What an utter relief it would be to be set free from all that plagues us-the inner struggle with anger, or contempt, the habitual sins. In the depths of your being, you ache to live a life of goodness; we all do. (Something caused you to pick up a book with the word holiness in the subtitle!) We are made for goodness just as we are made to breathe, just as we are made to love. Whatever life has to throw at you, friends, goodness is your strength, your refuge in the storm. And there is a way to be good again.
What if you could finally be free from the things that plague you?
In Free to Live: The Utter Relief of Holiness, John Eldredge offers a fresh, life-giving look at what holiness is—not a set of impossible rules or joyless striving, but the natural outcome of a life healed and transformed by God’s love.
At the core of every human heart is the desire to live a life of goodness, wholeness, and love. Yet so often we’re trapped in cycles of anger, shame, or habitual sin. This book offers hope: there is a way to be good again. In Jesus, we find not only forgiveness but the actual power to be restored to the person we were created to be.
Why this book matters
Many people carry deep weariness and frustration from trying to “be good” through self-effort. Holiness can feel like a heavy burden instead of the gift it was meant to be.
Free to Live helps readers:
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Understand holiness as freedom and wholeness, not shame or duty
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Break free from cycles of sin, anger, and contempt
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Discover how God heals the heart to restore genuine goodness
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Find refuge and strength in God’s transforming love
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Learn the joy of becoming more like Jesus, naturally and deeply
These themes are beautifully connected to The Journey of Desire and Waking the Dead, which also explore inner restoration.
What you’ll discover in Free to Live
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The true meaning of holiness – Why it’s not about moralism, but about being fully alive.
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How goodness flows from healing – God doesn’t demand change without first restoring the heart.
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The freedom from self-effort – Learning to rely on the love and life of Christ in you.
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A practical path to becoming whole – Steps to walk with God into deeper transformation.
If you want to go further in understanding God’s restoring love, _The Sacred Romance _offers another powerful perspective on His pursuit of your heart.
Who should read this book?
This book is for:
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Anyone tired of trying—and failing—to “be good enough”
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Readers longing for genuine freedom from sin and shame
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Christians who feel holiness has been reduced to rules and performance
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Anyone seeking to experience the healing love of Jesus in practical ways
For those struggling with deep weariness or burnout, Get Your Life Back by John Eldredge offers simple practices for soul restoration.
Free to Live as a group study for churches & small groups
Free to Live is an excellent resource for small groups, discipleship classes, or personal spiritual renewal. It offers a hopeful, honest look at how true holiness is birthed from God’s love, not human striving.
Why use this for a church or group study?
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Encourages deeper conversations about freedom, grace, and transformation
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Helps participants reframe holiness as life-giving rather than burdensome
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Offers practical, grace-filled steps to walk toward healing and restoration
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Provides a biblical and relational understanding of what it means to live whole
Pair with journaling prompts or a companion discussion guide for an even deeper experience.
Discovering True Freedom
Free to Live deepens the Wild at Heart message for anyone longing to experience genuine goodness—not through striving, but through the transforming love of Christ.
It’s a life-giving resource for those seeking freedom from shame, sin, and self-effort, guiding them into wholeness and holiness rooted in God’s grace.
To explore these themes further, consider John Eldredge’s other works, including The Journey of Desire and Waking the Dead Study Guide Extended Edition
