My 15 Favorite Christian Books I Read in 2025

marriage, parenting, chronic illness, and more

At any given time, I am reading a couple different books (not at the same exact time of course, that would be insane). One “kind” of book I’m always reading is a book related to the Christian life, spiritual formation, or biblical counseling. This doesn’t replace time spent in the intake of God’s Word, but I have found it to be an integral part of my growth in maturity. Of course, I have to actually apply what I read—and that’s always the goal. I am not where I’d like to be, but I’m in a better place than I was because of really good books.

Last year I read 37 books in this category, and I want to share almost half of them with you. If you have been here for a while then you saw these in my monthly reading recaps over the course of 2025, but I’ve grabbed the best of the best so you can find them all in one place. It’s not so strange that so many of them were worth sharing, because I usually screen books in this category and tend to gravitate toward publishers and authors I’m somewhat familiar with.

These are in no particular order—I tried to categorize them and I kept moving books around.

Running on Empty: The Gospel for Women in Ministry by Barbara Bancroft

I got this book several years ago and it had just been sitting on my Kindle. I read it with a friend who was headed back to the mission field and I found it profoundly encouraging. I’d recommend it to anyone in ministry (whether pastoral, parachurch, missions, etc.), but it’s also a book that is just pure gospel. I think any woman would find it encouraging.

Counseling Women: Biblical Wisdom for Life’s Battles by Kristin L. Kellen

This book is geared more toward those counseling women in a professional or semi-professional setting. I am not in that kind of role, but in my personal life as well as in my pastor’s wife life, I find myself walking with women who are struggling with a variety of different issues. If nothing else, this book will give anyone wisdom on how to be a good friend to someone going through hard things.

Disrupted Journey: Walking With Your Loved One Through Chronic Pain and Illness by Nate Brooks

This last year has been characterized by chronic pain for me, and while I have tried not to make it my entire identity, I have gravitated toward resources to help me work through the difficulties of this season. This book is really written for someone who is caring for someone in my shoes, but I still found it encouraging to read how this husband and his wife have persevered through great pain.

The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God by Timothy Keller and Kathy Keller

Somehow I made it through more than 16 years of marriage without ever reading this book. My husband and I did pre-marital counseling with an engaged couple in our church and part of the counseling required them to read this book, so I read it along with them. I have read many other books on marriage, but none quite as practical and compelling as this one. Every Christian should read it, married or not.

Joshua: No Falling Words by Dale Ralph Davis

I suspect there will be a Dale Ralph Davis on my yearly list for the rest of my life. His books are part commentary, part devotional. I usually use them while reading the passage in my Bible and then reading his commentary. He has incredible illustrations, many of which are about sports, which is not my area of interest, but they’re still really good illustrations.

Get Offa My Case: Godly Parenting of an Angry Teen by Rick Horne

This book made it to my 2025 Book Awards List as the best book I read on parenting. I didn’t read that many parenting books this year, but I’d still put it as one of the best books I’ve ever read on parenting. Even if you don’t think you have an “angry” teen, he uses the framework of allowing your teen to sink, not drown, as a result of the consequences of their choices so that they can grow and mature.

When the Church Harms God’s People: Becoming Faith Communities that Resist Abuse, Pursue Truth, and Care for the Wounded by Diane Langberg

If you have already consumed a lot of material on spiritual abuse, this book will not contain much new information. But if the idea of spiritual abuse is new to you, or if you have experienced it and want some encouragement, there is no one better to provide it than Dr. Diane Langberg.

Love Walked Among Us: Learning to Love Like Jesus by Paul Miller

I’ve never read a Paul Miller book that wasn’t good. He’s 10/10 for me all around. I think this was the last book of his that I hadn’t read, and I’m proud to say I’ve read his entire collection.

How Does Sanctification Work? by David Powlison

Powlison is another author whose books I will always read; though, sadly, he passed away several years ago and so is not writing any more books. This is a pretty short book that talks about how we can change as Christians by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Do You Pray?: A Question for Everybody by J.C. Ryle

This is another short book that is really encouraging regardless of your current relationship to prayer. It is biblical and practical.

Chronic Illness: Walking By Faith by Esther Smith

See my previous comments on chronic illness. This is a 31-day devotional with only two pages of reading and a few questions for reflection. I’d say I cried while reading at least 50% of the time. It was exactly what I needed when my pain was at its greatest last fall, and I’m so grateful the Lord guided me to this book.

There are dozens of books in this series on topics like anxiety, hope, grief, singleness, and addiction.

When It’s Trauma: A Biblical Guide to Understanding Trauma and Walking Faithfully with Sufferers by Darby Strickland

This is another book I’d put in the biblical counseling category. I know of no one who is more experienced in writing about a biblical approach to trauma than Darby Strickland. She has shaped my thinking about abuse in ways that have changed my life and, I hope changed the lives of people I’ve known, for the better.

Waiting Isn’t a Waste by Mark Vroegop

You may know of this author from his book Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy that came out in 2019. That was many people’s first introduction to the biblical idea of lament, and I know it had a profound impact on me. This is his most recent book and while I didn’t find it to be in the same category as his first book, it was still a deeply encouraging book for anyone who finds themselves in a season of waiting (which is technically everyone).

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney

This is a book I really thought I had read before but soon realized I definitely hadn’t, because I would have remembered it. It covers numerous spiritual disciplines that are important for Christians to practice: prayer, intake of God’s Word, evangelism, silence, etc. It should be required reading.

The Spiritually Healthy Leader: Finding Freedom from Self-Sabotage by Dave Wiedis

I saved this one for last because it was one of the most impactful books I read last year in any category. Whether you consider yourself a “leader,” if you are a Christian, this book will help you get to the heart issues behind your besetting sins and areas of immaturity. I’ll be thinking about what I learned from this book for the rest of my life.

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Did you read a really good book last year that you would recommend? I have a new way for you to let me know: Recommend a Book!