God began His journey with humanity in relationship and continues to pursue this relationship with us throughout history. The Christian life was never supposed to be an attempt to resolve the love of God and the misery that many believe He requires for life. People have tried to confine God into religion, which creates bondage and imprisonment rather than the freedom He promised.

Christians often start their journey with Jesus with enthusiasm, joy, and excitement, but rather quickly transition to a place of discouragement and frustration. We come to faith in Christ because of His love and sacrifice, but the pressure of performance and criticism can derail any satisfaction we have in our relationship with Him.

Breaking Free examines the importance of relationship and the dangers of religious constructs that are not relational. You can experience abiding life, living in intimate relationship with God, and enjoy the transformation this relationship brings to your everyday, normal life as well as the trials and hard circumstances. This is rubber-meets-the-road Christianity-the Life of Jesus making the impossible possible and bringing peace and joy no matter the circumstance.

Hannah Morrell is executive director of Broken & Hopeful and a pastoral counselor. She has been working in lay counseling for almost 20 years and holds a Master's degree in Counseling Ministries. Hannah started Broken & Hopeful in 2016 because she was called to help those who feel broken find life, hope, and peace in their everyday life with Jesus. Broken & Hopeful is a nonprofit ministry providing donation-based Christian counseling, blog posts, an annual women's retreat, a podcast called Undercurrents of Hope, and resources including books and video courses. Hannah loves people's stories, considers it a privilege to hear them, and passionately works to restore people to hope.