Can I Say That?

How Unsafe Questions Lead Us to the Real God

De: Brenna Blain, Preston Sprinkle

Narrado por: Brenna Blain, Tristan Wright

Read by the author.

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.

©2024 Brenna Blain (P)2024 Thomas Nelson

Raw and real.

Refreshing to embrace questions in your faith journey while going toward God and not away from Him.

wonderful story

This story is both heartbreaking and encouraging! Brenna does a phenomenal job of presenting her testimony as well as presenting God in a way many have not come to know him.

Honesty

Brenna combines brutal honesty with deep spiritual insight. She addresses the issues of suffering, mental illness, abuse, and struggles with sexuality with both a balance of compassion and Biblical truth.

Yes, I can say that!

What an amazing story of how Christ can change hearts. Brenna poured out her soul in this book and thank God for that. It was inspiring to me a person who has struggled with many past things. Learning to let God be the guide to my every breath, thought & patterns. This book is a must read for all age groups.

Vulnerability

Brenna is inspiringly honest, and she bravely normalizes the experiences we are never invited to talk about in church

This book is powerful

There is a purpose for pain, Christ is King. This book is a great way to help people remember that.

This was very encouraging and comforting

It is good to be able to be taken alongside someone's story as they struggle and preserve.
The narrative is somewhat non linear, which I don't mind and even enjoy. But for those who prefer to know that beforehand, you have been prepared!

Finally someone who gets it

As I’ve navigated a path of religious trauma, mental health struggles, and deconstructing a hurtful religion, leading to doubt in God, this book came in and really rocked me. I’m not suddenly full of faith again or suddenly done doubting/questioning, but I felt seen heard and seen and known by Brenna’s story and willingness to say what so many of us have thought. Her vulnerability is what we need more in the Christian world. It made me change my perspective on how I approach where I currently am. I no longer feel villainized for doubting or being angry at the pain I have felt. I laughed, I cried, i became more inquisitive, and I felt peace about things that I haven’t felt in a long time. It’s not a pretty story wrapped up in bows and lace, and I love that. It’s real, it’s raw, it’s honest, and I would recommend reading it! If your like me and on the edge of walking away from faith for good, even after years spent going all in and then being treated horrible for your questions and pain, give this a listen. If nothing else maybe, like me, you will feel like someone out there finally sees you and feels what you do. I don’t know where I’ll land in my journey, but I’m grateful for the perspective shift this book gave me.

Raw and Authentic

Raw and Authentic questions to ask yourself as you read tabs reflect on your walk with God

Raw. Honestly. Beautiful

No sugarcoating. I loved every word. I love that it was read by the author. These words are healing.