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Falling Free: Rescued from the Life I Always Wanted is the first book from blogger Shannan Martin. The book details a point in Shannan’s life where she and her husband realized they were living a safe and comfortable lifestyle and how being Christ followers convicted them that change needed to happen. Like many middle-class Americans, Shannan and her husband Cory lived in a conservative town with good schools and safe neighborhoods.
They had their dream home and were well off in the world’s eyes but things started to change once Shannan and her husband realized that God wanted them to sell their house and move to an area where there were more opportunities to care for those who weren’t as well off. In the midst of that, Shannan also ended up losing her job which was hard but ended up being better for her family in the long run. Because they were moving to an area that wasn’t as nice, it worked out for them to purchase a house that was less expensive and Shannan’s husband Cory was able to take a job as the chaplain of the local jail.
The Martins already had children of their own by adoption but as Cory served as the jail chaplain, and previously as a school administrator, they had opportunities to welcome various young people into their home and care for them as they endured hardships. Although the overall transition was a difficult one for the Martins, the heart of Shannan’s book expresses that they are deeply grateful for how the Lord convicted them and has been using them in their present community.
At multiple points in the book, Shannan claims that she heard from God, although according to Scripture, God says He doesn’t speak to us apart from the Bible (Deuteronomy 4:2, Deuteronomy 12:32, Proverbs 30:6, Hebrews 1:1-2, Revelation 22:18 ). Apart from this, I still really enjoyed Shannan’s story and was convicted about my personal attitudes toward what God has entrusted to me including possessions and finances.
One of the most inspiring things I read in Falling Free was about a friend of Shannan’s who has made it her goal to say, “Yes” anytime she is made aware of a financial need. I love this idea and hope that one day, my husband and I can be in a place to do the same. I don’t love that Falling Free, along with Shannan’s latest book The Ministry of the Ordinary Places
While I disagree with Shannan theologically in some aspects, I enjoyed reading her story and I’m thankful that her example has encouraged me to consider whether I’m storing up treasure on earth or in heaven and has encouraged me to be generous with what the Lord has entrusted to me. I received Falling Free compliments of BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.
