title. But this is good. Not a must-read, I would say but I enjoyed it.

[Rachel H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure at first if this book would hold my interest or be a benefit. But upon finishing the audiobook, I have come away with the thought that no matter where I find myself in life, if I look for it, God has a purpose for me. He is not finished with me yet. I need to continue to run the race and finish the race of life. But that race may look different than it did 5 or 10 years ago.

A great book for encouragement when you feel like you do not have a purpose anymore. Maybe God has moved you to a different job or city or church. But through it all, He has a purpose. Don’t stop yet!

[Lisa Petitte · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband and I are big Levi Lusko fans because he has the bravery and grace to openly speak to his humanity, his highs and lows and how Jesus continues to work on him while ministering to others and shepherding a church in Montana. My favorite part of this book is his story of Phil Wickman in the beginning and how God used Lisa Harper at the end of his book on the back porch of his Montana home. He ends the book with the final chapter of losing his father and laying next to him as he takes his last breath. Levi is the salt of this earth with his vulnerability and transparent heart. We have all down spiraled and have been in need again of a constant, steady, never changing Savior.

[David Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fortunate enough to be given early access to this book.

I was so challenged and blessed by Levi’s personal account of what was a difficult season of life. This book was like sitting down for coffee with him and being mentored by him.

I was challenged to return to finding my true treasure only in Jesus and who he is, not what I do for him or what he has given me.

This book is great for anyone who is going through a time where they feel like they are spiraling out of control and for anyone who is still in the building stage of life (trust me it will come in handy later).

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this for free as a Goodreads giveaway. This is my honest review.

This book is faith-based and for anyone who has experienced a “spiraling” in life—in his case it was a midlife crisis but it could be any type of loss, change of season or grief. The important takeaways are to focus on Christ’s sufficiency. He also talked about the importance of counseling and needing meds at one point. I found this book encouraging—has a lot of movie references and is not a downer or heavy for how important the content is.

[Dennis Stansbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to share how great God is: I read Levi's book about the Lion years ago and tbh, I completely forgot about him. I saw my pastor post about this book and was like, "oh yeah...this guy!" But then forgot again. THEN, I was reading a book by Noah Asher called Chaos...he quoted Levi. I sat his book down and went to Amazon to purchase. I knew God was obviously trying to get my attention. I'm so glad I got this book. It's so so good. Levi is a great communicator and writer. God's timing is always the best!