All Who Are Weary: Finding True Rest By Letting Go of the Burdens You Were Never Meant to Carry

All Who Are Weary is a beautiful telling of a journey through some common dark seasons and into the Light. Truth woven through the telling is both instructive and comforting. Recommended without hesitation, especially for young mothers.

This book is a gift — an empathetic, compassionate reminder that just because we live in a broken world, doesn’t mean we have to limp our way through it. Sarah's voice is kind, encouraging, and filled with grace as she guides us to let go of all the things we were never meant to carry, and hand them over to the One who freely offers to do it for us. Even though Sarah has walked through some specific experiences that I haven't, there is not a single chapter in this book I did not identify with. I felt seen, known, and (graciously, gently) convicted from start to finish. I ended this book with a deep exhale, softened shoulders, and unclenched fists. A must-read for anyone who is exhausted from simply being ... human.

If you have ever walked through the valley of the shadow of death with pit stops in depression and anxiety and taken exits of condemnation and perfectionism, this book will help you reorient your mind on the goodness of Jesus. “Sometimes we get so focused on what we can see that we lose sight of the hope we have in what is unseen. We forget we serve the same God…who calmed storms and raised the dead” (60).You wouldn’t think it from picking up such a beautiful and bright book, but these pages are for sufferers. Sarah J. Hauser chronicles her personal battles with self-sufficiency, insignificance, comparison, and other mental hula-hoops. (At times I felt like maybe she was spying in on MY life as I was reading. Like did she KNOW that I, too, am a basket case of emotions with a healthy dose of crazy?!) She so gently directs the reader to the surpassing worth of Jesus, who suffered in our place, and showcases our sure and eternal hope where suffering will be no more. Hauser continuously reminds the reader of biblical promises and explains that ultimate rest truly comes when we really remember /who/ God is. With that said, I do wish there was more of an emphasis on personal bible reading. Though it is assumed that the reader would be in the Word, I think it would be worthwhile to make this discipline bold face in every chapter so that the reader is convinced of God’s goodness and can recall God’s promises for themselves. One thing that really excited me was her use of bible events to highlight the mental anguishes explained in each chapter—and some of those events were lesser known like Hezekiah and Habakkuk.Overall, I really appreciated Sarah’s voice on this topic. She does a great job highlighting how all our suffering leads us to Jesus. “Only by turning to the all-sufficient God [could we] find what [we] needed” (73). So with joy and through tears, may we understand that “it’s precisely through suffering that God chisels away at our imperfections to form us to be the complete and whole person He designed us to be” (119), and “until the darkness becomes light and tears turn to joy” may we wait “trusting that God will come through in the end” (140).*There are 3 reflection questions at the end of each chapter.*Includes an interview with a therapist in the appendix.*155 pages of reading*PERFECT FOR GIFTING

I either resell or donate most of the books I buy, but All Who Are Weary is staying on my shelf. Filled with real-life examples and sound Biblical commentary, this book helps the reader navigate difficult life seasons. While detailing her own struggles, the author weaves stories of Biblical characters into the text as she explains how much we have in common. These men and women of old also struggled with life and faith during challenges and tragedies. The author lets us know we are not alone in our sorrows and gives reason for faith and hope in Jesus. I give the book a five-star rating.

Sarah is both compassionate and wise, vulnerable and encouraging. She addresses real challenges such as self-sufficiency, perfectionism, and insignificance (though I was most impacted by her chapter on worry). Rather than gloss over these burdens with a “try harder” or “think positively” attitude, she provides Gospel truths to replace the lies of the enemy. She acknowledges the real struggles we face, but reminds us of the hope that Christ has freed us from carrying these burdens. This would be a great book to do with a group of women, as Sarah provides reflection questions at the end of each chapter.

I have been reading Sarah Hauser's work for years, and I can say that this book is some of her best work. Her writing comes out of the overflow of her life-- her honest stories of working through depression, the death of her mother, the challenges of being a mom, the wrestling with God over much of the heaviness in the world today. Sarah makes Biblical stories come to life for us in such an engaging way, and I walked away from this book with a deep exhale: God sees, He knows, He is always working. Cannot recommend strongly enough!

Sarah writes with such an authentic voice, teaching, challenging and encouraging us to lay down the burdens we were never meant to carry. Short but packed with such quality content. This is one that you can come back to over and over again, complete with reflection questions at the end of each chapter.

Reading this book brings healing to me. I am so grateful for this author and how she has put into words what I also have felt and long to embrace as she does. Thank you Sarah! Your honesty and clarity are a blessing. The truth brought forth from scripture is powerful. M. Greer