Not so by Myself: A safe space where God doesn’t fix the loneliness, but sits with you instead

"God never leaves you nor forsakes you.” I’ve heard that before. “Jesus will leave the 99 to come after you.” I’ve heard that one too. Meanwhile, fear creeps up when life hurls a season of loneliness our way, and poof! Churchy sayings hold as much weight as thin air. Believe it or not, God is cheering us on and inviting us to thrive amidst the loneliness. Yes, it’s weird and scary, but this emptiness is a safe space where you get to hear the God of everything speak the loudest.

WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT NOT SO BY MYSELF: One of the biggest lies we've learned to embrace is that we're alone in our pain. It keeps us trapped in a cycle of guilt, shame, and isolation so that even when we're struggling, we know how to put on a brave face and pretend everything is just fine. Peyton Garland is here for exactly none of that. She has lived with the agony of isolation, both physically and mentally, and is here to show us that just when we think we can't make it another second, there will always be a hope we can hold on to. With her approachable sense of humor and deeply rooted faith, Peyton offers us a way through our pain by sharing her own powerful story of redemption. —Wendi Nunnery, author of Good Enough: Learning to Let Go of Perfect for the Sake of Holy.

Having had the chance to sit down across the table from Peyton and get to know her better, I can tell you confidently that she is for you. She is a cheerleader, already on the sidelines of your story- ready to root you on as you push further into what God has for you. Get ready to journey with her through the highs and lows of what it looks like to chase after God, deal with loneliness, and learn how to sit in the often-uncomfortable rhythms of faith and trust. There is a beauty and a transformation that only comes from learning to become comfortable with the uncomfortable - Peyton has been through that transformation and this book is proof. —Hannah Brencher, author of If You Find This Letter: My Journey to Find Purpose Through Hundreds of Letters to Strangers and Come Matter Here, TED Talk speaker and founder of The World Needs More Love Letters.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Peyton Garland is a web content writer for Family Christian, Christian Cinema, and Dove.org. An Atlanta lover and avid traveler, she enjoys hunting down the best hiking spots, dilapidated churches, and homegrown pizzerias with her husband and their two furry babies, Alfie and Daisy.