Can God handle our hardest questions, biggest struggles, and secret doubts?
We instinctively assume he cannot. We figure giving voice to those things will bring shame, rejection, and distance from him. But what if our hard questions don't need to function as an off-ramp from Christianity but can lead us closer to his heart? What if he is not afraid of our doubts but instead reveals himself in them?
In Can I Say That?, Brenna Blain brings her fresh voice to those who feel unsafe or unwelcome in the church, acknowledging the incongruity between the church's actions and believers' lived experiences. As a Bible teacher and an advocate for those who have experienced abuse, molestation, and mental health crises, she creates space for readers to be radically honest and ask tough questions—Am I safe here? Why does your presence feel so lonely, God?—while pointing them to biblical, foundational truth.
Leading the way with her own raw vulnerability and authenticity, Brenna shares her journey of wrestling with God and building intimacy with him as a result. Bravely exploring these deep places with Brenna will help you:
- Know in your guts that God accepts you as you are—even as you question, struggle, doubt, and hurt
- Be reassured that he is bigger than anything you face and can handle anything you bring to him
- Experience his love in the most tender and needy parts of your heart
- Engage complex questions about the institution of the church, wrestle with its abuses, and advocate for the Body of Christ to more closely reflect his heart
God sees you and knows you—better than you know yourself. He doesn't need you to change in order for him to love you. He doesn't require you to be free of struggles in order for him to be close to you. He wants you to be your true self with him and be willing to engage with him deeply, so he can wow you with the beauty of his heart and character.
WOW, what an AMAZING story and book this is. I truly believe this book should be in Churches all across the Country. So many are not strong enough to ask the deep questions that are bothering them and holding them back in having a full relationship with God. Brenna's story shows that asking the deep questions will get you the answers needed. I also LOVE how vulnerable Brenna was in sharing her story. God took her through so many trials before she truly had the relationship with God. The fact that God will accept you as you are and it takes time to make the changes, was soo eye opening.
We live in a Broken World and this book is soo NEEDED for so many, even those in the Church. Brenna's story really touched my heart and had me crying with Joy on how God worked in her life. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who feels they are "broken and weak" and have HARD questions for God! WONDERFUL BOOK!
Brenna Blain is a wife, mom, and contemporary theologian from the Pacific Northwest. While she speaks to and writes on many topics, Brenna is most passionate about God’s involvement in our pain and personal struggles including mental illness, same sex attraction, and abuse. Connect with her on Instagram @bunonmyhead.
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