Free Me from Me: Escaping the Maze of Self-Centeredness by Embracing a God-Centered Life - Hardcover

Wekenman, Ryan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0593600967 ISBN 13: 9780593600962

Publisher: WaterBrook, 2026

Synopsis

Experience the peace that comes from centering your life around God, freeing yourself from the burden of self-centered stress.

“Ryan Wekenman is a trusted voice for anyone hoping to deepen their self-awareness and become a stronger person of faith.”—Annie F. Downs, New York Times bestselling author of That Sounds Fun

Do you ever feel like it’s your job to hold the whole world together? Are you tired of overthinking every social interaction or worrying that you’re not enough? In Free Me from Me, Ryan Wekenman invites you on a transformative journey from the shackles of self-centeredness to a life centered on God.

Through engaging anecdotes and practical advice, Wekenman reveals how living with self at the center creates unrelenting pressure he calls the “me-maze,” while placing Christ at the center brings true rest for the soul. This journey is not about bashing yourself; it’s about unlocking your immense potential as a human created in the image of God.

With humor and honesty, Wekenman explores the theological, psychological, and cultural reasons behind our self-centered tendencies. He encourages us to let go of the weight we were never meant to carry with this simple yet powerful prayer: Lord, free me from me.

If you’re struggling to escape the pressures of modern life, Free Me from Me will help you embrace the peace, purpose, and joy waiting for you when you remember that God is at the center of the story and that you can find rest for your soul.

About this title

About the Author

Ryan Wekenman is a storyteller and pastor who is passionate about finding creative ways to help people explore life’s biggest questions. He is the author of Single Today and the co-host of two podcasts, Stories in Scripture, a show that brings the Bible to life for people all around the world, and Afterthoughts, a weekly conversation about faith, culture, and the church. Wekenman has a master’s degree from Talbot School of Theology and is the teaching pastor of Red Rocks Austin, a young, vibrant church he helped start with a few of his best friends. He lives in Austin, Texas.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

From Self-Centered to God-Centered

“Fully in . . . letting go.”

The voice belonged to Wim Hof. A wild Dutch man who had been running barefoot in the Arctic, plunging into freezing water, and taking the self-help scene by storm.

I was all in on the different methods.

Workouts.
Ice baths.
Breath work.
Grounding.

On April 19, 2020, I was combining all four, squeezing the ice bath in during the second round of breath work right after a difficult workout. If a little self-help helps, my mind reasoned, a lot should help more. And I needed all the help I could get.

The pandemic had just shut the world down. That morning, we had done church online—twenty-five people watched. Which was a bummer when eight hundred had shown up in person the month before. While watching, I opened my inbox and saw two new emails.

1. Someone who was mad we stopped doing in-person services.
2. Someone who was mad we were thinking about returning to in-person services.

It was a strange time to be alive—and I was searching for a way to cope.

I shot out of the ice bath after the second round of breath work and reached for my towel with a shivering hand. Next up, a twominute breath hold. I steadied my mind but immediately thought about how much more relaxing the practice would be if I was outside in my backyard with my bare feet on my lawn. After all, if a little helps, a lot should help more.

Blood rushed to my head as I hobbled through my kitchen, my body screaming for oxygen. I somehow managed to grab my journal, open the slider, and step onto my back porch without breathing. I placed the chair in the grass as I felt the warm sun on my face.

Then I went to sit down, and that is the last thing I remember.

Heliocentric Versus Geocentric Spirituality

The year 1543 was a big one for Nicolaus Copernicus. For starters, it was the year he died. But it was also the year his most important book was published: De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres). He got to see the finished product on his deathbed and was delighted to know his life’s work would outlive him. In it, he proposed a radical idea.

Some called it dangerous.
Others said preposterous.
Most didn’t give it a second thought.

But this simple idea changed everything.

Edition details

• Publisher: WaterBrook
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0593600967
• ISBN 13: 9780593600962
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288