joy: biblical encouragement during pregnancy after loss

by Storm Shultz

. . .this is a rainbow pregnancy. The rain doesn’t disappear, but the sun is definitely there.

Pregnancy after loss can be a daunting, tentatively hopeful adventure as hope, fear, and anxiety battle for supremacy for nine months. Through Scripture, personal anecdotes, and journaling space, Storm Shultz beautifully guides readers through her own rainbow pregnancy; from the amazing moments to the hard ones.

Joy is a book for mamas who miss their heaven-resident babies and can't wait for their rainbow babies to arrive. Within these thought-provoking pages, Joy will inspire readers to rest in our heavenly Father and remember that on this journey, you are neither alone nor abandoned by the Lord. He will sustain you through this valley.

128 pages, Unknown Binding

Published November 18, 2023

About the author

Storm Shultz is a Kentucky-based author of cozy Christian and Inspirational fiction.

Reviews

[Elisabeth Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always tend towards worry, and infertility + pregnancy after loss intensified that. This book is a gentle, approachable help to navigating some of the feelings that come with PAL. With an engaging storytelling style and a firm foundation on the Bible, Storm provides space to feel while still encouraging women to walk by fight. She includes lots of scripture and a journaling prompt after each brief chapter, and it’s all laid out chronologically, making it a helpful resource from TTC to postpartum.

I will definitely keep this in mind as a resource to share with other mamas!

I received an ARC from the author but reviewed on my own.

[Tiffany Goldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything to do with babies is a close subject to my heart, whether it’s pregnancy in general, pregnancy loss, babies in NICU, babies with health conditions, etc… I’ve always been passionate about babies and their mamas but now that I’m a mom of 2 Littles, they just tug all of my heart strings.

So going in while reading this book, I not only wanted to learn more about what a brave mama has gone through with her rainbow baby pregnancy, but I asked myself “is this something I’d truly recommend to a dear friend or even a stranger who I know has lost a baby?” And let me tell you, it’s a resounding YES.

This book feels like you’re sitting in the living room and having a heart to heart conversation with the author.

If words could be a hug, this book would be probably one of the most heartfelt hugs you can receive during this journey of pregnancy after loss.

Storm Shultz walks you through her own PAL story and with gentle and spiritually sound advice and encouragement, she guides you with thoughtful prompts that not only encourage you to be honest with yourself and with God about how you’re feeling, good or bad, but these prompts also help keep you from going to the deep end and inspire you to keep holding the Lord’s Hand as you walk through the valley.

Highly recommend this to any mama who has heaven resident babies and are hoping for a healthy rainbow baby.

I was provided an arc from the author, this review is voluntary and these my honest thoughts.

[Storm Shultz]

I pray this book reaches the mama’s who need it 🤍 you are loved. Your babies are loved. I see you 🤍

[Bekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book deeply touched my heart. As someone who experienced the heartbreak of miscarriage in summer of 2023 and is now experiencing a rainbow pregnancy, I've experienced the subsequent anxiety that typically comes from the trauma of what happened with a previous pregnancy. This book soothed my mama's heart with Scripture and counseling my heart with the TRUTH.

I really appreciated how this author made the point that it is okay to voice our fears. It's even okay to walk through that fear in our minds, but once we do so, we need to let it go, give it to God, and tell ourselves what we know to be true RIGHT NOW.

This author most definitely spoke from experience, and I found myself resonating with much of this book. I highly recommend it to anyone going through a rainbow pregnancy. I appreciated how this author constantly brought us back to God and His Word. I appreciated her vulnerability in sharing her story. Miscarriage is an extremely hard thing, but the fact that she shared from her own experience blessed me and I've already been applying some of the tips she's shared that helped her through her rainbow pregnancy.

I give this book 5/5 stars and highly recommend it.

[Melissa (christianbooksandcoffee) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pregnancy after miscarriage is so difficult. It's so exciting to have a baby but you are scared you are going to lose them. I personally have had 5 miscarriages and 2 rainbow babies, and it is so hard not to be terrified each pregnancy. This devotional is targeted for those who are pregnant again after having a miscarriage. The author shares her personal story while encouraging mamas during their pregnancy. I am currently not pregnant, but I found this devotional to be very encouraging and uplifting. There were so many thoughts expressed that I myself had thought during my pregnancies and it helps you to know you are not alone. There is great scripture throughout and places where you can journal. Overall, this was a great devotional. I think, though it will be difficult, this devotional will be uplifting to those mamas and help them have joy in their pregnancy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Arjaye-Rose Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joy is such a beautifully written book for Mummas to be that have experienced loss and can’t wait for their rainbow babies to arrive. I remember being so anxious and worried about every little thing it was daunting. Having high risk pregnancies made my fears and worries worse. Storm talks about placing your faith in God with scriptures scattered throughout the book.

This is the book I wish I’d had during that time, this would make a great gift for someone whose experienced loss and is pregnant. I love that there's space to journal in here too and just jot it all down. While I'm not pregnant I have been here I had 3 losses before we had our rainbow baby and its something I would have found helpful. Beautifully written and the many mixed emotions explained throughout many of these I also had during my 4th pregnancy with my rainbow baby. I felt many of these with my 5th pregnancy even though we had our rainbow baby because of our previous losses. We had hoped that after our 5th pregnancy and 5 loses after our that our 11th pregnancy would be our rainbow babies (twins) but they went to heaven to be with God with our other 8 babies.

It’s possible to both be filled with joy, hope, worry that something is wrong and anxiety over your baby as Storm explains in this book. For me this was worse after my losses, before we had our 4th pregnancy we weren’t sure that I could carry a baby past 10 weeks or that we would ever have a baby.

💐My favourite quotes in the book are:
“However you process your grief, whether it’s immediate or delayed, through art or physical exercise or one of the million other ways, know that the way you feel is valid. You can feel the rain while enjoying the sun. That’s why this is a rainbow pregnancy. The rain doesn’t disappear, but the sun is definitely there.”

“You can be happy. You can grieve and still notice the wonderful moments. You can grieve and still be excited for the future. This is not an either/or situation.”

[Anne Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I have not experienced the loss of a baby myself, I loved this book. I highly recommend it, not just for mothers who have suffered loss, but for all those who haven’t as well. This book is an eye-opener, is encouraging, and helped me in my own friendships with mothers who have experienced the heartbreaking loss of a baby.

Storm writes with such empathy, directness, and encourages over and over again in Christ. The emphasis on God and how He will sustain no matter what fills the pages. I was brought to tears reading this and could hardly put it down.

content: deals with heartache and loss

[Kim Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joy is a book for women who are pregnant after a miscarriage and struggling with fear and insecurities. Storm does a great job of coming alongside these women to say, “I’ve been there” and “God loves you and the baby you lost.” She helps women process and grieve their prior loss so they can move forward, yet understand it’s okay to continue to grieve. She also gives them permission to find joy not only in the new pregnancy, but in the fact that even in their miscarriage God is good and their lost child is with Him awaiting the rest of the family. Joy incorporates lots of meaningful scripture, and space for the reader to journal their thoughts.

After a time of infertility, my first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. I remember the devastation and fear of never having a biological child. The weekend following my miscarriage, my church had a woman’s retreat, and during that time, women who had experienced miscarriages encouraged me, loved me, and gently pointed me to God. I also had time alone with God to pour out all of my pain and allow Him to replace it with healing. This book does all of that without having to leave your home.

If you or someone you know is pregnant after miscarriage, this is the perfect book! Thanks Storm for following God’s lead and writing this.

[Liz Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful book is the encouragement every mama needs when we see those two lines appear, when the joy floods in, but the fear of "what happened last time" threatens to steal it.

As mamas, we can take comfort in Storm's own rainbow story and the much needed message of "me too". But, with her as a guide, we can also combat that fear with biblical truths and the knowledge that ultimately God is good.

"The joy that comes in this pregnancy is especially beautiful because of the hard moments. That joy is there. And I know that with the strength of Christ, you will find it." - Storm Shultz

[M.J. Padgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joy took a little time for me to read because I also participated in the journaling portions of the book. Each chapter was not only thought-provoking but also offered hope and peace for those grappling with the loss of a pre-born child. Even ten years post-miscarriage, this book helped me realize truths, comforts, and praise that can be won even in life's darkest moments. I recommend this book to anyone who has suffered a miscarriage, has had a rainbow baby, or even those who have a loved one in this position.

[Erica Dansereau · Rating 5 out of 5]

“ The sovereignty of God is perfect through all moments, even the ones that tear our hearts apart.”

This is a beautiful, biblically-based book that I would genuinely share with any mama I know who is on their own pregnancy after loss journey. Thank you, Storm, for sharing your journey and heart. I have no doubt this book will help so many mothers in similar situations.

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who has gone through pregnancy after loss, I found a lot of encouragement from this book. It is very well named. Storm writes about things I really struggled with -- the guilt, the fear -- and reminded me of God's truth. If you are a mama who has had a miscarriage or still birth, please read this. May it be as encouraging to you as it has been for me.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this as I have a friend that’s currently expecting her Rainbow baby. It was a good read and my heart goes out to the author just like or does my friend.