Finding Rest: A Survivor's Guide to Navigating the Valleys of Anxiety, Faith, and Life

by Jonathon M. Seidl, Kirk Cameron (Foreword)

"Jon knows, better than most, what it means to battle anxiety and how to forge a path to victory. He also treats it with care, and pushes the conversation to places that it hasn't often gone in the church."
--Kirk Cameron

"A practical, spiritually driven primer on dealing with anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and depression. . . . Excellent advice. . . . [A] cogent, revealing guide."
-- Publishers Weekly

In the aftermath of the pandemic, even those who have never struggled with mental health have found themselves reeling, looking for answers they don't know how to find. For Christians, especially those who've despaired of help from a church that has too often stigmatized poor mental health as a lack of faith, the way forward can be particularly difficult to see.

Jonathon Seidl aims to fix that. Having fought his own way through crippling anxiety, life-altering OCD, and suicidal thoughts, he knows the value of concrete advice grounded in strong biblical truth. Instead of the trite or unsympathetic counsel that's too often given, Finding Rest is practical, personal, and productive. Full of compelling stories, humor from a guide who's still on his journey, and scriptural truths, this book offers real hope and help. It also provides a lifeline for friends and family who long for ways to help relieve the suffering of their loved ones. And it calls to account the church for its historical treatment of mental health and lays out thoughtful, needed paths for the body of Christ to become a refuge of hope for the anxious.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

Published September 28, 2021

Reviews

[Karen Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook version of Finding Rest, and now I'm seriously considering reading it a second time. It was such a relief to hear someone talk honestly about mental health issues and how they're handled (or often mishandled) by well-meaning believers. I've dealt with just a touch of anxiety for most of my life, but it's really blown up on me in the past few years. This book has convinced me that it's time to see about getting some real help. I appreciated that the author narrated the audio version himself because it felt like I was sitting down to coffee with a new friend.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

The BEST book on anxiety that I have ever read. Scripture based, relatable, humorous, practical, and real. An amazing read for anxiety sufferers and those who love us. It is a very healthy view of mental illness from a Christian perspective. Jonathan tackles the really hard stuff in this book with so much grace and truth. I don't typically read books more than once but this will be permanently on my bedside table. I would give this book more stars if I could.

[Annie Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely recommend this book to anyone struggling with mental illness or anyone who loves someone struggling with mental illness. I’m not going to share my thoughts on goodreads as they are deeply personal, but would love to talk to anyone in person about all that I took away from this book. Truly remarkable and perspective shifting. Freeing in many ways.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Finding Rest, Jonathon M. Seidl acts as “a guide who turns your gaze inward so you can understand yourself, outward so you can realize how you affect and are affected by others, and upward so you can find the true source of rest.” A psychiatrist gives a prescription; a counselor asks probing questions that lead us to the truths we already know. Seidl is the therapist who reminds us that we are more than the sum of our mistakes and tragedies and challenges us to be more than our diagnosis.

“It’s a question that leads to frantic thoughts and frenetic actions…the tyranny of the ‘What if?’ For anxious people, it is the ever present question in the back of our minds. That’s why we have to combat it with a different question. A question rooted in trust. That question is, ‘So what?’” “So what” strips the “What if?” of its power. “‘What if?’ and ‘So What?’ contain the same number of letters with only two of them being different: ‘so’ and ‘if’...which two letters are you going to let control you?”

“There's a difference between questioning God and asking God questions…“You can ask God questions without questioning Him. That’s what laments are…The question we should have for God isn’t, ‘Why have you allowed this to happen?’ Rather, it should be, ‘What are you using it for?’” Doubt of God‘s character or care is the catalyst for our compulsion for control. Or we fear what God's answer to our struggle will be. “How often do we use our circumstances to define what God must be like instead of using what we know to be true of God to define our circumstances?”

“Sometimes we feel like God is digging a grave, but He’s really digging a well…Your mental health struggle is not God punishing you. Rather, it’s God pursuing you.” Anxiety propels us on the springboard toward the heart of God versus the tightrope over the pitfall of perfection in this spiritual circus we call life!

[Cole Claybourn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jon Seidl openly shares his battle with anxiety and OCD in a helpful and practical way. He dispels myths and stereotypes that surround mental health struggles and vulnerably shares his own story through the lens of faith in God. He discusses how the Church has mistakenly approached and treated mental health at times in the past and provides a way forward for Christians who struggle with anxiety.

[Avery Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly loooved this book. Although it was short, it was packed with powerful knowledge. I rarely, if ever, hear a sermon or read a Christian book about anxiety and feel that it was actually practical AND biblical. This book gave me a new perspective on how to deal with my current anxiety in a way that draws me closer to God. If you struggle with anxiety or fear, this book is definitely for you!

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 🌟

[Corrianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest & needed conversation in our church

[Christina Claypool · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are only able to read one book this year and you struggle with depression, anxiety, OCD, or if you love someone who does, please read Jonathon M. Seidl‘s book, “Finding Rest: A Survivor’s Guide to Navigating the Valleys of Anxiety, Faith, and Life.”
Through the years, I have been honest about my own battle with clinical depression, but I don’t think I ever fully understood the issues of anxiety and OCD, until I read Seidl’s book. Having authored several recovery books myself, and due to the fact that this author is decades younger than me, I did not expect to glean a lot within the pages of his transparent autobiographical title. Yet, I admit I was incredibly wrong, as Seidl not only possesses a wisdom beyond his years, but also an ability to articulate the nuggets of truth produced by his own challenging journey in a relatable way.
The foreword by Kirk Cameron attests to the author’s credibility from the beginning.
By page 22, I was already hooked, and then Seidl candidly admitted, “This book isn’t meant to cure you. In fact, I don’t consider myself cured just because I have named and understand what is going on inside of me. But I do consider myself whole, because I’m approaching my disorder holistically and drawing closer to Christ as a result. That’s what I want you to do.”
I suppose I thought about putting the book down and not reading anymore, since we all want to be the miracle person who no longer struggles. It’s exhausting battling any type of mental health issue, and of course, the goal is to be cured. Still, being whole is more important.
Unfortunately, many human beings like myself, who are living in this fallen world will have to combat ongoing issues, despite being a dedicated Christian believer. Seidl admits to being wounded by past shame due to the false religious beliefs of others regarding his own need for medication and counseling. He addresses this in the chapter, “Prescription for the Church.”
Maybe this book won’t cure those suffering but like Seidl himself has experienced, the awareness it creates can make one feel a “whole” lot better. The book definitely enables you to realize you are not alone and that there is hope and greater freedom available. Despite the heavy subject matter, it is a very conversational and inspiring read. Five stars, for sure!

[Elise Janssen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, someone knowing how I feel and giving advice on how to start the journey. After reading a little about the book and emailing Jon, I decided to buy the book; best decision made! When it arrived I was feeling overwhelmed, burnt out and anxious. I knew I had to start reading immediately, just the first chapter, but it calmed me right away. The way Jon writes, the story he tells, the seriousness of mental health struggles combined with some humour. During reading I noticed myself taking his tips to heart, and actually doing them.

It's not just a book for those suffering with a mental illness, it's also for the friends and family of them. I'm going to share the book with my friends in the hope they understand why I feel a certain way. Since the book explains how I feel and what they role they can play in my journey.

A book I could recommend everyone, not just to learn, but also to understand or find an explanation for why you do things a certain way. I'm really glad Jon wrote this book, and most of all that I actually found this book. Thanks Hannah and Jon for emailing!!

When you feel ready to dive deep, go!

[Dan Tupper · Rating 5 out of 5]

A much needed and relevant book

As one who struggles with mental health issues, this has been one of the most encouraging books that I have read on the subject. Mental health has been such a taboo subject in the Church that has, for so long, been greatly misunderstood in the Church. Jon not only provides encouragement for the sufferer, but also provides clarity and understanding for the people in the sufferers life. Their support system. Even if you don't have mental health struggles, I encourage everyone to read this book. Someone in your life is struggling,and you will learn things that will help you care for them more effectively. This book has not only provided me encouragement, but also empathy for others.

[geekoutonreading : Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't quite what I thought it would be, but still good. It contains chapters to help you navigate the tough journey of anxiety, such as: Call It by Its Name, A Prescription for the Church, An Ongoing Battle, and a chapter for loved ones of anxiety sufferers titled Help Me Understand. This author was insightful, but in spots it felt like he was generalizing anxiety, or just focusing on his specific anxieties. (People have different types of anxiety, so I get that it is hard to talk about each of them.) Also, I'm for medication if you need it by all means, but the author sometimes came across as pushing you to get on medication. Aside from that, a decent read!

[Lisa Schawe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging and Thoughtful!
This is definitely one of the better books I’ve ever read on this subject. I so appreciate that the author is writing as a fellow sufferer, because he knows firsthand that the struggle is real and I was so able to identify with many of the emotions that he described in his own journey. Thought provoking, well written, engaging and easy to follow, this is a book that I think will also help my family to understand my struggle as well and I’m eager to share it with them. I’m so glad I stumbled upon Jon’s blog on the “I am Second” website, which is what led me to buy and read this book.

[HelenA33 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant book, and one of a very few which I rate five stars. It contains practical advice for those suffering from anxiety (in particular those linked with OCD etc) and those who care for them, a subject much misunderstood by many churches. Would highly recommend.

[Amanda Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I have never heard of anyone writing about being a Christian with OCD. I am so grateful that someone took the time to write about their experiences with OCD but that we can know that God will still prevail through mental struggles and disorders.

[Nicole Miskel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took this one slow, somewhat on purpose, and and sometimes because I was hiding from what it had to say. It made me laugh, and tear up, and connect some dots about myself and my lovely mental struggles that I hadn't thought of before. Very thankful for this recommendation from my mother.

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good book about how to work with God through anxiety. I don't have clinical anxiety but it still had a lot of helpful parts for dealing with challenging times.

[Jaimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed a perspective thats faith and medical positive.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful book for those who have anxiety or OCD - and also for someone who lives with a person with these symptoms.

[Jaylin Whiting · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suffered with severe anxiety this year, and this is a great resource to read and reread. Highly recommend!!!!!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fellow survivor, or as I like to say, surTHRIVER, I can say that Finding Rest is a gentle, helpful, and destigmatizing book for those navigating mental health issues as well as an empathetic tool for those who love them. Seidl shares his story with vulnerability, honesty, and authenticity while calling experience-based attention to much-needed changes in the way survivors of anxiety, depression, OCD, and well, all mental health struggles, long for support. I highly recommend this short and easy-to-read educational and encouraging memoir for everyone to grow in their understanding of the path toward healing both physical and spiritual areas of our mental health challenges. “For our good and God’s glory!” Go buy it now. You won’t regret it.

[caroline johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

my nervous self loved this