Courageously Expecting by Jenny Albers is a book I read recently, although I was approved for it years ago. That's because I simply couldn't read it at the time, and now that I am pregnant after experiencing additional miscarriages, I felt that it was approriate to pick this up again, so to speak. The author shares a 30-day devotional series meant to encourage the reader to find courage, peace, and hope, while experiencing pregnancy after loss. It is without a doubt a hard place to be - especially early on and throughout the first trimester. Pregnancy after losses finds you second guessing every sensation, every feeling, every thought, every discomfort, and wondering what is really going on. But there truly is no way to know - "wait and see" is generally the rule, alongside paying attention to symptoms. It really does a number on you mentally, though. The author has been there too, so shares her wisdom with us. I appreciated the tips on how to take your thoughts captive and depart from worse case scenarios in your head, to those of hope and prayer. The belief that there will be joy in all circumstances is certainly one that can carry you though - because we trust in a God who sees, who cares, who knows, and who walks with us through it all. The themes of remembering to hope instead of doubt and to trust in the Lord, as well as the reminders to ask for help and reach out to your people and community who will pray with you and for you and want to support you - are both immensely helpful. It's easy to get caught up with what if scenarios and get in our heads about a situation, especially something so personal as pregnancy, cultivating life, not to mention experiencing it all after experiencing the loss of a life. It's gut wrenching, heartbreaking, and the most painful experience in every definition of the word that I've been through. And I've been awake and fully coherent during a surgery, experiencing immense pain that was ignored by those who should have cared enough to stop to change my medication - miscarriage is infinitely worse than that. I would be awake during surgery again, screaming and whimpering in pain, if it meant I never had to walk through another miscarriage in my life. Having had 5 total, 2 in recent years, the pain and despair of it all is still so fresh, in a sense. The loss of life is a heavy topic indeed. I am thankful for a resource such as this to continue to come back to as I may hopefully never again need, and also to share with those I know walking through the same unfortonate journey and experience. It is a much needed, albeit very tragic, book in the market today. I am thankful to the reader for writing her story, thoughts, and devotions, while also being incredibly realistic about those thoughts in all honesty. Hearing from someone else who knows and has walked the road brings solace, and being pointed back to Christ and His word brings peace. Thankful for this book. Life is a beautiful gift, and I am honored for the opportunity to carry life in my womb, and raise up the next generation for Christ. What a treasure.

I was given an ecopy of the book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed are my own.