Faith-Filled Resources to Encourage, Heal, and Help You Grow Closer to God
There was a time in my life when I didn’t know if I’d ever feel joy again. The weight of brokenness, trauma, and shame sat heavy on my shoulders. Even though I believed in God, I often wondered where He was in the middle of my pain. Over the years, I’ve seen how tenderly and faithfully He meets us, especially through the words of others who have walked through pain and continued to seek Him.
I believe nothing encourages the soul more than hearing God’s truth spoken in real voices and reading stories of His love in hard places. When I walk through trials, I lean on both spoken encouragement and written healing. Podcasts and books have shaped my faith. Today I want to share some of my favorite Christian podcasts and healing books that have helped me trust God more deeply.
My Go-To Christian Podcasts for Encouragement and Growth
When my thoughts start to spiral or when my heart feels heavy, I often reach for a podcast that reminds me of God’s truth. These are a few that have encouraged me:
Faith Over Fear with Jennifer Slattery & Carol McCracken
These women speak about fear with such honesty. They explore how it shows up in our lives and how we can respond through courage rooted in Christ. I’ve cried during episodes and felt seen in ways I didn’t expect. Their voices have helped pull me back toward peace.
Hope for the Journey with Monica Schmelter
This podcast feels like sitting down with a wise friend. Monica shares real stories from women who have endured long and painful seasons, and she always points back to the faithfulness of God. It reminds me that I’m never walking alone.
The Christian Psychologist with Joshua Knabb
Sometimes, it’s hard to untangle our spiritual life from our emotional health, especially if we’re carrying trauma or anxiety. This podcast helps me understand both, gently and thoughtfully. It’s been one of the most comforting things I’ve found on difficult days.
Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how one of my greatest joys has been hosting my own podcast, Turn to God with Carin. Each episode is a space where we explore real-life struggles with faith, grace, and honesty. My hope is that it becomes a comforting companion for you, whether you’re seeking healing, looking for biblical encouragement, or just needing someone to walk with you for a few minutes during the week.
I usually listen to podcasts in the early mornings while drinking my coffee or during chores or quiet walks. It’s become part of how I invite the Lord into my day.
Books That Have Strengthened My Walk with God
Words on a page can reach deep places. These books aren’t just tools, they’ve been companions through seasons of loss, uncertainty, and healing.
Sharing Our Journey of Coming to Jesus: Testimony From Twelve Believers
This book is such a special project. I had the honor of contributing alongside eleven other believers, each sharing how we came to know Jesus. Every testimony is different, but they’re all beautiful and true. Some of us came through hardship, others through gentle faith passed down through generations. These stories reminded me that salvation meets each of us uniquely and that no one’s story is too messy for God’s grace.
A New Song Rises Up! Sharing Struggles Toward Salvation
This book is very personal to me. I wrote it after surviving domestic abuse and wrestling with painful questions. I poured out my heart on the page: my fears, my doubts, my gratitude, and my hope. I wanted other women to know they weren’t alone in wondering, “If God loves me, why did this happen?” This book holds my testimony, but more importantly, it holds God’s faithfulness. It’s for anyone longing to feel seen and understood.
Why Christian Self-Help and Healing Books Matter
There was a season in my life when I thought healing meant doing everything right, holding it all together, and hiding my weakness. But I’ve since learned that healing starts with honesty and surrender. Christian self-help books showed me how to lean into God’s Word, not just my willpower. These healing books gave me language for what I was feeling, and they reminded me of who God says I am, not who the world or my past tried to tell me I was.
Books about family violence and domestic abuse are often hard to read, but they’re important. They shine light into dark places and offer hope that feels real. I found myself in those pages, and I pray other women do, too.
How I Use Podcasts and Books in My Daily Faith
I’ve learned that staying connected to God isn’t just about the big, emotional moments. It’s about the steady, faithful habits that help me stay anchored in His truth. Some days, my heart is full of gratitude. Other days, I’m trying to breathe through the heaviness of grief, doubt, or exhaustion. Through it all, I’ve found comfort in quiet practices that help me stay close to the Lord.
Podcasts and books have become part of that rhythm. They speak to my soul when I don’t have the words to pray or when Scripture feels hard to hold onto.
I’ve listened to podcast episodes while folding laundry or driving to appointments, and I’ve read pages from healing books late at night when I couldn’t sleep. These simple tools have given me steady reminders that God sees me, hears me, and walks with me.
Here are some of the ways I’ve made these resources part of my everyday walk with God:
- I journal reactions, prayers, or scriptures I hear from the podcast.
- I keep one healing book by my bed and read a few pages each evening.
- I pray through passages and stories I read, asking God to make the words come alive for me and speak into my specific struggles.
If your heart feels heavy, or if you’re longing to grow closer to God but don’t know where to start, then let me gently encourage you: begin here. Try a podcast or a chapter from a healing book. Give yourself space to breathe, to feel, and to pray.
You don’t have to do it all at once. Just take one small step and let God meet you there.
I’d love for you to explore my full collection of Christian self-help books and domestic violence survivor stories. If something speaks to your heart, I hope you’ll pass it along to someone else who might need it. A small gift can be a lifeline for someone else’s journey.
