Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

For Immediate Release

Contact: Nappaland Outreach Team

[New Kensington, PA. February 2026] – It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard: How We Are Transformed by the Holy Spirit has been awarded a prestigious 2026 Illumination Award in the “Theology” category. This is yet another accolade for the newest book by best-selling author and award-winning theologian, Mike Nappa.

It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard (Whitaker House) is the fascinating culmination of Nappa’s deep-dive study into all 246 direct references to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. It’s available wherever Christian books are sold, and is published in multiple formats (paperback, audiobook, e-book, and a Spanish language edition).

WHY THIS BOOK?

According to the 2025 American Worldview Inventory research study:

• A supermajority of American Christians (70%) say they do not “believe in the living presence and power of the Holy Spirit.”

• Additionally, two-thirds (67%) do not believe “the God of the Bible provides them with power or guidance.”

Mike Nappa speaks directly into this situation by asking the question, “What does the Holy Spirit actually DO?” Warm, biblically-grounded, and superbly-written, Nappa’s answer may surprise you.

Mike Nappa is currently available for interviews in all media (print, TV, radio, internet, podcast), as well as public speaking engagements. To access all Media Pro resources for this book (including high-resolution images, full media kit, author credentials, and more) Visit: Nappaland.com/mediapros

Listen to one of Mike Nappa’s appearances on Moody Radio – click here.

To request a digital PDF review copy of It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard, send an email to the Nappaland Outreach Team.

§§§

What People Are Saying about It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard:

“I absolutely love this book! With the accuracy of a Swiss watch, Mike Nappa teaches us from the Scripture what it means to have God’s Spirit work in us, and with us, to accomplish the Christian life through us.”—Dr. Michael Anthony, Dallas Theological Seminary

“Mike Nappa’s writing is inviting, clever, and makes you want to keep reading—and learning.”—Laura L. Smith, bestselling Christian author

“Mike, with his rare combination of theological depth and relatable invitation, introduces us to a Spirit-dependent journey that is both broad and deep.”—Rick Lawrence, Executive Director at Vibrant Faith

§§§

Media Professionals, find more at: Nappaland.com/mediapros

It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard is available wherever books are sold, including your local Christian bookstore, as well as online retailers Walmart, Target, Barnes & Noble, and more.

§§§

High-Resolution Images

To download:

  1. Click on a thumbnail below to open the high-resolution image in a new browser tab.
  2. On the high-resolution image, right-click and select “save image as…”
Illumination Award Winner - Theology
Book Cover: It Doesn't Have to Be This Hard by Mike Nappa
Book Cover (3D version): It Doesn't Have to Be This Hard by Mike Nappa