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Nothing to Prove by Jennie Allen

"I have a secret for you: Nobody is okay, fine, great. 
But goodness, we are all tired of trying to pretend we are." 

I have had Jennie's latest book, Nothing to Prove, on my bookshelf since the day it came out last spring. And if I'm being honest, I have been afraid of picking it up. You see, Jennie's books have a tendency of breaking me in some way when I read them. They tend to crack open my heart, make me see the ugliness of my sin, embrace the beautiful grace of my Savior and set me on a path of living differently (mostly in quiet, unseen ways). And well, this one followed suit as expected.

Jennie has this amazing ability through her words to make you feel as though you are a part of her world and that she is a part of yours. She makes it clear that while she leads a growing ministry, authors books and teaches the Bible alongside other major giants of the faith, she wrestles with the same things you and I do. Feelings of not being enough or too much. Feelings of being too weak or too strong. Feelings of being too dependent or too independent. And so much more.

In 244 pages, Jennie walks us, her readers, her friends, through realizing the truth that none of us have anything to prove and the reasons behind "why we can stop trying so hard." And she does it in the usual Jennie way. With grace, truth, wisdom and plenty of Biblical foundations. 

I am always so hesitant to read Jennie's books, and yet always so grateful once I have finished working my way through them.  Maybe you will be too.



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