About the Book
"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.
About the Author :
Jonathon M. Seidl is the founder and president of The Veritas Creative, a digital media consulting and content creation firm. For the last decade he has been telling stories. In fact he's written over 6,000 of them, first after helping start a top-50 news site, then as the editor-in-chief of the popular non-profit I Am Second, and recently creating and overseeing Kirk Cameron's media venture, TheCourage. Jon has seen how the power of storytelling can transform people, businesses, and culture, especially after sharing his own story of battling anxiety and OCD. His passion is to help people with mental health struggles, while also sharing what he's learned telling stories for--and working with--some of media's biggest names and organizations, including Glenn Beck, Kirk Cameron, and Chip and Joanna Gaines. His experience in digital media is vast, from serving as the head of digital at a new media startup to hosting Kirk Cameron's The Campfire podcast. His writing has appeared on I Am Second, The American Spectator, and Fox News. Jon graduated with a degree in politics, philosophy, and economics from The King's College in New York City. He currently resides in Dallas, TX, with his wife and two children. Kirk Cameron is an actor and producer, and co-host of The Way of the Master, a faith-based reality TV series. He speaks nationwide on the topic of gospel-centered marriage and family, and lives in California with his wife, Chelsea, and their six children.
Review :
"As a pastor entrusted with many stories filled with mental struggles (including my wife's battle with OCD), I can't tell you enough how much this book is needed right now. The way Jon humbly weaves the weaknesses of his own story with the truth of the gospel is so honest, refreshing, and powerful. If you're looking for hope in the midst of the hard, then you need to read Finding Rest."--John Elmore, senior director of pastoral care at Watermark Community Church (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"As someone who has been through the valley of depression and written on the topic, I love what Jon Seidl has done in Finding Rest. His stories are incredible, his steps practical, and his takeaways powerful. If you're looking to take control of what's going on inside of you, then you need to read this book!"--Ben Courson, best-selling author of Optimisfits and Flirting with Darkness (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"Even the strongest, most influential leaders can and do have mental health struggles. Those struggles do not care who you are or what you do for a living, and they can strike fast. If it hasn't already happened to you, then you need to be prepared in case it does. Finding Rest shows you how to fight back. Jon's clear and concise writing is something that leaders need in their toolbox, if not for themselves, then for those around them who may need it as well."--Steve French, founder and president of Lx Partners (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"From the personal stories, to the humor, to the nuggets of truth sprinkled like bread crumbs throughout, Finding Rest is powerful. Jon shows how faith and practical advice are both helpful and can coexist for anyone struggling with anxiety or other mental health issues. And the beauty is that he doesn't speak just to the sufferer but to those around them as well. Everyone needs to read Finding Rest."--Jason Romano, author of The Uniform of Leadership and host of the Sports Spectrum Podcast (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"God has used and redeemed Jon's struggle so profoundly and powerfully that he has learned to see how God works all things 'for your good and God's glory.' What an extraordinary message! Every page of Finding Rest is packed with tangible and timely wisdom. Anyone who is fighting a mental health battle needs to read this right now."--Raj Nair, media director for the Israel Collective (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"I was with Jon the day he first told the world his secret about battling anxiety. I've seen the change in his life as he's implemented the principles he talks about, and I know that God is working through them. Finding Rest is powerful: anyone with a mental health struggle needs to read it and find the rest that Jon has found in Jesus."--John Humphrey, executive producer for I Am Second (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"If you want to be a better manager, boss, or leader, then you need to read this book. Even if you don't struggle with anxiety yourself, you need to understand what those around you and under you are going through. Finding Rest gives you the tools to do just that. Read it for yourself, then give a copy to every manager in your organization."--Kevin Paul Scott, CEO of ADDO Worldwide, and author of The Lens (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"If you're searching for peace, calm, and relief from anxiety, Finding Rest will help you find those, not just because of what the book focuses on but because of who it focuses on. True rest will never be found outside of the One who created it, and that person is Jesus Christ. Jon's found that to be true. I've found that to be true. And I believe, through reading this book, you will too."--Kirk Cameron, actor and producer of Revive Us (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"In Finding Rest, Jon Seidl offers significant help to those suffering from mental health issues and those caring for loved ones who do. Having known Jon as both his pastor and friend, I know this book has been birthed out of a deep conviction to address a topic that sadly has often been shunned in Christian circles. I admire his courage and believe this is a great resource for the church. Jon draws on Scripture and his own experiences to help people unashamedly plot a healthy course through the murky waters of mental health issues. Honest, practical, realistic, and full of hope, this book points us to Jesus, the One who gives us rest for our souls."--Afshin Ziafat, lead pastor of Providence Church, and council member for The Gospel Coalition (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"In Finding Rest, Jon Seidl provides an honest, practical look at anxiety, faith, and life. Through his own struggles, Jon has discovered a biblical response to the challenges so many followers of Christ face. The church's approach to mental health has been incomplete at best, and this resource will better equip the body of Christ to walk alongside people with these struggles and needs."--Scott Kedersha, marriage pastor at Harris Creek Baptist Church, and author of Ready or Knot? (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"In nearly a decade of cultivating leaders, especially within churches, I've consistently seen that when mental health and specifically anxiety are discussed, the results are often disappointing. That's why Finding Rest is so important. Not only does it give those who are suffering practical tools, but it also gives church leaders the steps they need to take to better support their staff and congregation. I have learned so much from Jon in these pages, and I know you will too."--Holly Tate, senior vice president of growth at Leadr (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"More people are struggling with anxiety than ever before, but you can find steps to peace and victory through the experiences Jon Seidl shares in Finding Rest. An incredible writer and an incredible person, Jon combines humor, storytelling, and truth in a way that disarms, and you won't want to put this book down."--Matt Brown, evangelist, author of Truth Plus Love, and founder of Think Eternity (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"Now more than ever, so many people are fighting mental health battles and desperately need hope. They need to know they're not alone, they need someone to tell them it will be OK, and they need a guide that shows them why. Jon Seidl is that person, and Finding Rest is that guide. If you are tired, beaten down, and looking for hope, these words will be water to your soul."--Megan Alexander, Inside Edition correspondent and author of Faith in the Spotlight (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"Oh my. This book. From the very first paragraph, I knew I'd found a safe place among its pages. Jon Seidl's raw and compassionate exploration of anxiety, depression, and OCD in the life of today's Christian gives a voice to those of us who wonder if we're irreparably flawed or faithless. (Spoiler alert: We're not.) Finding Rest will rip away the stigma and shame that a misguided church has saddled on believers who struggle with mental health issues. Best of all, it guides us toward practical coping skills that strengthen our faith without suggesting we simply need 'more' of it."--Becky Kopitzke, author of The Cranky Mom Fix (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
"There's often an unfortunate hesitancy among Christians to admit that we, too, battle anxiety and depression. The quest for perfection and the confusion that can envelope us is often overwhelming, even suffocating. But in Finding Rest, Jon Seidl offers a raw and selfless look at his own struggles and victories, sending us on a thought-provoking journey toward our ultimate hope: Jesus. Seidl masterfully breaks down the pathway to peace that is desperately sought by so many."--Billy Hallowell, author and journalist (6/9/2021 12:00:00 AM)
