Damaged but Not Destroyed

October 1, 2023

The central conceit of this work is as simple as the title: that recognizing one's own damaging thoughts and situations is the beginning of spiritual recovery. Todd (pastor, Tulsa's Transformation Church; Crazy Faith) regularly repeats that what one doesn't transform will be transferred. In this book, damage refers to those hidden agonizing abuses that "hit and stick." Of these, he proclaims, "God won't heal what you refuse to reveal." Todd has reproduced the sing-song cadence of a Pentecostal sermon through the written word, hitting significant points with mnemonic precision, while keeping the tone intimate and vulnerable. There are numerous modern cultural and musical references, and regular use of the second person makes the book feel like an intimate talk between the author and readers. This book also contains worksheets based on Todd's restorative process. VERDICT Despite the book's unabashedly Christian folksiness, Todd is intent upon addressing hard subjects, such as generational trauma, the venomous yearning for public validation, and the crippling effects of abuse, shame, and denial. Vibrant Christian collections will want this.--Sandra Collins

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.