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Half the Battle: Healing Your Hidden Hurts

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Where have you put your pain? Do you ever feel the pressure to hide your struggles in order to look like a "good Christian"? The truth is, we all face battles and hurts in our lives. Scripture is full of God-fearing men and women who tried to cover up their problems. For Mary and Martha, the death of their brother, Lazarus, was the ultimate devastation. They put his body in a dark place and rolled a stone in front of it. But God knew where they buried their pain, and He knows where you bury yours too. Jon Chasteen explores Old and New Testament examples of people whom God invited to begin the healing process by confronting their secret pain. Through this book with an included study guide, you will learn • Acknowledge the struggles you've been avoiding • Let go of shame and regret • Partner with God in your healing • Find freedom and lasting peace God wants to visit the place of your pain, redeem your past, and set you free. Will you let Him?

183 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 31, 2020

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Jonathan Chasteen

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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Katherine Leigh.
Author 2 books42 followers
January 20, 2021
Half the Battle starts by emphasizing that we all have hidden hurts - nobody is immune to pain in this world! John Chasteen jumps right in to the history of Israel in wandering and eventual battle of Jericho, to set the scene for the battle at hand, to personalize the message through biblical history. He further explores the stories of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, as well as back to the OT in the crossing of the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land. The illustrations with biblical history helped to explore each chapter yet it could have read more cohesively being chronological, or even focusing on one entire passage as a narrative to explore how to fight our battles. Perhaps I am a bit scatter-brained lately but it would have helped to follow along and keep the author's points straight in my head. I think reading the study guide prior to reading the content of the book would help with this, personally. The theme and title reminded me of the song by Bethel, "Surrounded (Fight My Battles)" which was playing in my head the whole time in reading. The study guide included I found even more helpful than the narrative! The summaries and questions really helped to take the content in the book deeper - including key quotes and scriptures, key thoughts/concepts, and discussion questions. I really could see this well as strictly a bible study set-up, or having the study guide options at the end sprinkled throughout the book as almost a devotional. I realize this review doesn't focus so much on the story itself (as a Christian I've read the Bible stories included so many times and lately have needed more lighthearted fiction reading - this is a bit heavier than I need to read personally for a multitude of reasons at the moment, so that reflects in this review to some extent, where I focus on the layout rather than personal reflection of the content because of pains I am walking through currently).

I received this book from BlogAbout and BDA in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own!
Profile Image for Josh Olds.
1,014 reviews108 followers
October 7, 2020
We all have hidden hurts. They’re the losses that we’ve buried deep within ourselves. The childhood traumas that we’ve consciously forgotten. The pent-up anger and frustration of some unmet expectations. Jon Chasteen uses the imagery from the Old and New Testaments to make his point that we need to allow God to work in our hidden struggles to heal them.

In the first chapter, he likens this need to the battle of Jericho, reminding readers that Jericho’s defeat came only after the unseen portion of the battle had been fought. He invites readers to let God into those secret places of their heart to begin healing their roots, so that it might overflow into their outward life.

The second chapter uses the resurrection of Lazarus to make the point that God does not want us to be closed to him, but wants us to open up, analogizing Lazarus’s closed tomb with a human predilection to hide our hurts. And this may have been the start of my concern about the book, because that’s not what the resurrection of Lazarus is about. Chasteen creates a metaphor where there isn’t one. The overriding point of the resurrection of Lazarus isn’t that we shouldn’t try to hide pain, but that Jesus is the Messiah who conquers death. It’s not that Chasteen’s point is wrong, it’s that the Scripture he’s using as support isn’t supportive of that particular thing. It’s bad exegesis.

As I moved through the book, I also found that it read more like a manuscript. Sure enough, this book stemmed from a series of sermons that Chasteen preached and it looks like only minimal editing was done to convert the series to written form. At best, this would lead to a very conversational tone, but for Half the Battle the result is too conversational. Chasteen digresses, then comes back. He jumps from passage to passage. It’s conversationally spoken, but poorly written and it makes it difficult to keep up with the point.

There’s also the book’s liberal use of self-quotes. The whole left leaf of the dust jacket is a listing of the book’s “notable quotes.” In a 146-page book, 26 of those pages are one sentence quotes from the main content of the book. These quotes are seemingly randomly included, without good design or structure behind it. From a structural standpoint, the book is an absolute mess, which makes it difficult to read.

I think this book had an important point to make, but it completely struck out on trying to make it. Reading this book was a frustrating exercise. That’s maybe not Chasteen’s fault. It’s definitely the publisher’s fault. Chasteen’s writing is mediocre at best and that is Chasteen’s fault. The constant inundation with “power quotes” that are not powerful makes the book reek of arrogance and self-importance, even though I doubt that was Chasteen’s goal. And, to top it all off, his exegesis is sketchy in some areas. I could forgive any one of these, but taken together Half the Battle is a good message presented very amateurishly.
Profile Image for Sarah.
Author 12 books155 followers
September 21, 2020
I’m passionate about helping people heal from their past hurts, and this book is an excellent tool on the subject. I love its simple, yet profound writing style, much like the style in Craig Groeschel’s Dangerous Prayers, currently my favorite book of 2020. Half the Battle is just as well-written as that book, and even has a foreword by Groeschel.

So many people have hidden hurts. They hide them deep inside because they are afraid to deal with them. Jon Chasteen helps you uncover the pain and deal with it in biblical ways. It’s a truly insightful book that is helping me work through past pain, and it can help you too.

This book is so good, I plan to feature it on an upcoming podcast of mine for adult children of divorce. It will also make my list of top picks for 2020.

Favorite quotes:

You can never tear down the walls of Jericho unless you first let God tear down the walls of your heart.
When we carry Egypt with us, it influences every aspect of our lives.
[Jesus] was not okay with His permanently sealed tomb, and He is not okay with yours either.
Healing and pride aren’t compatible.
Jesus was offered bitterness, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it. [referencing Mt. 27:34].
The pain of rejection will lead you to do things that can never be reversed.

I received a preview copy of Half the Battle from the publisher.
Profile Image for Denise Goosby.
Author 2 books1 follower
September 14, 2020
Half the Battle has some very poignant and interesting lessons about how healing can work in a person's life. The idea of a person's heart being prepared for healing by being willing to acknowledge personal issues, struggles, and offenses to God and others was particularly powerful. Although we seemingly suffer in isolation, the consequences of our pain affects those around us. Half the battle reminds the reader that a huge part of healing lies in humbling ourselves before God and a caring community. It is this posture of humility that enables us to receive the counsel, time, reflection, and personal steps needed to be healed.
The first part of Half the Battle contains great Bible teaching. Chasteen's study on how God prepared the Israelites to conquer Jericho--and, thus, how healing manifests in those actively pursuing was insightful. Some of the imagery might be a little uncomfortable. But the information is rich.
8 reviews
September 10, 2020
Currently on Chapter 4, this book has been amazing so far!)

What’s caught my attention so far in this book is the way the author, Jon Chasteen, describes circumcision of the heart. He explains that “it took extreme humility to reveal the most private part Of yourself to someone else and allow them to cut you. Circumcision of the heart is a similar exercise.” (Ch.1) We have to be willing to humble ourselves and allow God to deal with our heart, allow Him to cut away pride, greed, lust, lies, and anything else we are trying to hide in the secret places of our heart.

God wants our heart more than anything else, and this book has been a great guide into surrendering my heart to God.
26 reviews2 followers
October 1, 2020
“Jesus knows where you’ve hidden your pain.” Author and pastor John Chasteen gets straight to the point and penetrates deep.

His book, Half the Battle, Healing the Hidden Hurts, challenges the reader to examine the wound festering inside. The one tucked safely away. The one sequestered in the dark places where it’s coddled and protected.

Whether our battle wounds resulted from a slanderous friend, abusive childhood, or painful divorce, Chasteen urges his readers to give Christ the worst of the pain in order to access the “stench behind the stone”.

Rich with both Old and New Testament references and a leader’s guide, this short book is both memorable and practical.

Join my newsletter at www.tammykennington.com for your chance to win a copy of Half the Battle!
7 reviews1 follower
September 9, 2020
Absolutely loved this book. Jon Chasteen explains in a straightforward and practical way how Jesus wants to be invited to your place of pain and how he will help you deal with rejection. We all have things were dealing with and this book is a practical guide ti how to deal with it in a Biblical way. Highly recommend this book to everyone!!!
5 reviews
September 18, 2020
This book really challenges you to dig into your hidden hurts and then teaches you how to deal with them. This book a must read, I did not even know I was hiding any hurts, but now I have freedom.
185 reviews5 followers
September 25, 2020
Half the Battle came to me at time when I was reading needing it. In fact, 2020 is a year that most of us would probably benefit from reading this book. The central message of this book that we do not need to hide our difficulties in order to look like the perfect Christian. We need to let go of being ashamed, embarrassed, or regretful of what is happening in our lives, or how we reacted in the past. Instead, we need to trust God for our healing and work towards moving forward. One thing that I loved about this book is that it is not just a feel good message, such as love and trust God, and everything will be great in your life! Instead, Dr. Chasteen talked about how we need to be willing to work and “sweat it out”, as God guides us and walks beside us through whatever we may face in life. I also enjoyed how he used examples from the Bible (i.e. Moses, Abraham, Gideon) to illustrate the points that he was making. It just proves how the Bible is valid and applicable in our lives today. There is a leader’s guide and a study guide in the back of the book, making this perfect to use in a small group.

Some of my favorite quotes from this book include:
• “Your worship will become the very thing that God uses to defeat the enemy.”
• Even when our rejection causes us pain and produces bad fruit, we serve a God who redeems and restores.”
• “Peace isn’t a feeling dependent on circumstances. Peace comes from the Lord, and when you have Him, you don’t have to be afraid.”
• “God’s desire is to use all of our hurts and pains for a purpose.”
• “Admitting a pain or hurt does not mean you did something wrong. It means something (or someone) has wronged you.”
• “Sometimes it is in your place of greatest pain that you will hear the voice of God the loudest.”

I was blessed to receive a copy of this book to review, and an extra copy to give away. I shared the extra copy with a dear friend who is going through a stressful time in her life right now. We are both in the field of education, and the beginning of this school year has looked a lot different. That, along with dealing with the pressures of being a mother, can be overwhelming at times. I pray this book is a reminder to her, and all who read it, that we serve an incredible God who can bring us through to the other side of any struggle.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Gateway Press, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Profile Image for Emily P.
430 reviews10 followers
September 16, 2020
"Half The Battle" is an encouragement for those in the thick of their struggle. Examining the biblical story of Mary and Martha in their loss of Lazarus, Chasteen gives readers the permission to openly share our personal challenges. We don't have to fit a mold or grieve in any certain way--God knows our hearts and hurts, be they private or public.

Chasteen continues to remind us that we were never meant to be a model representation of what a Christian should be-- we are all imperfect people in need of a perfect God. He shares personal experiences and biblical examples to draw the audience back to the hope found in letting go, embracing whatever pain we've tried to hide, and harnessing our grief for new beginnings. You don't have to conquer your struggles alone--He is with you.

This would be a great book for a small group or even to be featured in a sermon series. This was my first time reading Chasteen, but I gleaned a lot from "Half the Battle." I was an early reader, thanks to the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Katie Trent.
Author 6 books23 followers
September 22, 2020
We’ve all felt the pressure of hidden hurts, the pain of waiting and wondering. Well, Dr. Jon Chasteen has written a powerful book to help us conquer the battle within. It’s a quick read with six chapters and just 142 pages, and includes a study guide perfect for diving deeper by yourself or in a small group.

Dr. Chasteen tackles essential Biblical truths to help identify issues holding us back from walking in complete freedom. I love how seamlessly he connects Biblical stories with current struggles. Half the Battle is full of practical wisdom to empower the reader to experience victory over pain. It is a great read for every believer!

*I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
11 reviews
February 14, 2021
What I love about Half the Battle is that it is a book that can be re-read at different stages of our battles in life because no struggle and circumstance we experience is going to be exactly alike. We will be older in each battle, our spiritual journey will be different in each battle, and our mindset will be different in each battle. Having, what I could call a "guidebook" in the midst of our battles helps us realign our focus on Who is truly important in helping us get through half the battle. I recommend this book to anyone who has current and past struggles that they have yet to realize they need to face.
Profile Image for Tammy Kennington.
Author 7 books18 followers
April 6, 2021
Jesus knows where you’ve hidden your pain.” Author and pastor John Chasteen gets straight to the point and penetrates deep.

His book, Half the Battle, Healing the Hidden Hurts, challenges the reader to examine the wound festering inside. The one tucked safely away. The one sequestered in the dark places where it’s coddled and protected.

Whether our battle wounds resulted from a slanderous friend, abusive childhood, or painful divorce, Chasteen urges his readers to give Christ the worst of the pain in order to access the “stench behind the stone”.

Rich with both Old and New Testament references and a leader’s guide, this short book is both memorable and practical.

1 review
September 25, 2020
The author shows you by many biblical examples how to take your pain and lay it at the foot of the cross. The author talks about the stench behind the stone and how we all have hurts and rejections and how God wants to circumcise your heart to help heal the hurts. God can take our pain and rejection and use it for His glory and our good. We all have battles in life as the author Dr Jon Chasteen says “life’s toughest battles are where we find our greatest victories. Bottom line God wants your heart and with that he has that he has you and you have Him and don’t need to be afraid
2 reviews
September 26, 2020
What I liked most about this book was the relatability. Dr Chasteen explains how rejection is a cop on issue and how to deal with it. The effects of dealing with it VS not. I found my self saying "that's me!" A lot as a read through the pages. Normalize is a good word too. Made me feel like This is a common issue so not to beat myself up about it but instead to choose to deal with it in healthy Godly ways. I love to read books that I can also use to help not only myself but set others free as well.
Profile Image for Carter Harris.
17 reviews
November 24, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. As my church pastor it was amazing getting to hear his wisdom in a different way, it exposed and brought to light a lot of struggles in my life and did it through tons of unique scripture. This book is cool as it not only teaches you through scripture, but also provides us with a study guide to where we can teach others! I recommend this book to anyone, and think this is a must read due to the sheer amount of wisdom it holds.

I received this book after a church service from the pastor.
Profile Image for Katie Ely.
Author 8 books16 followers
September 15, 2020
Excellent book! Well-written and well-researched with lots of scriptures. This book helps you not only identify your pain, but gives you practical steps to heal. There’s also lots of interesting background information, like the history of the bubonic plague and WWI, that he weaves into his message. It’s easy to read, yet filled with scientific research that validates his points. I highly recommend.
Profile Image for Dawn R..
Author 4 books21 followers
December 10, 2020
Have you ever read a book that you didn’t want to put down until you finished it? Half the Battle is one of only a few books that impacted me that way. Dr. John Chasteen has a unique perspective on rejection and pain that challenges the reader to bring Jesus their trauma instead of burying it deeper. With this book, we are encouraged to take the time we need to heal. Excellent resource for anyone who is going through a hard time or know someone who is.
Profile Image for Joey Nault.
11 reviews
September 22, 2020
Sometimes I felt like I couldn't let people in and help me with problems I was having. After reading Half The Battle, I figured out most Christians felt the same way. Every now and then we all stumble and fall. God is always there to pick us up, each and every one of us. And this book really shows us in scripture how that rang true. Time and time again!
Profile Image for Heather Gillis.
Author 2 books10 followers
November 22, 2020
If you are in a battle or struggle with hidden hurts this book is for you! Dr. Chasten will break down and walk you through where we need to start in the process. Being willing is half the battle. God honors our willingness and invites him in to our healing. Healing matters! Thank you for writing this book!
Profile Image for Lisa P Clement.
313 reviews9 followers
February 13, 2021
A great book to read that will help you with the hidden pains of your life. I appreciate the topic here and how the author helps you walk through your pain and help you realize those feelings of shame, embarrassment etc are lies to hold you back. It is a scripture sound book.
Thankful for an advanced copy.
I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Iris Peterson.
Author 2 books1 follower
March 16, 2021
This book was just what I needed to read during this season of my life. Chasteen provided practical insight, tools, and strategies for facing battles in our lives. His message is clear and I felt empowered to let go of shame and regret and fully embrace the freedom that is available to all who believe!
Profile Image for Natalie Nenovich.
13 reviews2 followers
March 18, 2021
I enjoyed reading this book. The author using the practical application for how Jesus wants to be invited to your place of pain. We all have pain places, and this book helps you explore it with Biblical applications tied to it. I felt the book was a little unorganized and hard to follow at times. The content and message were excellent, though. I would recommend this book to others!
Profile Image for Chris Yearyean.
9 reviews1 follower
September 21, 2020
This book will give you tools to get through some of your biggest battles. It will help you to understand how we store pain, and how God can heal us from that pain. Dr. Jon Chasteen brings us word straight from God.
2 reviews
September 28, 2020
This book explains where our hurts come from and why we hide them. Through scripture and stories, Jon Chasteen shows how we can become free from the hurt and pain - half the battle. Then he shows us how to fight circumstances that show up in our lives, the other half of the battle. I highly recommend this book!
Profile Image for Sandy Quandt.
63 reviews1 follower
December 23, 2020
As is true with most things, there are good and not so good. I found this to be the case with Half the Battle: Healing Your Hidden Hurts by Dr. Jon Chasteen.
First the good.
Dr. Chasteen points out most of us are engaged in a battle of some kind, saying we all have hurts and wounds. Before we fight external battles, he says we must fight the internal battles we hide and cover up.
He states the only way to truly rid ourselves of the shame and guilt of these hidden wounds is to invite God into them, allow him to take his knife to the wound, and let him remove it.
The majority of the book talks about wounded, rejected people. In the final chapters Dr. Chasteen compares World War I and the story of Gideon to facing our battles today in the light of Jesus as our guide, in the unity of believers, and with praise.
There is a study guide at the back of the book with additional questions for consideration.
Now the not so good.
I found the way the author wandered back and forth through various scriptures to prove his point extremely disjointed and distracting.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blog About Bloggers Network for a fair and honest review, which is exactly what I gave.
Profile Image for Henry McLaughlin.
Author 6 books48 followers
April 8, 2024
Excellent book on overcoming pain and struggles and moving into all God has for us.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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