" Free to Weep is both memoir and theology, making it a powerful and personal read, sure to leave a mark on every reader. Brittany offers us an intimate and vulnerable glimpse of her own suffering. She shares her own battles, hard fought but beautifully and tenderly won, through abiding, believing, and trusting in our God who grieves over suffering. Brittany clears up many common misunderstandings about God''s view and our view on grief and healing. The personal stories combined with powerful doctrine make this book one I will eagerly pass on to my own loved ones who suffer. I know God will meet them on these pages." -- Jen Oshman , author, speaker, women''s ministry director "It is terribly tricky to say helpful things about grief, loss, and suffering. Words often fail to capture the confusion, pain, and sorrow.
Brittany Allen has provided us permission, grounded in God''s Word, to bring our tears to the Lord and know that He sees and He hears. Our wounds are welcomed by the Lord." -- Kyle Worley , pastor, host of the Knowing Faith podcast, author of Home with God: Our Union with Christ "Wise, warm, and filled with hope. Brittany Allen helps us keep our eyes on Jesus as we walk through the big questions of our pain and suffering. Filled with compassionate insight from God''s Word, Free to Weep will help you cling to Jesus with your greatest pain and deepest need." -- Jeremy Writebol , lead campus pastor at Woodside Bible Church and executive director of Gospel Centered Discipleship " Free to Weep is a wise and compassionate book for Christians who have been taught--explicitly or implicitly--that faith leaves little room for grief. Brittany Lee Allen writes with theological clarity and gentleness, helping us examine the questions we quietly ask in suffering and bring them into the light of Scripture and the life of Jesus--where weary believers are freed to lay down vain attempts at self-sufficiency, resist shallow answers, and rediscover a Savior who is near to the brokenhearted. I''m grateful to have this honest guide to share within my church and with anyone longing to grieve faithfully and trust God more deeply in the midst of pain.
" -- Kendra Dahl , women''s ministry director and author of A Place for You: Reframing Christian Womanhood "When I first read this book, I was walking through a season of acute suffering. Its words counseled my heart, teaching me to hold on to hope through my tears. The author''s insights kindly revealed my self-reliant pride and the hidden misconceptions within me. With wisdom, she directs readers to the timeless truths of Scripture. I am grateful for her careful, hope-filled writing on such an important topic. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone enduring hardship and for those who long to be a true friend to the sufferer." -- Erin Shaw , Associate Professor of Women''s Ministry, Cedarville University "In Free to Weep , Brittany Allen mounts a compelling case against the abuses of what she calls the ''emotional prosperity gospel,'' the idea that a mature believer would handle suffering in ways the Christian subculture considers healthy--but are actually deeply unhealthy. Allen, instead, presents believers with a better vision for life in a broken world, focusing especially on Jesus, the Man of Sorrows and one acquainted with grief.
As I read her personal and theological reflections, I immediately thought of a dozen people in our church who would benefit from this book." -- Benjamin Vrbicek , pastor and author "In the labyrinth of suffering, we are easily lost amid misguided claims that weakness is a spiritual liability, lament is sub-Christian, and all loss must be met with a stoic stiff upper lip. In this maze, Brittany Lee Allen is a voice of truth and comfort. Shaped by her own suffering and guided by the Word, she leads us through the twists and turns of pain to find Christ--and in Him, the God who holds us, heals us, and gives us the courage to grieve." --Chad Bird , Scholar in Residence at 1517.