Heal Your Hurting Mind: Biblical Hope for Anxiety, Depression, Burnout, and the Emotions No One Talks About

by Craig Groeschel

A Life-Changing Path to Mental and Emotional Wellness

Do you ever Why am I so anxious? Why can't I shake this anger or depression? Maybe you've even cried out to God, Aren't Christians supposed to feel better than this?

You're not alone--and you don't have to stay stuck.

In Heal Your Hurting Mind, pastor and New York Times bestselling author Craig Groeschel opens up about his most personal journey yet--one shaped by deep emotional pain and raw honesty. With vulnerability and hope, Craig shares his story while guiding readers through a transformative path of healing, growth, and lasting change.

Along the way, you'll meet Dr. Wayne Chappelle, known as "Dr. C," a respected clinical psychologist who has helped everyone from elite military leaders to professional athletes overcome intense mental health challenges. Craig's candor and biblical wisdom, combined with Dr. C's psychological insight and expertise, offer a powerful and practical path forward, providing the tools you need to start healing today. Together, they will help

Realize you're not alone in your struggle with anxiety, depression, burnout, or angerIdentify and name your emotions and feelingsUnderstand what's really driving your mental and emotional battlesDiscover that mental health is dynamic, not staticDevelop specific strategies for changing toxic thought patterns and behavior 

You don't have to keep living under the weight of mental and emotional pain. God longs to bring healing and relief to your life. Break free from what's been holding you back, and let Heal Your Hurting Mind show you how.

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

271 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 17, 2026

About the author

Craig Groeschel is the founding and senior pastor of Life.Church, a multisite church with locations throughout the United States and globally at Life.Church Online.

Craig and his wife Amy started Life.Church in a two-car garage in Edmond, Oklahoma in January 1996. While Life.Church has grown over the years, its mission remains the same: to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. Today, the church is known for its innovative use of technology to spread the Gospel, launching the first fully digital church experience in 2006 and the most downloaded Bible app in history, YouVersion, in 2008.

As a widely respected leader in the Church, Craig speaks frequently at leadership events and conferences worldwide. He is a New York Times best-selling author with books about topics like dating and marriage, social media, purpose, direction, church leadership, and more. He also hosts the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, a practical tool to spark new ideas and prompt innovative thinking in leaders at every level within any organization.

Craig and Amy married in 1991 and have six children. They live in Oklahoma where Life.Church began.

Visit www.craiggroeschel.com to be the first to hear about new podcast episodes, books, leadership events, and more.

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the vulnerability in this, a must read for anyone wanting to better their mindset and mental health 🫶🏼

[vlad tomoș · Rating 5 out of 5]

A necessary book for the times we are living in. Mental health is one of the major issues of our generation, and the church needs to be open to helping those who are going through such struggles. Any one of us can face situations like these, and there should be no stigma attached to them. I appreciate the book’s Christ-centered approach, its practical solutions, the fact that it is scientifically grounded, and the many biblical examples that reinforce the authors’ arguments. Extremely relevant and timely—I will also be writing an article about it on my blog.

[Bowen McCasland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love reading Craig’s work. Simple to follow, consistently adding scripture along with his thoughts and is challenging as well. Loved his testimony on the subject as well as combating many issues that Christians have and can change our mindset on a variety of topics. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

[Cory Atchason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always going to love a book by pastor Craig. But this is a necessary book. A pastor partnering with a clinical psychologist and opening up on his own struggles with mental health is rare. As Craig covered in the book mental health is too often ignored in society and especially in church among Christians. I’m in my 40s and never thought I needed to talk about mental health until the last few years. And a lot of friends my age have had similar experiences. You hit that certain age and so many things hit you at once and you need help. Thank you Craig for tackling these issues. Thank you for writing this book and being open and honest about your own. I hope lots of people read this book and think about and talk about what is covered and share it with others.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars.

✨The vibes:
- Christian nonfiction
- Mental health
- combines Bible and Science

“Your emotions are valid, but they’re not permanent. Your situation feels hopeless, but with God, there’s always hope.”

✨ My thoughts:
This book dives into 6 major areas of mental health: anxiety, depression, negativity, anger, trauma, and burnout. The book addresses these areas on a clinical level, but also a spiritual level and it gives practical tips that are rooted in science but also rooted in biblical principals. The author is a pastor but he has a cowriter - Dr. Wayne Chappell who is a clinical psychologist who adds in his expertise for every chapter.

✨ Mental health is a topic that is very relevant for most of us. Sometimes we see a division of science and Christianity, but I love how this book interconnects the two and explains how they both support each other. I also appreciated the approach that when it comes to mental struggles, you need that biblical truth, but you also need to know the science of what’s going on and how we can practically address that.

✨ This was so good. It gives hope, encouragement through darkness, and emphasized the importance of community. I support acknowledging the sovereignty of God while also incorporating clinical data and practical tips to improve mental health.

✨ This was such a win, and I highly recommend it. Audio was excellent, but note that there are reflection questions at the end of every chapter which has me recommended a physical paper version of this if you want to get the most of this book.

[DINA MANANDHAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt an immediate connection with this book. It doesn’t just offer advice; it truly helps you navigate the weight of mental illness. Reading it felt like taking the first step toward healing my hurting mind. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking peace, understanding, and practical guidance for mental well-being.

[Ericka Andersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good stuff here! Practical and accessible. I was drawn to it for the “burnout” section.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and how practical it was!

[Bryan Prouty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Albeit not having dealt with too many of this issues talked about, studying this with our LifeGroup really enlightened me. Pairing Craig’s words with real life accounts from close friends allows me to better understand what some people are dealing with. It gave me the understanding and tools to be a better asset to those in need.

[Michelle Callista · Rating 5 out of 5]

You could say that this book accompanied me through one of the darker valleys of my life.

There were many things within myself that I hadn't noticed before. As the book raised different issues chapter by chapter, and as I reflected on what I was going through at the time, I realized how much of it I could relate to. In a way, reading this book made me feel understood.

At the same time, though, it wasn't always an easy read. Sometimes I would start a chapter feeling completely fine, but as I dug deeper into the topics, tried to apply what I was learning, and recognized parts of myself in the author's words, I found myself feeling down again. The book often held up a mirror to things I wasn't ready to confront.
Still, I believe this book became an important marker in my healing journey. It also accompanied part of my spiritual journey (a journey that, as I've learned, is far from simple and not always easy to stay consistent in.)

Looking back, I'm grateful that God gave me the opportunity to read this book at exactly the right time. ❤️

[Otis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Transparently amazing work of art. Thank you for saying it, “it’s ok to not be ok and seek help.” Mental wellness is real and there absolutely nothing wrong with chatting with a professional. If I have concerns about my brain, I’m going to seek advice from a neurologist. If I have heart problems, I’m gonna go see a cardiologist. Why is there such a stigma against seeking assistance from a psychiatrist or counselor?

Thank you Craig for your vulnerability and openness. And thank you Dr C for your support and compassionate input throughout this journey as well. Both of your words of courage and kindness is appreciated and it will help others along the way.

Highly recommend this valuable book.

[Michele Beckmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read other books by Craig Groeschel. This books addresses many topics often suppressed in Christian community: anger, burnout, anxiety, depression. He has some practical helps and scriptures. Each chapter has insights from Dr Wayne Chappelle, a therapist.
Craig discusses Jehosphat in 2 Chronicles 20:3ff. With a 3-point alliteration he says, we need to pray, pause and praise. He makes it sound like a formula—after these 3 steps, God will take care of your “enemy”.
I do encourage anyone who struggles with mental health issues to read this book. Use discernment. With most things, eat the cherry, spit out the seed.

[Hilary Nicholson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievable!!!

I grabbed this book because I love Craig's books and I see mental health care challenges all around me....but not me, right?! Every chapter made me take a big deep breath but the chapter on burnout made me cry! I have been saying for months "there has to be more to life than this!" And I really never dreamed I was suffering from burnout! I am SO excited to have a plan now! Just understanding that I am not alone and God gets it brings so much peace!!! Thank you for such a great book!

[Ariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insights that really helped

As I read this book I was blown away at all the things the Lord has confirmed in my Spirit. From the exact same scriptures mentioned that I had been continually focusing on to bring comfort amongst a difficult season down to the Biblical insights that truly aligned with all my needs. If you read this book expect to begin the healing process, expect to encounter Biblical truths, expect to be amazed by the science behind prayer, and expect to find Hope. This is such a good book so take your time reading it, reflect, implement, and heal. IJN

[Alicia Luca Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly an incredible work. Well done, Pastor Craig.

The truth in this book are so powerful, convicting, and SO incredibly practical. He moves through different mental health and burnout challenges, and I love the conversations surrounding the whole person: body, mind, soul, spirit. “You are a spirit, that has a soul, that lives in a body.”

I will be recommending this book freely and I already want to read it again…

Thank you for blessing the Body of Christ with this book, Craig.

[Julia Spero · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pastors guide for mental health

I am so grateful that I found this book. I was going through “The Dark night of the Soul”. The insight Craig shared gave me hope to not feel alone in my pain and to know that Jesus is beside me always. A great read with many life lessons. Highly recommend.

[Sabrina Giulietti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book talks about the myths of mental health in relation to the Christian church. It goes in depth about struggles with anxiety, depression, anger, negativity, trauma, and burnout. This book continually points you back to Jesus and how to seek Him through times of suffering with mental health difficulties.

[Adam Schramm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I thought the content was good. I also liked how the author shared his feelings and perspectives. Then, an expert followed up with his thoughts. I got this book from the library, but I liked how the publisher/author included an area to reflect and journal on the what was covered in each chapter.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pastor Craig never disappoints when God speaks through him. This book came to me at the right time, even though I preordered it, I had a life shift that made these words more impactful than ever. Gods timing, not mine. Beautiful work Craig and thank you as always.

[Vanessa Houston]

highly recommend. doesn’t matter where you land in your walk, maturity, age etc. this book brings to light things you may not realize while also conveying truth some of us have heard many times in different ways.
must read in my opinion

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always enjoy Groeschel books, but this one arrived at the perfect time for me. A true blessing and helped me realized (again) that I’m not the only one going through challenging leadership challenges. I suspect I’ll read this 1x a year!

[Charles Crutcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read several of Craig's books and this one is a personal favorite. I did enjoy that each chapter is wrapped up with his therapists' notes and tools to use through the different issues (depression, anxiety, anger, and burnout to name some of them). The transparency on Craig's part which helps others to relate with him and his writing. I'll be holding onto this one for guidance in times when I need it.

[Jon Major · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been a game changer for me. I love how Pastor Craig shares his struggles and then to hear his doctor share his point of view on it. This has made me reflect on my life and my struggles, and given me tools to push through and find freedom in those areas.

[Steph Cowart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really wanted to take my time with this book. It was a bit, obvious? of a message but it hit home as a reminder for all the ways that myself friends, family, and I can approach situations in life with a bit more understanding and grace.

[Jamina Noreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were good nuggets of information and helpful tips. I’d say this is more for situational anxiety/depression rather than deeper chemical issues or mental health rock bottoms. Still enjoyed it and felt encouraged!

[Lizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing. Great book for anyone who is struggling or has struggled with mental health— even if you’re not Christian!! Has so many great tips and it’s really cool to hear about the scientific perspective of the things talked about in the book. Highly recommend!

[Crystal Weeres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeply vulnerable and relevant and biblically solid. A must-read really for anyone as it covers a spectrum of common mental health issues. This book was just what I needed in a trying season for my family.

[Jedediah Gorham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with honesty and wisdom to overcome.

[Kera Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed this book! I knew it would be a 5 star from the beginning!!!!

[Aaron Burden · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read for ministry leaders. It's great for beginners to the topic.