In a world so full of books, it’s hard to figure out which ones to read. Time is limited and the options seem endless. Once a selection is made, though, God can often use a good book or two to bring us closer to Himself. Some books are like a punch in the gut in a good way—motivating, challenging, and pulling us out of dark spots—and others are more comforting, singing sweetly over our tired souls. Every young Christian woman can benefit from the right book, whether going through a dry season or a green patch in life.
We have many options for receiving information. Most of them are literally at our fingertips in our phones. But reading books is about so much more than that. Reading biblically-based books allows us to take in the carefully written words of other Christians. Books have a delightful kind of permanency, allowing us to come back to thoughts and phrases whenever we need them.
Here are just a few things Christian books can do for us:
- Allow us to slow down. When we watch videos or scroll on social media, we passively receive information. However, when we read, we actively engage with stories, ideas, and words. We sit with topics a bit longer.
- Hear the stories of powerful Christian women. There are a lot of women who have seen God’s goodness in their lives, and they bear witness to Jesus’ love and power. Their stories are a gentle path into God’s presence.
- Engage with Scripture in natural settings. Many Christian authors have a natural way of weaving the Bible into the way they write. When we encounter Scripture through their stories, it can come alive to us.
Although the following list is by no means comprehensive, it has a variety of important books. Some are hidden gems, while others are classics. Each of these books captures the heart of the Gospel and has important things to say to today’s young Christian women.
1. The Bible (see this lovely CSB designed by Hosanna Revival or this floral ESV designed by Ruth Chou Simons)
Where better could we start than the words of our good God? He has so much love to pour out through the Bible.
You might enjoy a pretty journaling Bible allowing space to doodle or write thoughts in the margins. Some of the best Bibles for women are simply and beautifully designed. Wherever you start, know that God is excited to tell you His story in the pages of His Word.
2. Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely by Lysa TerKeurst
It seems like friendships either become sweeter or darker, simpler or more complicated, as we enter adulthood. When we get stuck in a messy head space or feel like we’re drowning in rejection, we could use a few good stories from influential Christian women. This is where Lysa TerKeurst comes in.
In Uninvited, TerKeurst helps us approach rejection with intense honesty. This book will guide you out of loneliness, embrace the way God sees you, and live in freedom.
3. Find Your People: Building Deep Community in a Lonely World by Jennie Allen
Friendships are so complicated that one book won’t suffice. If you’re surrounded with people but aching for connection, this is the book for you.
Jennie Allen talks us through the ins and outs of Christian friendships, offering a way forward into deeper, more challenging, and more rewarding friendships than we have ever dared to imagine.
4. Stand in Confidence: From Sinking in Insecurity to Rising in Your God-Given Identity by Amanda Pittman
We get so tired of people-pleasing. It’s exhausting to live for others, pouring out ourselves until we have nothing left.
Amanda Pittman offers solutions through four components of confidence: clarity, connection, competency, and conviction. If you’re in need of a confidence boost that is rooted in who Christ says you are, you’ve found the right book.
5. Take Back Your Joy: Fighting for Purpose When Life Is More Than You Can Handle by Nicole Jacobsmeyer
Nicole Jacobsmeyer is a woman of grace who has been through enough to want the real answers in suffering. She digs until she reaches the well of joy underneath the rocks.
For those of us who are desperate, we aren’t satisfied with easy answers. If you’re struggling and sad, find comfort in the pages of this book. It won’t give you easy answers, but it does offer a new way of seeing things. Comfort and joy are closer than you think.
6. Throw the First Punch: Defeating the Enemy Hell-Bent on Your Destruction by Beth Guckenberger
Spiritual warfare is a heavy topic, but it doesn’t have to scare us. If you want a funny book that packs a punch (pun intended), check this one out.
Throw the First Punch has helped me to recognize, process, and fight spiritual warfare. Spiritual warfare is a huge part of our lives, whether we realize it or not, so it helps to understand how the Devil is trying to mess with us.
7. In His Image: 10 Ways God Calls Us to Reflect His Character by Jen Wilkin
Sometimes you only have mental energy for a short chapter or two, but you want a book that lifts your eyes to God. This lovely book is a short read that satisfies that need.
Jen Wilkin gently walks through some characteristics of God we are called to embody. She has reflection questions offering a chance to process each chapter.
8. Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortlund
Gentle and Lowly is, in my opinion, one of the most comforting books on the Christian nonfiction market. When I read just the introduction of the book, I was in tears thinking about Jesus’ overwhelming grace.
Ortlund gives a Bible-guided tour of Christ’s heart. If you struggle to understand the love of Jesus or simply want to know it better, give this book a read.
9. Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was and Who God Has Always Been by Jackie Hill Perry
Today’s young Christian women are dealing with the unique challenge of loving the LGBTQ+ community. We struggle to discern what God’s Word actually says, know how to love our friends or ourselves, and speak the truth at the right times.
In Gay Girl, Good God, Jackie Hill Perry dives boldly into her life’s story. She tells us how she changed her lifestyle dramatically after coming to faith in Christ, viewing her same-sex attractions through the lens of the Gospel, and offering her whole life to God. Her book brims with deep Gospel truths and clarifies the experiences we see, or live, every day.
10. Beholding and Becoming: The Art of Everyday Worship by Ruth Chou Simons
This beautiful book is highly visual. If you’re a college student or stare at a computer screen for a living, Beholding and Becoming is a welcome relief. Bring your stress to the colorful watercolor pages of this book, and you’ll leave refreshed and peace-filled.
You might feel pressure to zoom through a book as fast as you can, or you might feel guilty if you aren’t reading as much as you want to. That’s okay. God’s not counting the number of pages you read each day; He’s happy just to sit with you and show you the one special truth you’ll uncover today.
What are some influential Christian books that have made an impact in your life? Take a moment to jot down a few ideas you remember from those books and think about how they might apply to your life right now. Or share the titles with a friend who might benefit from hearing something that was meaningful in your life.
As you head into your next reading adventure, have fun and remember that God loves you.
David C Cook may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Blog: Lattes and Letters
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