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A book by Wes Washington · Coming 2027

What if
happy isn’t
enough?

You can have everything you thought would make you happy and still be hurting underneath it all.

Be first to know Read a little. See yourself.
THE FIRST BOOK2027WES WASHINGTON

HAPPY ≠ HEALED · THE DEBUT BOOK

A DIFFERENT KIND OF PURSUIT.ROOTED IN THE REDEMPTION OF JESUS.
01 / THE BOOK

Professional
on the outside.
Bleeding
on the inside.

The job. The relationship. The recognition. For a while, it works. Then the feeling wears off, and you’re still left with you.

Happy ≠ Healed is for the person who looks put together but knows there’s something underneath the surface they can’t keep outrunning.

Through honest stories of addiction, identity, failure, and redemption, Wes brings you back to the question Jesus asked at the pool of Bethesda: “Do you want to get well?”

This is an invitation to face what hurts, pursue healing, and become unashamedly who God created you to be.

Step inside the story
THE FEELING ISN’T THE HEALING.

Chasing happy
keeps you empty.
Pursuing healing
makes you whole.

02 / A FEW WORDS FROM THE BOOKHAPPY ≠ HEALED

I was happy
at times.
I wasn’t healed.

“I spent a lot of years trying to be happy while, on the inside, I was slowly bleeding out.

My happiness came from jobs, prestige, accolades, titles, recognition, women, partying, drinking, and drugs. The scary part is that some of it worked. Those things really did make me happy for a moment.

But when the job changed, the applause stopped, the party ended, the relationship fell apart, or the drugs wore off, I was still left with me. Underneath it all, I was still broken. I was happy at times, but I wasn’t healed.”

WES WASHINGTON / HAPPY ≠ HEALED
Wes Washington with his wife and three sons in an autumn woodlandTHE PEOPLE I GET TO COME HOME TO.
03 / THE MAN BEHIND THE WORDS

Husband.
Dad. Pastor.
Still becoming.

I’m Wes. Before anything you might read on a book cover, I’m a man who knows what it’s like to need another chance.

I know how to dress up a life that’s falling apart. I did it as a nurse, and I did it in ministry. Rehab, relapse, and the consequences of my own choices taught me that getting my life back together wasn’t the same as getting well.

Jesus met me in the places I thought had disqualified me. Today, I’m a husband, a father of three, and the senior pastor of Rust City Church in northeast Ohio.

I’m writing this book because I don’t want you to spend another year confusing a better feeling with a healed life.

Wes Washington
BEFORE YOU GO

A few things
you might
be wondering.

Is this only for people in addiction recovery?

No. Drugs and alcohol are part of my story, but we can use achievement, approval, relationships, work, or even ministry to avoid what hurts. This book is for anyone who recognizes that pattern in their own life.

Is this a Christian book?

Yes. The redemption of Jesus is at the center of my story and this book. We’ll explore biblical truth, honest self-reflection, and what it looks like to put that truth into practice.

When can I get a copy?

The book is planned for 2027. A specific release date hasn’t been announced yet. Join the list below for the release announcement and updates as the book comes together.

YOUR NEXT CHAPTER STARTS HERE.

Stop chasing.
Start healing.

Be the first to hear when Happy ≠ Healed is ready. Get the 2027 release announcement and occasional updates from Wes.