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Chris Morris Christian Mental Health

Redefine Normal // Rediscover Hope

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Chris Morris Christian Mental Health: Rediscovering Normal

Chris Morris | Christian Mental Health

I spend my time writing about how to balance faith and mental illness. I have both mental illnesses and chronic illnesses, but I’m learning to thrive anyway. I guess that’s why Redefining Normal is part of the code here, because it’s been part of my journey.
My BooksMy Story

Redefine Normal

Rediscover Hope

Welcome to my Christian mental health website. This is a safe place for followers of Jesus dealing with depression, anxiety, and every mental illness under the sun. If you’ve asked yourself, “if I’m a Christian, why am I depressed?“ or, “where is God when my life is falling apart?“, or “How do I overcome depression biblically“, you’re in the right place. Everything here is written as Christian help for those in the mental illness community as we redefine normal and rediscover hope together. Let’s talk about these two things for just a moment. What does it mean to redefine normal? It means that nobody but you gets to tell you what’s normal and what’s abnormal. You are the arbiter of your own life, and you get to decide that.
For you, maybe a normal day is not getting out of bed until noon because of chronic pain, and having to carefully calculate where you spend your limited energy. If so, I honor your normal here. How about rediscovering hope? So many of us struggle to fell there’s any objective reason for hope in our lives, because, to be honest, our lives stink a lot of the time. It’s full of difficulty and complexity, hard conversations and unmet expectations. But we can find the keys to having hope despite all these setbacks. I spend a lot of time talking the nuts and bolts of hope from a biblical perspective, so it’s more tangible, meaningful, and applicable to real life.

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Is This For Me?

Found out more about this site and see if it’s a good space for you to hang out.
Learn more

Life with Psychogenic Seizures

Psychogenic seizures is one of my primary diagnosis, and it impacts me every single day. Learn how here.
Learn more

Two Things I Learned About the Church in the Psych Ward

I have spend time in a psych ward twice in my life. I learned a lot about myself and the church both times.
Learn more

What People Are Saying

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Trekking Toward Tenacity “Chris offers us a unique gift in Trekking Towards Tenacity: part bible study, part meditation, part training for parents in how to form and shape the faith of their children. Many books do one or two of those well, but Chris skillfully leads the reader through all… Read more “Matt Tebbe (Trekking Toward Tenacity)”

Matt Tebbe
Co-Author of Having the Mind of Christ, Pastor at The Table Indianapolis
https://substack.com/@matttebbe
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Trekking Toward Tenacity “A wise and wonderful walk through Psalm 139, Trekking Toward Tenacity is the kind of book you’ll want to read slowly, marking it up and letting it soak deep into your heart and soul. Both conversational and honest in his style, Chris weaves Scripture and spiritual wisdom throughout… Read more “Susy Flory (Trekking Toward Tenacity)”

Susy Flory
New York Times bestselling author and coauthor, director of West Coast Christian Writers, and doctoral candidate at Houston Theological Seminary
https://susyflory.ag-sites.net/index.htm
Mary Demuth

Whispers in the Pews “I cannot imagine Jesus scolding someone with a mental illness, telling them to just get over it, try harder, memorize more verses. No, He would listen. He would love. He would be filled with compassion. And even He was deemed mentally ill in his time, his… Read more “Mary DeMuth”

Mary DeMuth
https://www.marydemuth.com/
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Resilient and Redeemed “In this book you will encounter Chris as a wise guide who shares his journey’s harsh and painful realities. As he skillfully unfolds his story, he encourages all of us to open ourselves to the beautiful possibilities for hope and healing in Jesus. May we all listen… Read more “Gino Curcuruto (Resilient and Redeemed)”

Rev. Dr. Gino Curcuruto
Pastor, The Table Philadelphia
https://thetablephilly.org/

Whispers in the Pews “Chris Morris has compiled honest and raw stories that give sight into the heart of many Christians who have battled, or are battling, mental illness. Whispers in the Pews brings to light that mental health matters and how it hasn’t always mattered in the Christian community,… Read more “Shawn Elizabeth George”

Shawn Elizabeth George
Inspirational Author, Writer, and Speaker
https://www.shawnelizabethgeorge.com/
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Trekking Toward Tenacity “God’s word can teach you how to parent through mental health battles. Trekking Towards Tenacity opens your eyes to the power of scripture, self-reflection, and activation exercises that promote healthy change and breakthrough. Our world is saturated with new mental health cases daily. Chris focuses on pivotal points… Read more “Christy Boulware (Trekking Toward Tenacity)”

Christy Boulware
Author of Nervous Breakthrough, Founder of Fearless Unite, podcast host of Fearless Tips and Talks
https://www.christyboulware.com/
Marty Kaiser

Perfectly Abnormal “I highly recommend this book to any person or family trying to deal with a chronic illness. In its pages you will find practical help to move forward, and hope to experience a life worth living. Over the past few years I have witnessed the pain and sorrow… Read more “Marty Kaiser”

Marty Kaiser
http://revealvineyard.com
Mary Demuth

Perfectly Abnormal “Perfectly Abnormal is one of those books that should be required reading for churches longing to provide a welcoming environment for all their members. And it should be required reading for any human who wants to love, empathize, and walk in the shoes of another. I so appreciated… Read more “Mary DeMuth (Perfectly Abnormal)”

Mary DeMuth
http://marydemuth.com
Rett Syndrome

Whispers in the Pews “I am ridiculously excited for the stories in this book to be shared. There is an incredible need to discuss the reality of mental illness and how the church can improve how it addresses this.”

Colleen English
President & Founder of Rettland Foundation
http://rettland.org/
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Resilient and Redeemed “I ask my clients, ‘Has your faith, theology, or church experience been helpful or harmful?’ Chris vulnerably and courageously writes about how he has been harmed and most importantly how he has been helped, literally saved, by God and treatment. He shares how depression can affect marriages.… Read more “Sovann Pen (Resilient and Redeemed)”

Sovann Pen
The Courage, Coaching and Counseling Podcast; LPC, A New Day Counseling Center
https://www.sovannpen.com/

Whispers in the Pews “Compassion is the antidote to stigma, and it only begins when we hear the stories of real men and women who suffer from mental illness. Chris Morris is doing the church a tremendous service with this book. It should be required reading for anyone who considers… Read more “David Edward Cummings”

David Edward Cummings
PhD, Professor of Microbiology, Point Loma Nazarene University, Host of the SoulCare Podcast, Elder at Pathways Community Church, Santee, CA
http://davidedwardcummings.com/
marty kaiser

Resilient and Redeemed “Chris Morris is a voice the church needs to hear! By courageously sharing his story, Chris opens a much-needed conversation about mental health, weaving personal narratives, theological insights, and practical guidance into a topic that has long been left in the shadows of religious communities.”

Marty Kaiser
Campus Pastor, Vineyard Church Reveal
https://www.revealvineyard.com/
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Trekking Toward Tenacity “With anxiety and depression on the rise among children and teenagers, Chris Morris’s insight and strategies for combating the lies and misconceptions surrounding mental health are exactly what parents need in their parenting arsenal. Trekking Towards Tenacity provides parents with thoughtful discussion starters, enlightening Scripture explorations, and actionable steps… Read more “Stephanie Gilbert (Trekking Toward Tenacity)”

Stephanie Gilbert
Co-Author of Pastors’ Wives Tell All and co-host of the Pastors’ Wives Tell All podcast
https://www.pastorswivestellall.com/
kathi lipp

Resilient and Redeemed “With deep compassion, Chris Morris shares his heartbreaking yet hopeful story. He navigates the often-misunderstood intersection of mental health and spiritual well-being with hope and wisdom that are desperately needed in today’s conversations about mental health in the church. I pray that Chris’s vulnerability starts conversations among… Read more “Kathi Lipp (Resilient and Redeeemed)”

Kathi Lipp
Author and Podcaster, Clutter Free Academy
https://www.kathilipp.com/
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Resilient and Redeemed “If you are a Christian who battles with depression and suicide, this book is for you. If you have a loved one who struggles with these same elements, this book will help you understand their battle and how you can encourage and pray for them. Chris invites… Read more “Morgan Busse (Resilient and Redeemed)”

Morgan Busse
Award-winning Author of THE RAVENWOOD SAGA and SKYWORLD series, and pastor’s wife
https://morganlbusse.com/
pwta

Trekking Toward Tenacity “This book has the potential to save lives and build healthy dynamics in homes across the nation. Chris Morris’s vulnerability about his own life and family is inspiring and a testimony of God’s relentless pursuit of His children. As a pastor’s wife, I hear how mental illness… Read more “Jessica Taylor (Trekking Toward Tenacity)”

Jessica Taylor
Co-Author of Pastors’ Wives Tell All and co-host of the Pastors’ Wives Tell All podcast
https://www.pastorswivestellall.com/
Jeff Goines

Whispers in the Pews “Finally, someone is speaking out on a deep and important issue that simply does not get talked about enough in our faith communities. Thank you, Chris, for your honesty and bravery. May these words move us all to deeper and more compassionate action.”

Jeff Goins
Bestselling author of The Art of Work
https://goinswriter.com/
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Resilient and Redeemed “Open this book and journey with Chris Morris in the struggle to make sense of mental illness within the Christian life. Read the stories, reflect on Scripture, and find hope. In these pages, Chris helps us see God as present in the struggle. Resilient and Redeemed is… Read more “David Fitch (Resilient and Redeemed)”

David Fitch
Lindner Chair of Evangelical Theology, Northern Seminary, Chicago
http://seminary.edu

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chrismorriswrites

Mental health author & speaker, breaking down poor theological frameworks for the church. Check out my books on Amazon and book me to speak for you!

Even though we might feel as though we are the las Even though we might feel as though we are the last people on Earth to be able to give another human being mental strength, God has called and equipped us as parents to help our kids find and retain mental strength.

We are assigned this responsibility, yes, but we are also equipped for this responsibility.

The Bible offers us a path to a steady course in life.

Knowing the heart of God is the foundation for all other tools or habits we can develop.

If you feel unqualified—good. 

God doesn’t just call the equipped. He equips the called.

Learn more at resilientandredeemed.substack.com.
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#mentalhealth #anxiety #christianity #faith #depression #healing #mentalhealthawareness #jesus #hope #christianliving #mentalhealthadvocate #christianauthor #biblicalwisdom #godslove #faithjourney #christianspeaker #prayerwarrior #mentalhealthmatters #christiancommunity #holyspirit #biblicalcounseling #faithandmentalhealth #christianhealing #mentalhealthsupport #christiananxiety #spiritualhealth #christianencouragement #mentalhealthministry #godsgrace #faithoverfear
I’m super excited to share that I’ve signed an I’m super excited to share that I’ve signed another book deal. This one is with Christian Art Gifts. It is for a devotional titled “Praying Like David” and will explore the way we should allow our emotions to impact our prayers. It will be released in 2027. I’m in the process of drafting now, and I’m loving how these devotions are turning out so far. 

What’s a question you have about your prayer life that the Psalms might be able to answer?
I believe it’s easy to be mentally unhealthy wit I believe it’s easy to be mentally unhealthy without having a mental health diagnosis. 

And it’s possible to be mentally strong WITH one.

Being mentally strong means being able to stay the course when life gets rocky. 

It means having the tool kit, the experience, the interpersonal support, and the capacity to maintain the trajectory of your life when the bottom falls out.

You may be stronger than you think.
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#christianmentalhealth #depression #faith #anxiety #healing #christianity #mentalwellness #jesus #mentalhealthawareness #christianauthor #hope #biblicaltruth #mentalhealthadvocate #christianliving #faithoverfear #christianspeaker #godslove #prayerrequest #holyspirit #mentalhealthmatters #christiancommunity #faithandanxiety #biblicalhealing #christiansupport #mentalhealthministry #christiandepression #tedxspeaker #spiritualwellness #christianencouragement #rediscoveringhope
I have major depressive disorder. I’ve been in I have major depressive disorder. 

I’ve been in the mental health ward more than once, and I have survived a suicide attempt.

All of these are facts about me, but here’s another fact equally true: 

I am stronger mentally than I have been in decades, perhaps ever.

I have taken steps that have paved the way for me to arrive at a space where I am mentally healthy, despite my diagnosis:

→ I’ve learned increased emotional self-awareness, so I know when something is “off” with me 

→ I’ve learned to be transparent with my inner circle when I start to struggle with depression again 

→ I’ve refused to allow my diagnosis to define the whole of my being 

→ I use counseling and medication alongside these other tools

These tools have allowed me to thrive despite my diagnosis.

Being mentally strong isn’t about having or not having a mental health diagnosis. It’s about having the toolkit to stay the course when life gets rocky.

Read more at resilientandredeemed.substack.com
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#mentalhealth #faith #christianity #jesus #depression #anxiety #hope #healing #mentalhealthawareness #christianliving #godslove #christianauthor #mentalhealthadvocate #biblicalwisdom #faithjourney #christianspeaker #prayerwarrior #holyspirit #mentalhealthmatters #christiancommunity #biblicalcounseling #faithandmentalhealth #christianhealing #mentalhealthsupport #christiananxiety #redefiningnormal #spiritualhealth #christianencouragement #mentalhealthministry #godsgrace
Hey friend, do you love curling up on a crisp fall Hey friend, do you love curling up on a crisp fall day with a good book and a mug of something sweet or spicy? 

Well, grab your favorite blanket and get ready to get cozy because I’ve teamed up with a group of Christian writers to help you make the most of this glorious autumn season!

Enter the Cozy Up To Fall Giveaway for your chance to win one of 3 amazing prizes:

🎁 PRIZE ONE: $500 Amazon Gift Card 

📚 PRIZE TWO: Fall Book Bundle: 10 great books + $25 Amazon gift card 

☕️ PRIZE THREE: Cozy Fall Bundle: Includes a novel, a prayer journal, a mug, tea, chocolate, a set of notecards, two scented candles, a Starbucks gift card, and set of eye masks + a $25 Amazon gift card! Perfect for a cozy evening at home! ($175+ value)

TO ENTER:

1️⃣ Tap the link in my bio @chrismorriswrites 

2️⃣ Enter your valid email address 

3️⃣ Tap the confirmation button you receive in your email inbox (if you don’t see it, check your junk folder—this step is required to be eligible to win!)

That’s it! 🎉

P.S. After you enter, you’ll have the opportunity to gain extra entries by liking, following, and subscribing to the participating authors—I highly recommend doing so to increase your chances of winning (plus you’ll gain instant access to some super cool digital goodies!)!

Here’s to all things cozy! ✨

IMPORTANT! The Cozy Up to Fall Giveaway runs October 20-24 2025. Random winners will be selected via KingSumo on October 25 and notified within 48 hours. All winners must use an active email address that can be verified, and they must confirm their email address via KingSumo’s confirmation email after entering. We reserve the right to make sure the winner’s email address is not generated by spammers and is valid. This giveaway is not sponsored or endorsed by anyone but the bunch of us. By entering the giveaway you agree to receive emails from the contributing authors as part of their email list, but feel free to unsubscribe at any time. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. US Residents only. Must be 18+ years of age to participate. Thank you for entering!
I’ll be honest: gratitude practices felt like to I’ll be honest: gratitude practices felt like toxic positivity to me.

When you’re in the pit, “count your blessings” feels insulting. Like someone is dismissing your real pain and telling you to just get over it.

But here’s what changed my mind: This isn’t about denying pain. 

It’s about training your brain while you’re IN the pain.

Neuroscience supports this and teaches us that brains can change over time through the development of new patterns. 

I started with 60 seconds. 

Every day, spend 30-60 seconds listing things you’re grateful for. 

I do it with my first cup of coffee because I wake up slowly and can’t be filled with gratitude before I’m fully awake.

This practice has radically altered the way I approach my day. 

Learn more about how a gratitude practice can affect your mental health at resilientandredeemed.substack.com.
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#mentalhealth #faith #depression #christianity #anxiety #healing #mentalhealthawareness #jesus #hope #christianliving #mentalhealthadvocate #christianauthor #biblicalwisdom #godslove #faithjourney #christianspeaker #prayerwarrior #mentalhealthmatters #christiancommunity #holyspirit #biblicalcounseling #faithandmentalhealth #christianhealing #mentalhealthsupport #christiananxiety #spiritualhealth #christianencouragement #mentalhealthministry #godsgrace #faithoverfear
Learning how to develop a ritual of gratitude has Learning how to develop a ritual of gratitude has dramatically changed the way that I approach my days. 

I know a lot of people talk about gratitude, and it feels very idyllic and not useful in the real world. I have found the exact opposite to be true.

Be consistent. Find a time that works for you. You’ll be surprised by how much this can change your outlook, even on stressful days.

Which myth have you heard most often?
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#christianmentalhealth #anxiety #faith #depression #healing #mentalwellness #christianity #jesus #mentalhealthawareness #christianauthor #hope #biblicaltruth #mentalhealthadvocate #christianliving #christianspeaker #godslove #prayerrequest #holyspirit #mentalhealthmatters #christiancommunity #faithandanxiety #biblicalhealing #christiansupport #mentalhealthministry #christiandepression #tedxspeaker #spiritualwellness #christianencouragement #redefiningnormal #rediscoveringhope
Paul wasn’t being idealistic when he wrote Phili Paul wasn’t being idealistic when he wrote Philippians 4:8. He was describing how to rewire your brain.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Your brain has a Reticular Activating System (RAS) that causes you to notice what you’ve deemed important. 

When you buy a new car, suddenly everyone seems to have the same vehicle. You’re just noticing it more because your brain decided it matters.

We can do the same with gratitude. 

By choosing to focus on gratitude regularly, we tell our brains it’s important. The RAS will work overtime to show us things to be grateful for. 

We can kick off a virtuous cycle.

This is what “renewing your mind” looks like practically. 

Neuroscience supports this—brains change over time through new patterns or habits. 

This isn’t harmful “just read your Bible” theology. This is actual biblical wisdom that aligns with what we know about how the brain works.

Read more at resilientandredeemed.substack.com
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#mentalhealth #depression #christianity #faith #anxiety #healing #mentalhealthawareness #jesus #hope #christianliving #mentalhealthadvocate #christianauthor #biblicalwisdom #godslove #faithjourney #christianspeaker #prayerwarrior #mentalhealthmatters #christiancommunity #holyspirit #biblicalcounseling #faithandmentalhealth #christianhealing #mentalhealthsupport #christiananxiety #spiritualhealth #christianencouragement #mentalhealthministry #godsgrace #faithoverfear
We cannot escape God. No matter where we go, God We cannot escape God. 

No matter where we go, God is right there with us.

The key thing to remember: our mental health struggles won’t cause God to run away from us.

Our depression, anxiety, bipolar, dissociative identity disorder, or whatever else we might be struggling with won’t disappoint God. 

He doesn’t view mental health conditions as sinful things to be purged from humanity.

No, they simply exist, like broken arms and type 1 diabetes. 

These things aren’t anyone’s fault necessarily—they’re results of living in a broken and complex world.

In other words, we are stuck with God, even with all our frailties.

This is a chance to bring light and life to our children, who are (statistically speaking) more likely to be dealing with depression or anxiety than not.

If we can convince them that God isn’t rejecting them for their struggles, this will be a major victory for the kingdom of God.

God sees our anxious thoughts. God recognizes our depression. God sees our bipolar episodes and accepts them at face value. 

There is no judgment, only being seen by God.

Read more at resilientandredeemed.substack.com
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#christianmentalhealth #faith #depression #anxiety #healing #mentalwellness #christianity #jesus #mentalhealthawareness #christianauthor #hope #biblicaltruth #mentalhealthadvocate #christianliving #christianspeaker #godslove #prayerrequest #holyspirit #mentalhealthmatters #christiancommunity #faithandanxiety #biblicalhealing #christiansupport #mentalhealthministry #christiandepression #redefiningnormal #spiritualwellness #christianencouragement #tedxspeaker #rediscoveringhope
This verse seems to put responsibility for our adu This verse seems to put responsibility for our adult children’s decisions on our shoulders. 

If our kids left the right path, it must be because we didn’t guide them properly.

But here’s what most people don’t know:

A proverb is a wise observation about how life works, not a promise from God.

So Proverbs 22:6 should read: It is generally (but not always) true that children eventually follow in the faith footsteps their parents lay out for them.

Read more about it at resilientandredeemed.substack.com.
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#mentalhealth #anxiety #christianity #faith #depression #healing #mentalhealthawareness #jesus #hope #christianliving #mentalhealthadvocate #christianauthor #biblicalwisdom #godslove #faithjourney #christianspeaker #prayerwarrior #mentalhealthmatters #christiancommunity #holyspirit #biblicalcounseling #faithandmentalhealth #christianhealing #mentalhealthsupport #christiananxiety #spiritualhealth #christianencouragement #mentalhealthministry #godsgrace #faithoverfear
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