You Can Trust a God with Scars: Faith (and Doubt) for the Searching Soul

Riveting . . . another deftly crafted suspense thriller of a masterpiece by novelist Ryan Steck. Wisconsin Book Watch

Jared’s book is a compelling look at how Christians engage wisely and winsomely in this cultural moment. Jared’s exceptional writing, engaging storytelling, and deep experience as a pastor and church planter offer connection and credibility to readers. I’m very excited to promote this book as it’s being birthed into the world. Chuck DeGroat, professor of pastoral care and Christian spirituality at Western Theological Seminary and author of When Narcissism Comes to Church, Toughest People to Love, Wholeheartedness, and more

In an age of disillusionment and disenchantment, we need wise pastoral voices who bring a curious mind, an awakened heart, and a lively, compassionate pen to our many perplexing questions. We need voices like Jared Ayers’s, and I’m excited to support the work he’s creating and the beautiful gospel it evokes. Winn Collier, director of the Eugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination at Western Theological Seminary and author of A Burning in My Bones; Love Big, Be Well; and more

Jared Ayers says this is a book for those on the borderlands of faith. He is qualified to say this because (1) he wrote it and (2) he has spent an enormous amount of time with people there and knows what he’s talking about. But as I read, I kept thinking, This is a book for the church. Jared knows the gospel. Knows the beauty and power of what has been entrusted to a community of faith. And in an age of disillusionment with and confusion about what the gospel actually is, Jared, a sage, scholar, and warmhearted pastor, is giving it to us all over again―pressed down, shaken together, and running over. This is a book for both the church and those at the borderlands. A book to be savored. Andrew Arndt, author of A Strange and Gracious Light and more

Who knew that a book of theology could be written with such wit and wisdom? Who knew that a book of pastoral ministry could brim with thoughtful, perceptive, and wise insights? This book is both. The combination of theology and pastoral wisdom here is compelling in our present context of deep anxiety and confusion. Jared Ayers offers a fresh telling of the Christian story and connects it at every turn with real people’s real lives. It is a book for people who believe, who doubt, who question, and who yearn. Leanne Van Dyk, president emerita of Columbia Theological Seminary

Clear, compelling, and propelled by a soaring Christology, Jared Ayers breathes fresh air into the fathomless mystery of what it means to have a wounded healer God on our side. For a doubting, cynical generation, this pastoral, humble, persuasive voice is a giant step forward in the journey of faith seeking understanding. Eric E. Peterson, founding pastor of Colbert Presbyterian Church