Do you remember a moment you felt completely free?

As a child, I raced around my neighborhood on my ten-speed at dusk, pumping the pedals in even cadence, arms spread wide. My parents called me in as the sun disappeared, but I would linger. God felt closest in creation, when the wind was in my hair and rustling the trees. Each time I met God in the secret place, I was free.

My young heart would beat strong with vitality. But through the years, this zeal was replaced by the hamster wheel of achievement and acceptance. I became a firstborn, type A control freak looking for love. I bought the lie that love could be earned, and my worth was only as good as my latest accomplishment. 

Eventually, despair set in when I believed things could never change. Choosing the approval of others over the freedom God offered, I leaned heavily into striving and perfectionism. I hustled and chased life by the tail, desperate to keep up. Finally, I went back to the pages of Scripture, which assured me that when Christ calls us to a free life, he calls us to operate out of the freedom he has already given us. 

We weren’t made to keep up. We were made to be free. To be who we already are.

I am SO excited about my brand new book, You Are Free: Be Who You Already Are (coming February 21, 2017!). 

Freedom is for everyone who wants it—the lost, the wounded, and those weary from striving. It’s for those who gave up trying years ago. It’s for those who are angry and hurt, brilliant and burnt by the Christian song and dance. You are the church, the people of God. You were meant to be free.

Rebekah Lyons is the author of Freefall to Fly: A Breathtaking Journey Toward a Life of Meaning. She is a mother of three, wife of one, and dog walker of two living in Nashville. She’s an old soul with a contemporary, honest voice who puts a new face on the struggles women face as they seek to live a life of meaning. Through emotive writing and speaking, Rebekah reveals her own battles to overcome anxiety, depression, and consumer impulses—challenging women to discover and boldly pursue the calling God has for them. As a self-confessed mess, Rebekah wears her heart on her sleeve, a benefit to friends and readers alike.

Alongside her husband, Gabe, Rebekah serves as cofounder of Q Ideas, a non-profit that convenes and equips Christians to influence culture. As founder of Q Women, Rebekah's passion is to embolden women to live their unique calling as they thoughtfully engage faith, relationships, and their community. She connects women who are leading in their own right and sees Q Women as a place where everyone belongs and everyone is needed. Her favorite pastime is interacting with readers face-to-face with a discriminating cup of coffee in hand.