All Who Are Weary - by Emmy Kegler (Paperback)

About the Book

We live in an age uniquely attentive to the problem of mental illness. More than half of us will be diagnosed with a mental illness. All Who Are Weary is not a map to a cure. Rather, Emmy Kegler joins the reader on the long walk of reflection, understanding, and compassion, trusting in the promise of a lighter load for us all.

Book Synopsis

We live in an age uniquely attentive to the problem of mental illness. More than half of us will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in our lifetime. It has been easy, for centuries, to relegate persistent emotional and mental struggles entirely to the realm of a failed personal work ethic ("Just don't worry so much!"), not enough faith ("Just pray harder!"), or, in recent years, a chemical imbalance in our brains ("Just take this pill!"). Yet, for those of us who live with mental illness, none of these suggestions provides the quick relief it promises, and the continued struggle takes its toll on our already burdened hearts and minds.

In All Who Are Weary, Emmy Kegler joins the reader on the long walk of reflection, understanding, and compassion, calling followers of Jesus back to ancient practices of lament, vulnerability, honesty, community, and hope. This book is not a map to a cure, nor a perfectly restorative prayer. Written with a wide community in mind--patients, but also parents and partners, coworkers and friends, pastors and therapists, and the whole church--All Who Are Weary points to the embodied grace known in Jesus, trusting in the promise of a lighter load for all.

Review Quotes

"What a pastoral, kind, and true book. Emmy is a trustworthy guide, a gentle prophet, and a fellow sojourner for the weary and the wounded. In so many ways, this book will lovingly shepherd the lambs." --Sarah Bessey, author of New York Times bestseller A Rhythm of Prayer and Miracles and Other Reasonable Things

"When faced with the topic of mental health, Emmy Kegler offers something that is sadly rare from a Christian pastor: companionship. Not the trite 'I'll pray for you' variety, although she certainly offers prayer, but the rich and deep kind. The kind that pulls up a chair and says, 'I struggle with this too, let's talk.' All Who Are Weary is a refreshing change of pace." --Matthias Roberts, psychotherapist and author of Beyond Shame

"All Who Are Weary is a beautifully and gently written companion to those who journey with mental illness and a guide to help us all love one another better. No matter who you are or where you are on the journey, I hope you'll get this book and allow Emmy Kegler's powerful words to come alongside you." --Kaitlin Curtice, author of Native: Identity, Belonging & Rediscovering God

"All Who Are Weary is an excellent contribution to the project of changing that culture, getting honest about the realities many of us live with, and letting others know they are not alone." --Emily Joy Allison, author of #ChurchToo: How Purity Culture Upholds Abuse and How to Find Healing