Get a Hold of Yourself: Embracing Authenticity in a Complicated World

Jesus doesn’t shy away from our complexities or contradictions. Nor should we.

We often sense a gap between who we are and who we could be, should be, or feel called to be. “I don’t understand myself,” the apostle Paul writes in the New Testament. “Why do I struggle to do the things I want to do and keep doing the things I don’t want to do?” That might be one of the most relatable passages in the Bible!

As Christians, we’re inclined to seek the Scriptures for guidance, but even Jesus’ teachings can be confusing. If Jesus says we are to die to ourselves and deny ourselves, how do we do that while loving and being true to ourselves? How do we accept our need for growth and grace without feeling like hypocrites? How can we become more Christlike while also becoming more like ourselves?

In Get a Hold of Yourself, pastor Troy Watson digs into some of Jesus’ puzzling teachings to unearth how we can learn to face contradictions rather than avoid them. Jesus’ perplexing stories and paradoxical sayings are meant to shake people from their social defaults and awaken them to a new reality. When we embrace ourselves as both sinners and saints, hurting and healed, cowardly and courageous, we are empowered to live more authentically in our complicated world.

1146930448
Get a Hold of Yourself: Embracing Authenticity in a Complicated World

Jesus doesn’t shy away from our complexities or contradictions. Nor should we.

We often sense a gap between who we are and who we could be, should be, or feel called to be. “I don’t understand myself,” the apostle Paul writes in the New Testament. “Why do I struggle to do the things I want to do and keep doing the things I don’t want to do?” That might be one of the most relatable passages in the Bible!

As Christians, we’re inclined to seek the Scriptures for guidance, but even Jesus’ teachings can be confusing. If Jesus says we are to die to ourselves and deny ourselves, how do we do that while loving and being true to ourselves? How do we accept our need for growth and grace without feeling like hypocrites? How can we become more Christlike while also becoming more like ourselves?

In Get a Hold of Yourself, pastor Troy Watson digs into some of Jesus’ puzzling teachings to unearth how we can learn to face contradictions rather than avoid them. Jesus’ perplexing stories and paradoxical sayings are meant to shake people from their social defaults and awaken them to a new reality. When we embrace ourselves as both sinners and saints, hurting and healed, cowardly and courageous, we are empowered to live more authentically in our complicated world.

14.99 In Stock
Get a Hold of Yourself: Embracing Authenticity in a Complicated World

Get a Hold of Yourself: Embracing Authenticity in a Complicated World

Get a Hold of Yourself: Embracing Authenticity in a Complicated World

Get a Hold of Yourself: Embracing Authenticity in a Complicated World

eBook

$14.99 

Available on Compatible NOOK devices, the free NOOK App and in My Digital Library.
WANT A NOOK?  Explore Now

Related collections and offers

LEND ME® See Details

Overview

Jesus doesn’t shy away from our complexities or contradictions. Nor should we.

We often sense a gap between who we are and who we could be, should be, or feel called to be. “I don’t understand myself,” the apostle Paul writes in the New Testament. “Why do I struggle to do the things I want to do and keep doing the things I don’t want to do?” That might be one of the most relatable passages in the Bible!

As Christians, we’re inclined to seek the Scriptures for guidance, but even Jesus’ teachings can be confusing. If Jesus says we are to die to ourselves and deny ourselves, how do we do that while loving and being true to ourselves? How do we accept our need for growth and grace without feeling like hypocrites? How can we become more Christlike while also becoming more like ourselves?

In Get a Hold of Yourself, pastor Troy Watson digs into some of Jesus’ puzzling teachings to unearth how we can learn to face contradictions rather than avoid them. Jesus’ perplexing stories and paradoxical sayings are meant to shake people from their social defaults and awaken them to a new reality. When we embrace ourselves as both sinners and saints, hurting and healed, cowardly and courageous, we are empowered to live more authentically in our complicated world.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781513816456
Publisher: MennoMedia
Publication date: 07/29/2025
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 200
File size: 1 MB

About the Author

Troy Watson is a Mennonite pastor, columnist, and music recording artist. He writes and speaks on issues of spiritual and personal growth from a theological and psychological perspective. He brings creative and innovative perspectives from the Bible, providing fresh insight on how to live with meaning and joy amid of our complex, confusing, and contradictory lives.

His columns have appeared in Canadian Mennonite, the St. Catherines Standard, and Sun Media publications. He is a recipient of the 2023 Canadian Christian Communicators Association Award of Merit, awarded 1st place in the column category. Watson resides in Stratford, Ontario, with his wife Tammy and his two sons Elias and Cai.
 
 
Betty Pries is co-founder and CEO of Credence & Co., a consulting agency dedicated to working with organizations and their leaders to help them thrive and flourish. With over 26 years of experience coaching, mediating, training, facilitating, and consulting, Pries is highly regarded as a specialist in conflict, change, and leadership. She brings a unique mix of biblical and theological reflection, spiritual guidance, organizational leadership, and facilitation skills to her work with congregations, faith-based institutions, universities, health care, government agencies, and businesses.
 

Table of Contents

Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1: Paradox
Chapter 2: Expectations
Chapter 3: Desire
Chapter 4: Death
Chapter 5: Identity
Chapter 6: Home
Chapter 7: Snakes
Chapter 8: Self
Chapter 9: Christ
Chapter 10: Authenticity
 

Conclusion
Notes
The Author

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews